First Word # 8 Ps. 143:5

Psalm 143:5 (NKJV)

⁵I remember the days of old; I meditate on all Your works; I muse on the work of Your hands.

If you take the time to look up and read Psalm 143:1-4 you will see that the context of this verse is that David has been going through some very difficult times under attack from the enemy.  He says in verse 3, “The enemy has persecuted my soul; He has crushed my life to the ground; He has made me dwell in darkness, like those who have long been dead.  Therefore my spirit is overwhelmed within me; My heart within me is distressed.

The repeated attacks of the enemy was overwhelming David and he is pleading with God to help deliver him from these attacks.  His confidence came when he began to remember the days of old.

What were these days of old?  For David they may have been when he was delivered from the bear and the lion.  It was these memories that gave him confidence when he was preparing to fight Goliath.  The memory of God delivering not only Goliath, but all the battles with the Philistines that God had helped provide the victory over may have been what these “days of old were”. 

It is also possible that the “days of old” were the memories of God’s deliverance for the people of Israel.  All of the plagues while they were in Egypt that prompted Pharaoh to release them, the delivery as they were trapped at the Red Sea and God used Moses to part the waters so that they were able to walk through on dry ground. 

The works that he had meditated upon may have been God’s deliverance of the Promised Land to the Israelites through not only the battles, but also through the use of insects and wild animals to move the Canaanites from their land. 

David’s musing on the work of God’s hands gave him confidence to continue to trust in God.

Though he was discouraged and was pleading with God to answer his prayers, he was still asking God to give him direction to know how to walk.  David wanted to live in a way that was pleasing to God in spite of the discouragements that he was facing. 

As we face difficulties do we give up on God and give up on living for Him?  Do we begin to follow our feelings rather than walk in obedience?  We need to reflect upon God the “days of old” and we need to remember that He is trustworthy.

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