Psalm 143:11
For the sake of Your name, O LORD, revive me. In Your righteousness, bring my soul out of trouble.
For the sake of Your name
This phrase emphasizes the importance of God's reputation and character. In the Hebrew context, a name is not merely an identifier but a representation of one's essence and reputation. The psalmist appeals to God's name, which is synonymous with His holiness, faithfulness, and covenantal love. Throughout Scripture, God's name is a powerful force, as seen in Exodus 3:14 where God reveals Himself as "I AM." The psalmist's plea is rooted in the understanding that God's actions are consistent with His character, and thus, he seeks deliverance not based on his own merit but on God's unchanging nature.

O LORD
The use of "LORD" in all capitals indicates the Hebrew name YHWH, often pronounced as Yahweh. This is the personal, covenantal name of God revealed to Moses at the burning bush (Exodus 3:15). It signifies God's eternal existence and His relationship with His people. By invoking this name, the psalmist is calling upon the God who is both transcendent and immanent, the One who is intimately involved in the lives of His people and faithful to His promises.

revive me
The Hebrew root for "revive" is "chayah," which means to live, to give life, or to restore life. This plea for revival is not just a request for physical sustenance but a deep spiritual renewal. The psalmist is asking for a restoration of vitality and strength, both physically and spiritually. In the broader biblical narrative, God is often seen as the source of life and renewal, as in Ezekiel 37 where the dry bones are brought to life. This request acknowledges human frailty and the need for divine intervention to restore and sustain life.

In Your righteousness
The term "righteousness" in Hebrew is "tsedaqah," which encompasses justice, rightness, and faithfulness. God's righteousness is a central theme in the Bible, reflecting His moral perfection and His commitment to uphold justice. The psalmist appeals to God's righteousness as the basis for his deliverance, recognizing that God's actions are always in accordance with His just and holy nature. This appeal is a reminder that God's deliverance is not arbitrary but is rooted in His righteous character.

bring my soul out of trouble
The word "soul" here is "nephesh" in Hebrew, which can refer to the whole being, encompassing both physical and spiritual aspects. The psalmist is in distress, and his plea is for comprehensive deliverance from his afflictions. The term "trouble" suggests a state of adversity or anguish, which is a common theme in the Psalms as the writers often find themselves in dire situations. The psalmist's request is for God to intervene and rescue him from his plight, trusting in God's ability to save and restore. This reflects a deep reliance on God as the ultimate source of help and salvation, a theme echoed throughout the Psalms and the broader biblical narrative.

Persons / Places / Events
1. David
The author of this psalm, David is expressing a deep personal plea for deliverance and revival. He is known for his close relationship with God and his heartfelt prayers.

2. The LORD (Yahweh)
The covenant name of God, emphasizing His eternal and unchanging nature. David appeals to God's character and righteousness.

3. Trouble
The context of the psalm suggests that David is in a time of distress, possibly due to enemies or personal sin, seeking God's intervention.
Teaching Points
Revival for God's Name's Sake
David's request for revival is not just for personal relief but for the glory of God's name. Our prayers should similarly seek to honor God above all.

Righteousness as a Basis for Deliverance
David appeals to God's righteousness, recognizing that God's actions are always just and right. We can trust in God's righteous character when we seek His help.

The Importance of Spiritual Revival
Revival is not just physical or emotional but deeply spiritual. We should regularly seek God to revive our souls, especially in times of trouble.

God's Faithfulness in Times of Trouble
David's confidence in God's deliverance is rooted in God's faithfulness. We can rely on God's past faithfulness as assurance for our present and future troubles.

Prayer as a Means of Seeking God's Intervention
David's example shows the importance of earnest prayer in seeking God's intervention. We should be diligent in prayer, especially when facing difficulties.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does David's appeal to God's name in Psalm 143:11 influence the way we should pray in our own times of trouble?

2. In what ways can we seek spiritual revival in our daily lives, and how does this connect to the broader theme of God's righteousness?

3. Reflect on a time when you experienced God's deliverance. How does this reinforce your trust in His faithfulness during current challenges?

4. How can we ensure that our prayers align with God's will and seek His glory above our personal desires?

5. Compare Psalm 143:11 with another scripture where God acts for the sake of His name. What insights do you gain about God's character and His relationship with His people?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Psalm 23
David's plea for revival and deliverance echoes his trust in God as his shepherd, who leads him beside still waters and restores his soul.

Psalm 51
Another psalm of David where he seeks God's mercy and cleansing, highlighting the theme of revival and restoration.

Isaiah 43:25
God's promise to blot out transgressions for His own sake, connecting to the idea of God acting for the sake of His name.

