Psalm 143:9

9 Deliver me from mine enemies, O Jehovah, Near Thee I am covered.

Psalm 143:9 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 143:9

Deliver me, O Lord, from mine enemies
Either Saul and his courtiers, or Absalom and the conspirators along with him; who were many, and lively and strong, stronger than he; and therefore God only could deliver him, and to him he sought for it, and not to men; and so deliverance from spiritual enemies is only from the Lord;

I flee unto thee to hide me;
from their rage and fury; who was the only asylum or place of refuge for him, where he could be safe. It may be rendered, "with thee have I hid" ^F25; that is, myself: so Arama gives the sense,

``I have hid myself with thee.''

Jarchi, Aben Ezra, and Kimchi, interpret it to this purpose,

``I have hid my affairs, my straits and troubles, my difficulties and necessities, from men; and have revealed them unto thee, who alone can save.''

The Targum is,

``I have appointed thy Word to be (my) Redeemer.''

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FOOTNOTES:

F25 (ytok Kyla) "ad te abscondi me", Montanus; "apud te", Tigurine version; "ad te texi", Cocceius, Michaelis.

Psalm 143:9 In-Context

7 Haste, answer me, O Jehovah, My spirit hath been consumed, Hide not Thou Thy face from me, Or I have been compared with those going down [to] the pit.

8 Cause me to hear in the morning Thy kindness, For in Thee I have trusted, Cause me to know the way that I go, For unto Thee I have lifted up my soul.

9 Deliver me from mine enemies, O Jehovah, Near Thee I am covered.

10 Teach me to do Thy good pleasure, For Thou [art] my God -- Thy Spirit [is] good, Lead me into a land of uprightness.

11 For Thy name's sake O Jehovah, Thou dost quicken me, In Thy righteousness, Thou bringest out from distress my soul,