TRV
Study This Verse
Public-domain commentary
Matthew Henry
From his Commentary on the Whole Bible. Henry comments on passages, not single verses — this entry covers Psalms 143:1–6. His two-level outline is real structure in the source text, so it is rendered as structure.
Here, I. David humbly begs to be heard (Psa 143:1), not as if he questioned it, but he earnestly desired it, and was in care about it, for, having desired it, and was in care about it, for having directed his prayer, he looked up to see how it sped, Hab 2:1. He is a suppliant to his God, and he begs that his requests may be granted: Hear my prayer; give ear to my supplications. He is an appellant against his persecutors, and he begs that his case may be brought to hearing and that God will give judgment upon it, in his faithfulness and righteousness, as the Judge of right and wrong. Or, "Answer my petitions in thy faithfulness, according to the promises thou hast made, which thou wilt be just to." We have no righteousness of our own to plead, and therefore must plead God's righteousness, the word of promise which he has freely given us and caused us to hope in.
II.He humbly begs not to be proceeded against in strict justice, Psa 143:2.
He seems here, if not to correct, yet to explain, his plea (Psa 143:1), Deliver me in thy righteousness; "I mean," says he, "the righteous promises of the gospel, not the righteous threatenings of the law; if I be answered according to the righteousness of this broken covenant of innocency, I am quite undone;" and therefore,
1.His petition is, "Enter not into judgment with thy servant; do not deal with me in strict justice, as I deserve to be dealt with." In this prayer we must own ourselves to be God's servants, bound to obey him, accountable to him, and solicitous to obtain his favour, and we must approve ourselves to him. We must acknowledge that in many instances we have offended him, and have come short of our duty to him, that he might justly enquire into our offences, and proceed against us for them according to law, and that, if he should do so, judgment would certainly go against us; we have nothing to move in arrest or mitigation of it, but execution would be taken out and awarded and then we should be ruined for ever. But we must encourage ourselves with a hope that there is mercy and forgiveness with God, and be earnest with him for the benefit of that mercy. "Enter not into judgment with thy servant, for thou hast already entered into judgment with thy Son, and laid upon him the iniquity of us all. Enter not into judgment with thy servant, for thy servant enters into judgment with himself;" and, if we will judge ourselves, we shall not be judged.
2.His plea is, "In thy sight shall no man living be justified upon those terms, for no man can plead innocency nor any righteousness of his own, either that he has not sinned or that he does not deserve to die for his sins; nor that he has any satisfaction of his own to offer;" nay, if God contend with us, we are not able to answer him for one of a thousand, Job 9:3; Job 15:20. David, before he prays for the removal of his trouble, prays for the pardon of his sin, and depends upon mere mercy for it.
III.He complains of the prevalency of his enemies against him (Psa 143:3):
"Saul, that great enemy, has persecuted my soul, sought my life, with a restless malice, and has carried the persecution so far that he has already smitten it down to the ground. Though I am not yet under ground, I am struck to the ground, and that is next door to it; he has forced me to dwell in darkness, not only in dark caves, but in dark thoughts and apprehensions, in the clouds of melancholy, as helpless and hopeless as those that have been long dead. Lord, let me find mercy with thee, for I find no mercy with men. They condemn me; but, Lord, do not thou condemn me. Am not I an object of thy compassion, fit to be appeared for; and is not my enemy an object of thy displeasure, fit to be appeared against?"
IV.He bemoans the oppression of his mind, occasioned by his outward troubles (Psa 143:4):
Therefore is my spirit overpowered and overwhelmed within me, and I am almost plunged in despair; when without are fightings within are fears, and those fears greater tyrants and oppressors than Saul himself and not so easily out-run. It is sometimes the lot of the best men to have their spirits for a time almost overwhelmed and their hearts desolate, and doubtless it is their infirmity. David was not only a great saint, but a great soldier, and yet even he was sometimes ready to faint in a day of adversity. Howl, fir-trees, if the cedars be shaken.
V.He applies himself to the use of proper means for the relief of his troubled spirit.
He had no force to muster up against the oppression of the enemy, but, if he can keep possession of nothing else, he will do what he can to keep possession of his own soul and to preserve his inward peace. In order to this,
1.He looks back, and remembers the days of old (Psa 143:5), God's former appearances for his afflicted people and for him in particular. It has been often a relief to the people of God in their straits to think of the wonders which their fathers told them of, Psa 77:5, Psa 77:11.
