With a Little Help From My God

April 4, 2017 Year A

Psalm 143:1-12

The Beatles had a hit song entitled “With a Little Help From My Friends.” The song is about the fact that when things go wrong, one can depend on friends for help. In this psalm, David is asking for help from God. David was considered a friend of God. During his time of struggles, he called upon God for help. We all need a little help sometimes. We all need to ask God for help when we have trouble or difficulty. Here, David gives us ten different ways in which I can ask God for a little help.

TEN DIFFERENT REQUESTS FOR HELP

1. Hear me (Psalm 143:1)

“Lord, hear my prayer. In Your faithfulness listen to my plea, and in Your righteousness answer me.” (Psalm 143:1, HCSB)

I want God to listen to me. I need You to hear me, God. Please pay attention to me.

2. Protect  me (Psalm 143:2)

“Do not bring Your servant into judgment, for no one alive is righteous in Your sight.” (Psalm 143:2, HCSB)

Even though I want You to listen to me when I pray I realize that I have no right to ask because I am a sinner. I deserve judgment because of my sin. So, I simply ask God to protect me – or have mercy on me. God is perfect and I am not. I can’t come to God and ask for help without acknowledging that fact.

3. Watch me (Psalm 143:3-4)

“For the enemy has pursued me, crushing me to the ground, making me live in darkness like those long dead. My spirit is weak within me; my heart is overcome with dismay.” (Psalm 143:3–4, HCSB)

After I ask God to listen, and I recognize that He is showing me mercy, I can let God know that He should watch me. Here, I am asking God to recognize the difficult nature of my circumstances. Hey, I am not perfect, and I deserve judgment. At the same time, I am really being hurt here and I need Your help, God.

4. Remember me (Psalm 143:5-6)

“I remember the days of old; I meditate on all You have done; I reflect on the work of Your hands. I spread out my hands to You; I am like parched land before You. Selah” (Psalm 143:5–6, HCSB)

By the way God, I haven’t been unfaithful to You. Remember the times when I praised You. Remember how I often I acknowledged You. This is another way to show that I need Your help.

At the end of this section is the word “Selah,” which is a musical term that means pause. It’s almost as if after I have reflected on what my relationship with God, I pause before I consider how to ask God for help.

5. Answer me (Psalm 143:7)

“I remember the days of old; I meditate on all You have done; I reflect on the work of Your hands. I spread out my hands to You; I am like parched land before You. Selah Answer me quickly, Lord; my spirit fails. Don’t hide Your face from me, or I will be like those going down to the Pit.” (Psalm 143:5–7, HCSB)

So now that I have asked for help, pleaded for mercy, told You my circumstances, and reminded You of how I praised You, I need You, God to answer me.

6. Love me (Psalm 143:8)

“Let me experience Your faithful love in the morning, for I trust in You. Reveal to me the way I should go because I long for You.” (Psalm 143:8, HCSB)

By answering my prayer God, You are going to remind me that You love me. So please show me that You love me – let me experience it. I’ll trust You as You answer.

7. Show me (Psalm 143:8)

“Let me experience Your faithful love in the morning, for I trust in You. Reveal to me the way I should go because I long for You.” (Psalm 143:8, HCSB)

As You answer my prayer and prove Your love for me, show me what I should do. Reveal to me my next steps.

8. Rescue me (Psalm 143:9)

“Rescue me from my enemies, Lord; I come to You for protection.” (Psalm 143:9, HCSB)

I need Your protection. Because I need You, God, to rescue me. You love me. Use Your power to rescue me.

9. Teach me (Psalm 143:10)

“Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God. May Your gracious Spirit lead me on level ground.” (Psalm 143:10, HCSB)

As You answer my plea, show me mercy, love me, show me, and rescue me, take the time God to teach me. I look forward to the leading of Your Holy Spirit in my life.

10. Deliver me (Psalm 143:11-12)

“Because of Your name, Yahweh, let me live. In Your righteousness deliver me from trouble, and in Your faithful love destroy my enemies. Wipe out all those who attack me, for I am Your servant.” (Psalm 143:11–12, HCSB)

Prove to me God Your love and faithfulness and deliver me from this situation. I don’t know if you will take me out of it, or through it – but I want to see You as You deliver me. Let me live.

Each of these requests may sound self-centered. Yet, in reality, these requests all come from a deep sense of need. I need God. It may sound like a little help to God, but it’s a big help to me.