Psalm 143

1 Hear my prayer, O Lord; listen to my plea! Answer me because you are faithful and righteous.
2 Don’t put your servant on trial, for no one is innocent before you.
3 My enemy has chased me. He has knocked me to the ground and forces me to live in darkness like those in the grave.
4 I am losing all hope; I am paralyzed with fear.
5 I remember the days of old. I ponder all your great works and think about what you have done.
6 I lift my hands to you in prayer. I thirst for you as parched land thirsts for rain.
7 Come quickly, Lord, and answer me, for my depression deepens. Don’t turn away from me,
or I will die.
8 Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning, for I am trusting you. Show me where to walk, for I give myself to you.
9 Rescue me from my enemies, Lord; I run to you to hide me.
10 Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. May your gracious Spirit lead me forward
on a firm footing.
11 For the glory of your name, O Lord, preserve my life. Because of your faithfulness, bring me out of this distress.
12 In your unfailing love, silence all my enemies and destroy all my foes, for I am your servant.

"So...what did you do?"

The accusatory question is one my parents would invariably ask when I would complain about something one of my siblings had done to me. I would go to them for justice and a finger of accusation would be pointed at me. Sometimes it was legitimate...sometimes not.

But it kept me from appealing to them on many occasions.

As a parent, I understand the tendency. It's not possible to mediate fairly unless we have all the facts.

David comes before the Lord with a grievance and says two important things:
1. Hear my prayer, O Lord; listen to my plea! Answer me because you are faithful and righteous.
2. Don’t put your servant on trial, for no one is innocent before you.

First...he appeals to the Lord based upon God's faithfulness and righteousness...not his own.
Second...he asks that God not put David himself on trial...because nobody is totally innocent.

And...our total innocence is not the point. We still want justice.

Can you imagine how uncomfortable we would be if we approached God and his response was like our parents..."so, Lee, what did you do to get this mess started in the first place?"

I'm confident God honored David's plea and refrained from that question. Which gave David the opportunity to express his concerns openly.

David's appeal follows a pattern we might find productive...

1. Lord, here's my problem: My enemy has chased me. He has knocked me to the ground and forces me to live in darkness like those in the grave. I am losing all hope; I am paralyzed with fear.

2. Lord, you have the solution: I remember the days of old. I ponder all your great works and think about what you have done. I lift my hands to you in prayer. I thirst for you as parched land thirsts for rain. Come quickly, Lord, and answer me, for my depression deepens. Don’t turn away from me, I will die. Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning, for I am trusting you.

3. Lord, show me what to do: Show me where to walk, for I give myself to you. Rescue me from my enemies, Lord; I run to you to hide me. Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. May your gracious Spirit lead me forward on a firm footing.

4. Lord, glorify yourself: For the glory of your name, O Lord, preserve my life. Because of your faithfulness, bring me out of this distress. In your unfailing love, silence all my enemies and destroy all my foes, for I am your servant

Whether or not we are totally innocent and righteous is not the issue...and is not the question God will ask when we appeal to Him. This should be a source of relief that drives us to Him immediately when we experience trouble.

Live boldly out there today...