Psalm 143 is a classic one indeed. There's really no question who wrote it, for it seems between every line, the author cries out for God's mercy and no one needed mercy more than David. In fact, he's known for his sin as much as the grace of God that covered it, cleaned him up and set his feet on level ground. If David is to be remembered as a great sinner, than he must also be remembered for being one of the greatest recipients of God's grace.

I wonder how many of us have lingered for years in our spiritual walk, not going anywhere particular, but just idling in place. It's as if we're waiting for something to happen that will take us back to a time when we enjoyed a deeper relationship with the Lord. "Revive us again" has become a whimsical phrase we use that says we believe things could be better and we're ready for it - as long as we don't have to do anything or change very much.

David approached life like it was a constant classroom where he was the student and God was the teacher. He viewed everything that happened as an object lesson for God to use and every action he took was one that pointed to his need for God. In fact, to me the Psalms are like a pause in the taped journal of David's life, where he had time to write down what he'd learned before moving on to the next lesson.

In this particular Psalm, David reveals something about his nature that should be apparent in the life of everyone calling himself a child of God. It goes without saying that being close to God brings about a certain peace and comfort that is not enjoyed when we move away from Him. In fact, the longer a person is separated from God, the more lonely he should be and the more desperate to return to fellowship.

Have you got that problem? Have you forgotten what intimate fellowship with the Lord feels like or have you never had it? Are you going to church regularly but feel like you're getting farther from the Lord every visit?

Fellowship is found in a private time with the Lord in the prayer closet, not in a mass gathering of public worshipers to sing and listen to preaching. While God is pleased with that, He takes greater joy when one person wants to linger at His feet for an extended period of time. And isn't that a fairly good definition of prayer? And long has it been since you've done that? Or have you ever really done that?

1 Developed from Read the Bible Thru ( Ze. 6:1-7:14 Rv. 15:1-8 Ps. 143:1-12 Pr. 30:24-28 )
2. Scripture comes from the Holy Bible, New International Version; (c)1978 by New York International Bible Society

Copyright © 1998-2004 James R. Green and Prayertower Ministries
All Rights Reserved