Psalms 143:1-12
"Hear my prayer . . . , hide not thy face from me . . . , answer me," cries the faithful from the depths of his distress. What a contrast between that unrest and the peaceful assurance which is available to the Christian today! The Christian is guaranteed access to the Father through the Lord Jesus (Hebrews 4:16). Nevertheless he should be moved by the same earnest desire for communion. "My soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land" (v. 6; cf. Psalms 63:1). Yes, every day, from first thing in the morning, I need to hear not only the Word of God, but His loving kindness by opening my heart to listen to Him (v. 8). This feeling of the Lord’s love will strengthen my trust in Him; I will ask Him first of all to make me to know His way and then to lead me in it. When I call Him my God and call myself His servant (v. 12) I am undertaking to do what pleases Him. However to begin with He must teach me and then His good Spirit must guide me into the "land of uprightness" of His will (v. 10). In reality these requirements are connected with each other. On the one hand the joy of communion with the Lord is necessary to know His will. But on the other hand we can only taste this joy when we are obedient to that will!