Romans 8:28
The assurance that God works all things for the good of those who love Him, aligning with David's trust in God's righteous deliverance.
The Spirit's Quickening InfluencePsalm 143:11
What is ReligionT. M. B. Paterson.Psalm 143:11
A Complaint and a PrayerC. Short Psalm 143:1-12
A Penitential Soul in PrayerDavid Thomas, D. D.Psalm 143:1-12
Prayer IllustratedNewman Hall, LL. B.Psalm 143:1-12
The Cry of the Overwhelmed SpiritS. Conway Psalm 143:1-12
Vindications Left with GodR. Tuck Psalm 143:11, 12
People
David, Psalmist
Places
Jerusalem
Topics
Bring, Bringest, Distress, Name's, O, Preserve, Quicken, Revive, Righteousness, Sake, Soul, Trouble
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Psalm 143:10

     1050   God, goodness of
     1115   God, purpose of
     1175   God, will of
     1225   God, as Spirit
     3045   Holy Spirit, sovereignty
     3110   Holy Spirit, titles of
     3140   Holy Spirit, teacher
     3272   Holy Spirit, in OT
     8128   guidance, receiving
     8241   ethics, basis of
     8605   prayer, and God's will

Psalm 143:8-10

     8351   teachableness

Library
The Prayer of Prayers
'Teach me to do Thy will; for Thou art my God! Thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.'--PSALM cxliii. 10. These two clauses mean substantially the same thing. The Psalmist's longings are expressed in the first of them in plain words, and in the second in a figure. 'To do God's will' is to be in 'the land of uprightness.' That phrase, in its literal application, means a stretch of level country, and hence is naturally employed as an emblem of a moral or religious condition. A life
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Third Rule to be Added Is: that He who Comes into the Presence Of...
The third rule to be added is: that he who comes into the presence of God to pray must divest himself of all vainglorious thoughts, lay aside all idea of worth; in short, discard all self-confidence, humbly giving God the whole glory, lest by arrogating anything, however little, to himself, vain pride cause him to turn away his face. Of this submission, which casts down all haughtiness, we have numerous examples in the servants of God. The holier they are, the more humbly they prostrate themselves
John Calvin—Of Prayer--A Perpetual Exercise of Faith

Earnest Supplication, under Trials of Faith. --Ps. cxliii.
Earnest Supplication, under Trials of Faith.--Ps. cxliii. Hear me, O Lord! in my distress, Hear me in truth and righteousness; For, at Thy bar of judgment tried, None living can be justified. Lord! I have foes without, within, The world, the flesh, indwelling sin, Life's daily ills, temptation's power, And Satan roaring to devour. These, these, my fainting soul surround, My strength is smitten to the ground; Like those long dead, beneath their weight, Crush'd is my heart, and desolate. Yet in
James Montgomery—Sacred Poems and Hymns

Tell Me, O Thou whom My Soul Loveth, Where Thou Feedest, Where Thou Reposest at Midday, Lest I Should Begin to Wander after the Flocks of Thy Companions.
O Thou whom my soul loveth! exclaims this poor affianced one, thus obliged to leave the sweet employment within, to be engaged about external matters of the lowest description; O Thou, whom I love so much the more as I find my love more thwarted; ah, show me where Thou feedest Thy flocks, and with what food Thou satisfiest the souls that are so blessed as to be under Thy care! We know that when Thou wert upon earth, Thy meat and drink was to do the will of Thy Father (John iv. 34), and now Thy meat
Madame Guyon—Song of Songs of Solomon

The Law Given, not to Retain a People for Itself, but to Keep Alive the Hope of Salvation in Christ Until his Advent.
1. The whole system of religion delivered by the hand of Moses, in many ways pointed to Christ. This exemplified in the case of sacrifices, ablutions, and an endless series of ceremonies. This proved, 1. By the declared purpose of God; 2. By the nature of the ceremonies themselves; 3. From the nature of God; 4. From the grace offered to the Jews; 5. From the consecration of the priests. 2. Proof continued. 6. From a consideration of the kingdom erected in the family of David. 7. From the end of the
John Calvin—The Institutes of the Christian Religion

The Tests of Love to God
LET us test ourselves impartially whether we are in the number of those that love God. For the deciding of this, as our love will be best seen by the fruits of it, I shall lay down fourteen signs, or fruits, of love to God, and it concerns us to search carefully whether any of these fruits grow in our garden. 1. The first fruit of love is the musing of the mind upon God. He who is in love, his thoughts are ever upon the object. He who loves God is ravished and transported with the contemplation of
Thomas Watson—A Divine Cordial

Of Having Confidence in God when Evil Words are Cast at Us
"My Son, stand fast and believe in Me. For what are words but words? They fly through the air, but they bruise no stone. If thou are guilty, think how thou wouldst gladly amend thyself; if thou knowest nothing against thyself, consider that thou wilt gladly bear this for God's sake. It is little enough that thou sometimes hast to bear hard words, for thou art not yet able to bear hard blows. And wherefore do such trivial matters go to thine heart, except that thou art yet carnal, and regardest
Thomas A Kempis—Imitation of Christ

Concerning the Sacrament of Penance
In this third part I shall speak of the sacrament of penance. By the tracts and disputations which I have published on this subject I have given offence to very many, and have amply expressed my own opinions. I must now briefly repeat these statements, in order to unveil the tyranny which attacks us on this point as unsparingly as in the sacrament of the bread. In these two sacraments gain and lucre find a place, and therefore the avarice of the shepherds has raged to an incredible extent against
Martin Luther—First Principles of the Reformation