2.He looks round, and takes notice of the works of God in the visible creation, and the providential government of the world: I meditate on all thy works. Many see them, but do not see the footsteps of God's wisdom, power, and goodness in them, and do not receive the benefit they might by them because they do not meditate upon them; they do not dwell on that copious curious subject, but soon quit it, as if they had exhausted it, when they have scarcely touched upon it. I muse on, or (as some read it) I discourse of, the operation of thy hands, how great, how good, it is! The more we consider the power of God the less we shall fear the face or force of man, Isa 51:12, Isa 51:13.
3.He looks up with earnest desires towards God and his favour (Psa 143:6): "I stretch forth my hands unto thee, as one begging an alms, and big with expectation to receive something great, standing ready to lay hold on it and bid it welcome. My soul thirsteth after thee; it is to thee (so the word is), entire for thee, intent on thee; it is as a thirsty land, which, being parched with excessive heat, gapes for rain; so do I need, so do I crave, the support and refreshment of divine consolations under my afflictions, and nothing else will relieve me." This is the best course we can take when our spirits are overwhelmed; and justly do those sink under their load who will not take such a ready way as this to ease themselves.
Historical interpretation
Historical Reception
2 surviving comments on this verse. Each one is dated, so this reads as a timeline rather than a list.
Put two people together; one wants to go to the show, the other to church. They are joined in body, separated by their desires. The first is like the salt water, the second appears as dry land. How can we prove that this land is dry, which signifies people desiring good things? The psalmist says to God, “My soul is like land without water to you.” My soul has thirsted for you; it is thirsty, it is dry, it is segregated from the waters of the sea. It must not bother about not yet being segregated in the body; its desire has already made the separation. Some desire God, others desire the world.
"I stretched forth," says he, "my hands to You: my soul is as a land without water to You" [Psalm 143:6]. Rain upon me, says he, to bring forth from me good fruit. "For the Lord shall give sweetness, that our land may give her fruit." "I have stretched forth my hands to You; my soul is as a land without water," not to me, but "to You." I can thirst for You, I cannot water myself.
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Summary
Psalms 143:6 is a profound expression of spiritual desperation and unreserved dependence on God, articulated through the vivid imagery of a parched land longing for water. David, in a state of deep distress, stretches out his hands in supplication, signifying a complete surrender and earnest plea for divine intervention. His soul's intense thirst for God underscores a fundamental human need for the Creator's presence and provision, asserting that only God can satisfy the deepest yearnings of the human spirit amidst overwhelming trials.
Context
Literary Context
Psalm 143 is the last of the seven traditional penitential psalms (Psalms 6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130, 143), characterized by a profound sense of personal sin, sorrow, and an earnest plea for divine mercy. As a lament psalm, it captures David's heart poured out to God from a place of intense suffering and persecution, likely at the hands of his enemies. The preceding verses (Psalms 143:1-5) detail his dire circumstances, his spirit failing within him, and his meditation on God's past acts of deliverance and faithfulness. Verse 6 marks a pivotal moment, shifting from a description of his plight to an active, intense expression of his sole hope and yearning for God, thereby setting the stage for his subsequent earnest prayers for guidance and deliverance. This verse powerfully highlights the depth of his personal relationship with God, even in the midst of overwhelming despair and spiritual depletion.
Historical & Cultural Context
While the precise historical setting for Psalm 143 is not explicitly stated, tradition often attributes it to David during a period of intense flight and persecution, such as during Absalom's rebellion (2 Samuel 15-18) or Saul's relentless pursuit (1 Samuel 19-24). The act of "stretching forth my hands" was a common and deeply significant posture of prayer and supplication in the ancient Near East, symbolizing surrender, earnest appeal, and an open reception of divine aid. It conveyed a posture of complete reliance and vulnerability before a deity. The vivid imagery of a "thirsty land" resonates profoundly with the arid climate of ancient Israel, where water was a precious and often scarce commodity, making the need for rain a matter of survival. This cultural understanding amplifies the desperation conveyed by David's spiritual thirst, as it equates his soul's existential need for God with the land's life-or-death dependence on water.
