As David continues his desperate prayer to God, he pleads, “Deliver me, O LORD, from mine enemies: I flee unto thee to hide me.” (Psalm 143:9) From this verse, it sounds like there was no place of escape for David. He had nowhere to go that was safe from the enemy physically speaking. However, he had a refuge that never fails; he fled to the Lord to hide him. In another psalm of David, he said, “Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah.” David fled unto the Lord to hide him and found the Lord his sure hiding place, “3) For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy. 4) I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings. Selah.” (Psalm 61:3,4)
There in the hiding place under the covert of God’s wings, David would take time to be still and learn of God. His next request of God was, “Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.” (Psalm 143:10) David knew that God is good. God knows what is right and He knew what David should do. This same desire was expressed by the author of Psalm 119 who wrote, “5) O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes! 6) Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments. 7) I will praise thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned thy righteous judgments.” (verses 5-7) He was looking for direction, for instruction in walking the way that God commanded and in keeping God’s statutes. When he had learned God’s righteous judgments, then he could praise God with uprightness of heart. Then he would not be ashamed because he had the expectation, the hope, that God had heard and that he would receive the answer to his prayers.
“Quicken me, O LORD, for thy name's sake: for thy righteousness' sake bring my soul out of trouble” continued David in his prayer to God for help. (See Psalm 143:11) Quicken me, make alive, revive, bring me up from the dust of death. In another Psalm, David expressed it this way, “Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me.” (Psalm 138:7) David trusted in God’s right hand to save him, to revive him; and he knew God would do it for His righteousness’ sake.
“And of thy mercy”, concluded David, “cut off mine enemies, and destroy all them that afflict my soul: for I am thy servant.” (Psalm 143:12) David was God’s servant; therefore, he placed his life in God’s hands. He waited patiently for God to extend His mercy and deliver him. Truly, “It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.” (Lamentations 3:22) This is true in every generation. This was true for David, who was a man after God’s own heart and sought him with his whole heart. This was true for the people of Israel who were going through great tribulation and under the hand of God’s wrath for the judgment of their sin. Though they were so wicked and had rebelled against God and God was pouring out His judgment upon them, yet He would not destroy them for the sake of His covenant with them. Because of His great mercy, God would not consume them because He is a compassionate God. And so God does for all of His children. “3) Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; 4) Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies.” (Psalm 104:3,4)
In God we have deliverance, a shelter, a strong tower from the enemy, a place to hide under the shadow of His wings, the good Spirit of God to lead in righteousness, direction from God in walking in His ways and keeping His word, answers to our prayers, quickening and reviving for His name’s sake, deliverance for His righteousness’ sake and preservation for His mercy’s sake. We have a God who will forgive all our iniquities, heal all our diseases, redeem our life from destruction and crown us with His lovingkindness and tender mercies. Consider our God. Is there any God like unto our God? No, not one. Let us keep our eyes fixed on Him for He is the true and great and all-powerful God.