The Early Life of Malachy. Having Been Admitted to Holy Orders He Associates with Malchus
[Sidenote: 1095.] 1. Our Malachy, born in Ireland,[134] of a barbarous people, was brought up there, and there received his education. But from the barbarism of his birth he contracted no taint, any more than the fishes of the sea from their native salt. But how delightful to reflect, that uncultured barbarism should have produced for us so worthy[135] a fellow-citizen with the saints and member of the household of God.[136] He who brings honey out of the rock and oil out of the flinty rock[137]
H. J. Lawlor—St. Bernard of Clairvaux's Life of St. Malachy of Armagh

The Man after God's Own Heart
"A man after mine own heart, who shall fulfil all my will."--ACTS xiii. 22. A BIBLE STUDY ON THE IDEAL OF A CHRISTIAN LIFE No man can be making much of his life who has not a very definite conception of what he is living for. And if you ask, at random, a dozen men what is the end of their life, you will be surprised to find how few have formed to themselves more than the most dim idea. The question of the summum bonum has ever been the most difficult for the human mind to grasp. What shall a man
Henry Drummond—The Ideal Life

Its Meaning
Deliverance from the condemning sentence of the Divine Law is the fundamental blessing in Divine salvation: so long as we continue under the curse, we can neither be holy nor happy. But as to the precise nature of that deliverance, as to exactly what it consists of, as to the ground on which it is obtained, and as to the means whereby it is secured, much confusion now obtains. Most of the errors which have been prevalent on this subject arose from the lack of a clear view of the thing itself, and
Arthur W. Pink—The Doctrine of Justification

Of Prayer --A Perpetual Exercise of Faith. The Daily Benefits Derived from It.
1. A general summary of what is contained in the previous part of the work. A transition to the doctrine of prayer. Its connection with the subject of faith. 2. Prayer defined. Its necessity and use. 3. Objection, that prayer seems useless, because God already knows our wants. Answer, from the institution and end of prayer. Confirmation by example. Its necessity and propriety. Perpetually reminds us of our duty, and leads to meditation on divine providence. Conclusion. Prayer a most useful exercise.
John Calvin—The Institutes of the Christian Religion

The Work of Jesus Christ as an Advocate,
CLEARLY EXPLAINED, AND LARGELY IMPROVED, FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL BELIEVERS. 1 John 2:1--"And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." By JOHN BUNYAN, Author of "The Pilgrim's Progress." London: Printed for Dorman Newman, at the King's Arms, in the Poultry, 1689. ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR. This is one of the most interesting of Bunyan's treatises, to edit which required the Bible at my right hand, and a law dictionary on my left. It was very frequently republished;
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

Question of the Contemplative Life
I. Is the Contemplative Life wholly confined to the Intellect, or does the Will enter into it? S. Thomas, On the Beatific Vision, I., xii. 7 ad 3m II. Do the Moral Virtues pertain to the Contemplative Life? S. Augustine, Of the City of God, xix. 19 III. Does the Contemplative Life comprise many Acts? S. Augustine, Of the Perfection of Human Righteousness, viii. 18 " Ep., cxxx. ad probam IV. Does the Contemplative Life consist solely in the Contemplation of God, or in the Consideration
St. Thomas Aquinas—On Prayer and The Contemplative Life

A Treatise on Good Works
I. We ought first to know that there are no good works except those which God has commanded, even as there is no sin except that which God has forbidden. Therefore whoever wishes to know and to do good works needs nothing else than to know God's commandments. Thus Christ says, Matthew xix, "If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments." And when the young man asks Him, Matthew xix, what he shall do that he may inherit eternal life, Christ sets before him naught else but the Ten Commandments.
Dr. Martin Luther—A Treatise on Good Works

The Beginning of Justification. In what Sense Progressive.
1. Men either idolatrous, profane, hypocritical, or regenerate. 1. Idolaters void of righteousness, full of unrighteousness, and hence in the sight of God altogether wretched and undone. 2. Still a great difference in the characters of men. This difference manifested. 1. In the gifts of God. 2. In the distinction between honorable and base. 3. In the blessings of he present life. 3. All human virtue, how praiseworthy soever it may appear, is corrupted. 1. By impurity of heart. 2. By the absence of
John Calvin—The Institutes of the Christian Religion

Second Great Group of Parables.
(Probably in Peræa.) Subdivision G. Concerning Offenses, Faith, and Service. ^C Luke XVII. 1-10. ^c 1 And he said unto the disciples [Jesus here ceases to speak to the Pharisees, and begins a new series of sayings addressed to the disciples, which sayings are, however, pertinent to the occasion, and not wholly disconnected with what he has just been saying], It is impossible [in a world where Pharisees abound, etc.--I. Cor. xi. 19] but that occasions of stumbling should come; but woe unto him,
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Psalms
The piety of the Old Testament Church is reflected with more clearness and variety in the Psalter than in any other book of the Old Testament. It constitutes the response of the Church to the divine demands of prophecy, and, in a less degree, of law; or, rather, it expresses those emotions and aspirations of the universal heart which lie deeper than any formal demand. It is the speech of the soul face to face with God. Its words are as simple and unaffected as human words can be, for it is the genius
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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