Key Themes
This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within the Psalms and the broader biblical narrative. The most prominent is Profound Spiritual Thirst, where the soul's yearning for God is likened to a parched earth craving water, a metaphor found throughout Scripture to describe intense spiritual longing (e.g., Psalm 42:1-2). This theme is intricately intertwined with Desperation and Helplessness, as the parched land cannot quench its own thirst, emphasizing David's utter dependence on God for relief and sustenance. The physical act of "stretching forth hands" highlights Active Supplication and Earnest Prayer, portraying a sincere and unreserved reaching out to God, a posture of humility, vulnerability, and expectation. Finally, the verse underscores Sole Dependence on God, affirming Him as the exclusive source of comfort, guidance, and salvation, especially when all other human resources and hopes have failed, a truth echoed in passages like Psalm 62:1.
Exposition and Analysis
Key Word Analysis
This primitive root means "to break apart, disperse, etc.; break, chop in pieces, lay open, scatter, spread (abroad, forth, selves, out), stretch (forth, out)." In this context, it denotes an active, outward extension, specifically of the hands. It signifies an unreserved opening, an act of laying oneself bare and vulnerable before God, indicating a desperate and earnest appeal. This is not a casual gesture but a deliberate, full-body expression of profound need and surrender.
Derived from a root meaning "to breathe," nephesh properly refers to a "breathing creature," or abstractly, "vitality." It is used very widely to encompass the entire person – their life, appetite, desire, mind, heart, and self. When David says "my soul thirsteth," it signifies that his entire inner being, his very essence and life force, is consumed by this profound longing for God. It's not merely a physical thirst, but a deep, existential craving that permeates his whole being, indicating a complete spiritual emptiness apart from divine presence.
This adjective means "languid; faint, thirsty, weary." It describes a state of extreme physical or spiritual exhaustion and dehydration. When applied to the "land," it vividly paints a picture of barrenness, dryness, and an urgent, life-threatening need for water. When applied to the soul, it conveys a spiritual emptiness, a profound weariness, and an intense, urgent craving that only divine presence and provision can satisfy.
Verse Breakdown
"I stretch forth my hands unto thee:"
This clause describes an active, intentional posture of prayer and supplication. The physical act of stretching out hands signifies a complete surrender, an open posture of receptivity, and a desperate plea. It conveys David's unreserved turning to God as his only hope, laying bare his vulnerability and utter dependence, indicating that he has exhausted all other avenues of help.
"my soul thirsteth after thee,"
This is the heart of the verse, expressing an intense, internal spiritual longing. The "soul" (nephesh), representing David's entire inner being—his mind, will, and emotions—is consumed by a profound craving for God's presence, intervention, and favor. This thirst is not merely a desire but an urgent, existential need that permeates his very essence, highlighting a deep spiritual void that only God can fill.
"as a thirsty land."
This phrase employs a powerful simile, likening the soul's desperate craving to a parched, barren land desperately needing life-giving rain. This imagery vividly conveys the depth of David's spiritual dryness and the absolute necessity of God's refreshing presence to sustain his life and spirit. Just as a desert landscape withers and dies without water, so too does the soul without the vital presence and provision of God.
"Selah."
This concluding interjection serves as a liturgical instruction, prompting a pause for reflection. It encourages the reader or listener to meditate deeply on the profound spiritual truth and emotional intensity expressed in the preceding lines, allowing the powerful imagery of desperate longing and complete dependence to fully resonate and sink into the heart, inviting personal contemplation and spiritual absorption.
Literary Devices
Psalms 143:6 is rich with Imagery, painting a vivid and poignant picture of a parched, barren landscape to represent the soul's spiritual condition. The central literary device is a Simile, explicitly comparing the soul's thirst to that of "a thirsty land" using the comparative "as." This Simile effectively conveys the intensity, desperation, and life-or-death urgency of David's spiritual need, making the abstract concept of spiritual longing tangible and relatable. The phrase "my soul thirsteth" also employs Personification, attributing the human sensation of thirst to the abstract concept of the soul, thereby emphasizing the profound, existential nature of this spiritual longing that permeates David's entire being. The entire verse functions as a powerful Metaphor for spiritual emptiness and the absolute necessity of God's presence for spiritual sustenance. The inclusion of "Selah" acts as a Rhetorical Device, compelling the audience to pause and deeply consider the weight and meaning of the preceding declaration, enhancing its impact and allowing for profound personal reflection and meditation on the spiritual truth conveyed.
