In some ways, Psalm 143 marks the end of the book of Psalms. The remaining psalms following it are a closing chorus of seven songs of praise. We’ve seen that many of the psalms, particularly those written by David, are psalms of lament and imprecation (calling on God to destroy his enemies). Almost all of the themes that have marked these psalms are seen in Psalm 143. Let’s look at four of them.

First, David speaks of his enemies (vv. 3, 9). This time, the psalm gives us the context of David’s suffering. It might have been when he was in the cave hiding from Saul and 3,000 men (see 1 Samuel 24:3). Saul enters the cave alone and David, despite the urging of his men, refuses to kill the defenceless king—after all, Saul is still the Lord’s anointed king. Our troubles will be very different from David’s, but we still have powerful forces arrayed against us, like the devil, who prowls around “looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8).

Second, David speaks of the personal toll these sufferings take on him. He writes, “My spirit grows faint within me” (Psalm 143:4). For New Testament believers, the emotional cost of suffering for Jesus’ sake can be the most difficult. In 2 Corinthians, Paul confessed that he felt hard pressed on every side, perplexed, persecuted, and struck down (4:8–9). Indeed, at times he “despaired of life itself” (1:8). But through it all, God’s surpassing power sustained him (4:7). The price we pay for such attacks may be sleepless nights and loss of energy. A pastor whose children had turned their backs on Jesus told me, “I wake up every day sad.”

In the midst of his troubles, David renews his commitment to God (Psalm 143:8, 10). He remembers “the days of long ago” when God saved His people (v. 5). God’s chief work is salvation. For David and for us, that’s our great confidence. In light of that, David wants to live a life pleasing to God, so he asks Him to “show me the way I should go” and “teach me to do your will” (vv. 8, 10).

Finally and most importantly, we see David’s trust in God throughout Psalm 143. At the heart of the psalm is the confession, “I have put my trust in you” (v. 8). David takes shelter in a cave, but he knows that his true place of shelter from his troubles is the Lord. At the same time, David does not presume on God’s salvation. While he is the innocent party in these sufferings, he still acknowledges that “no one living is righteous before you” (v. 2). We, too, know that although we are sinful, we can “approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).