Psalm 143:3

3 For the enemy has persecuted my soul; he has brought my life down to the ground; he has made me to dwell in a dark place, as those that have been long dead.

Psalm 143:3 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 143:3

For the enemy hath persecuted my soul
Which is to be connected with ( Psalms 143:1 ) ; and is a reason why he desires his prayer might be answered, seeing his enemy, either Saul, or Absalom his own son, persecuted him, or pursued him in order to take away his soul, or life; or Satan, the enemy and avenger, who goes about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour; or persecuting men, who are his emissaries and instruments, whom he instigates to persecute the Lord's people, and employs them therein; he hath smitten my life down to the ground:
brought him into a low, mean, and abject state, and near to death; had with a blow struck him to the ground, and left him wallowing in the mire and dirt, just ready to expire. The phrase is expressive of a very distressing state and condition. Some render it "my company" ^F18; meaning the men that were with him, his soldiers, who were reduced to a low condition with him, and greatly enfeebled and dispirited; he hath made me to dwell in darkness:
in the sides of the cave, as Kimchi; see ( 2 Samuel 24:3 ) ; or in great affliction of body and mind, frequently signified by darkness, as prosperity is by light; he was not only obliged by his enemy to hide himself in woods and wildernesses, and in caves and dens, but was filled with gloomy apprehensions of things, ( Psalms 88:6 ) ; as those that have been long dead;
or "of old" ^F19, an age or two ago, who are out of mind and forgotten, and of whom there is no hope of their coming to life again until the resurrection; or who are "dead for ever" ^F20; will remain so till that time comes; signifying hereby his hopeless, helpless, and forlorn state and condition; see ( Psalms 31:12 ) ( Psalms 88:4 Psalms 88:5 ) .

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FOOTNOTES:

F18 (ytyx) "catervam meam", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator.
F19 (Mlwe) "olim", Tigurine version, Vatablus, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Cocceius.
F20 So Syriac and Arabic versions.

Psalm 143:3 In-Context

1 O Lord, attend to my prayer: hearken to my supplication in thy truth; hear me in thy righteousness.

2 And enter not into judgment with thy servant, for in thy sight shall no man living be justified.

3 For the enemy has persecuted my soul; he has brought my life down to the ground; he has made me to dwell in a dark place, as those that have been long dead.

4 Therefore my spirit was grieved in me; my heart was troubled within me.

5 I remembered the days of old; and I meditated on all thy doings: yea, I meditated on the works of thine hands.

6 I spread forth my hands to thee; my soul thirsts for thee, as a dry land. Pause.

7 Hear me speedily, O Lord; my spirit has failed; turn not away thy face from me, else I shall be like to them that go down to the pit.

8 Cause me to hear thy mercy in the morning; for I have hoped in thee; make known to me, O Lord, the way wherein I should walk; for I have lifted up my soul to thee.

9 Deliver me from mine enemies, O Lord; for I have fled to thee for refuge.

10 Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God; thy good Spirit shall guide me in the straight way.

11 Thou shalt quicken me, O Lord, for thy name’s sake; in thy righteousness thou shalt bring my soul out of affliction.

12 And in thy mercy thou wilt destroy mine enemies, and wilt destroy all those that afflict my soul; for I am thy servant.