Theological and Thematic Connections
This verse powerfully articulates a fundamental theological truth: humanity's inherent spiritual need and utter dependence on God. Just as a physical body requires water to survive, the human soul is created with an innate capacity and longing for God that only His presence can truly satisfy. David's desperate cry reflects the universal human condition of spiritual emptiness and barrenness apart from the Creator, highlighting God as the ultimate source of life, refreshment, and sustenance. It underscores the biblical theme of God as the "living water" who quenches spiritual thirst, offering profound comfort and hope to those who seek Him with their whole being. This longing is not a weakness but a divinely implanted desire, a pathway to deeper intimacy and complete reliance on divine grace, revealing that true life is found only in Him.
Reflection and Application
Psalms 143:6 offers a timeless blueprint for authentic spiritual engagement, particularly in seasons of distress, spiritual dryness, or overwhelming challenges. It encourages believers to embrace a posture of honest vulnerability before God, acknowledging our profound and absolute need for Him without reservation. Just as a parched land cannot generate its own rain, we are utterly dependent on God's life-giving presence and provision for our spiritual vitality. This verse calls us to actively and earnestly seek God, stretching out our hands and our souls to Him, confident that He alone can satisfy our deepest longings and bring refreshment to our weary spirits. It reminds us that spiritual thirst is not a sign of failure but a divinely orchestrated invitation to draw closer to the One who promises to quench it. In times of overwhelming difficulties, this verse empowers us to direct our entire being—our actions, our will, our emotions, and our inner self—towards God, affirming Him as our exclusive source of comfort, guidance, and salvation. It is a call to persistent, humble, and dependent prayer.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
What does "Selah" mean in the context of this verse?
"Selah" (H5542) is a Hebrew term found frequently in the Psalms and Habakkuk, believed to be a musical or liturgical instruction. While its exact meaning is debated among scholars, it is generally understood to signify a pause, a moment for reflection, or an elevation in the music or recitation. In Psalms 143:6, its placement after the vivid imagery of a "thirsty land" invites the reader or listener to pause and deeply meditate on the profound spiritual longing and desperation expressed by David's soul. It encourages a moment of quiet contemplation, allowing the emotional and theological weight of the verse to fully sink in and resonate with one's own spiritual experience, emphasizing the gravity of the preceding statement.
Why does David liken his soul's thirst to a "thirsty land"?
David uses the powerful simile of a "thirsty land" to convey the extreme depth and urgency of his spiritual longing for God. In the arid climate of ancient Israel, a parched, desolate land was a common and dire sight, signifying barrenness, desolation, and a desperate, life-threatening need for water. By comparing his soul to such a land, David emphasizes that his spiritual need for God is not merely a desire but an absolute necessity for his very existence and well-being. Just as the land cannot water itself and is utterly dependent on rain for life, David acknowledges his complete helplessness and utter dependence on God to refresh, sustain, and deliver his soul. This imagery highlights the intensity of his spiritual emptiness and the critical need for divine presence and provision to bring life and fruitfulness.
How can I apply the concept of "stretching forth my hands" to my own prayer life?
"Stretching forth my hands" signifies a posture of earnest supplication, complete surrender, and open receptivity to God. While it can be a physical posture in prayer, it primarily represents a spiritual attitude. To apply this, cultivate a heart that is completely open and vulnerable before God, holding nothing back. It means surrendering your will, your fears, your anxieties, and your desires to Him, acknowledging your dependence and readiness to receive whatever He provides. It's an active reaching out, a conscious decision to direct your entire being—your thoughts, emotions, and actions—towards God as your sole source of help and satisfaction. This can be expressed through heartfelt verbal prayer, quiet contemplation, or even symbolic gestures that reflect your inner posture of surrender and longing, seeking God's presence and provision above all else.
Christ-Centered Fulfillment
Psalms 143:6 finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in Jesus Christ, who is the living water that truly quenches the soul's deepest thirst. David's desperate cry for God's presence and refreshment foreshadows the ultimate satisfaction found in Christ alone. While David yearned for God's intervention in his distress, Jesus Himself declared, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink" (John 7:37). He is the one who offers water that, once drunk, will become "a spring of water welling up to eternal life" within the believer (John 4:14). The "thirsty land" of the human soul, parched by sin and separation from God, finds its verdant restoration and abundant life in Christ's atoning work and the indwelling gift of the Holy Spirit. He invites all who are weary and burdened to "come to me, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28). Thus, David's longing is fulfilled in the Person of Jesus, who not only satisfies our spiritual thirst but also empowers us with His Spirit, transforming barrenness into fruitful life, and promising that "to the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life" (Revelation 21:6).