Psalms 143:7
A focused desk for reading, commentary, cross-references, original language notes, and your own observations.
Psalms 143:7
7 Hear me speedily, O LORD: my spirit faileth: hide not thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit.
Chapter Context
Psalms 143 is a poetic and liturgical chapter in the Old Testament that explores themes of righteousness, judgment, faith. Written during various periods (c. 1000-400 BCE), this chapter should be understood within its historical context: Temple worship utilized these compositions across various periods of Israel's history.
The chapter can be divided into several sections:
- Verses 1-5: Introduction and setting the context
- Verses 6-12: Development of key themes
This chapter is significant because it provides guidance for worship and spiritual devotion. When studying this passage, it's important to consider both its immediate context within Psalms and its broader place in the scriptural canon.
Verse Study
Psalms 143:7
7 Hear me speedily, O LORD: my spirit faileth: hide not thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit.
Analysis
Hear me speedily, O LORD: my spirit faileth: hide not thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit. David's petition expresses urgency: "Hear me speedily" (maher aneni, מַהֵר עֲנֵנִי) literally means "hurry, answer me." The verb maher (מַהֵר) conveys haste—David cannot wait long; his situation is desperate. "My spirit faileth" uses kalah (כָּלָה), meaning to be finished, spent, consumed, or exhausted. David's ruach (spirit/life-force) is giving out.
"Hide not thy face from me" expresses the terror of divine withdrawal. God's "face" (panim, פָּנִים) represents His presence, favor, and attention. To hide the face is to withdraw blessing and protection (Deuteronomy 31:17-18; Psalm 27:9; 30:7). The Aaronic benediction's climax is "The LORD make his face shine upon thee" (Numbers 6:25). Without God's face, humans descend to the pit.
"Lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit" (pen-emshal im-yordei vor, פֶּן־אֶמְשַׁל עִם־יֹרְדֵי בוֹר) expresses dread of death. Bor (בּוֹר) means pit, cistern, or grave—Sheol, the realm of the dead. David fears not just physical death but existence without God's presence, which would be indistinguishable from the death of the godless. This anticipates Christ's cry of dereliction: "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:46)—the ultimate experience of God hiding His face.
Historical Context
In Israelite theology, Sheol was not originally conceived as a place of punishment but as the shadowy underworld where all the dead went—a realm of darkness, silence, and separation from active participation in life and worship (Psalm 6:5; 88:10-12; 115:17; Isaiah 38:18). The dread of Sheol wasn't eternal torment (a later development) but cessation of relationship with God and community. Resurrection hope emerged gradually through Israel's history, with clearer articulation in later prophets (Isaiah 26:19; Daniel 12:2) and full revelation in Christ's resurrection.
Reflection
- What does it mean to experience God 'hiding His face,' and how do believers navigate seasons of divine silence?
- How does Christ's experience of the Father hiding His face (on the cross) guarantee believers need never ultimately experience it?
- When your spirit 'fails,' what spiritual practices help you seek God's face with urgency rather than despair?
Word Studies
- Lord: יְהוָה / אֲדֹנָי (YHWH / Adonai) H3068 - The LORD / Lord
Cross-References
- References Lord: Psalms 28:1, 40:17, Isaiah 8:17
- Spirit: Isaiah 57:16
- Parallel theme: Psalms 27:9, 69:3, 69:17, 71:12, 102:2, Isaiah 38:18