Psalms 143:12

12 In your steadfast love cut off my enemies, and destroy all my adversaries, for I am your servant.

Psalms 143:12 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 143:12

And of thy mercy cut off mine enemies
Which, though an act of vindictive justice, and terrible righteousness to them, would be an act of grace and mercy to him, who thereby would be delivered from them: or, "for thy grace" F2; for the sake of it, for the honour of it, do this; those being, as Cocceius thinks, despisers of the grace of God; and destroy all them that afflict my soul;
by their persecutions, reproaches, and blasphemies. These clauses, with those in ( Psalms 143:11 ) , are read in the future tense, "thou shalt quicken--bring out--cut off--destroy", in the Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, and Arabic versions; and so may be considered as a prophecy of what would be the case of David and his enemies, or of the Messiah and his, here typified; as well as a prayer for those things; for I [am] thy servant;
by creation, by redemption and grace; and by office, being set upon the throne for the service of God and his people, and therefore pleads for his protection and help; and the rather, as he was the servant of God; and not they, his enemies, as Kimchi observes.


FOOTNOTES:

F2 (Kdoxk) "propter misericordiam tuam", Pagninus; "propter benignitatem tuam", Musculus, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator; "pergratiam tuam", Cocceius, Gejerus, Michaelis.

Psalms 143:12 In-Context

10 Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. Let your good spirit lead me on a level path.
11 For your name's sake, O Lord, preserve my life. In your righteousness bring me out of trouble.
12 In your steadfast love cut off my enemies, and destroy all my adversaries, for I am your servant.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.