Psalm 143 10

Psalm 143:10 kjv

Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.

Psalm 143:10 nkjv

Teach me to do Your will, For You are my God; Your Spirit is good. Lead me in the land of uprightness.

Psalm 143:10 niv

Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground.

Psalm 143:10 esv

Teach me to do your will, for you are my God! Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground!

Psalm 143:10 nlt

Teach me to do your will,
for you are my God.
May your gracious Spirit lead me forward
on a firm footing.

Psalm 143 verses

Psalm 143 10 Meaning

Psalm 143:10 is a heartfelt prayer, a cry for divine instruction and continuous guidance. It expresses a deep yearning for the knowledge and ability to obey God's desires and commands, rooted in the foundational belief that He is the worshiper's personal God. The verse further appeals to the inherent goodness of God's Spirit to lead the individual along paths of moral integrity, justice, and righteousness, providing steadfast direction through life's challenges. It highlights an essential reliance on God for both understanding His will and living it out.

Psalm 143 10 Context

Psalm 143 is the last of the seven Penitential Psalms (along with Ps 6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130), prayers of confession and deep lament. David, the likely author, finds himself in profound distress, possibly fleeing from Saul or Absalom, surrounded by enemies and experiencing great inner turmoil. He appeals to God for deliverance, mercy, and justice, reminding God of His past faithfulness (v. 5). The preceding verses express his desperate state: "My spirit is overwhelmed within me; My heart within me is distressed" (v. 4), and a plea for immediate help: "Answer me speedily, O Lord; my spirit fails!" (v. 7). Verse 8 prays for the morning declaration of God's lovingkindness and instruction on "the way I should go," setting the stage for the specific plea for teaching in verse 10. This verse shifts from the urgent need for rescue to a deeper spiritual desire for righteous living, recognizing that true deliverance involves not only protection from enemies but also spiritual guidance to walk according to God's will. The lament turns to a desperate hope for internal renewal and external guidance from the one true God amidst external persecution and personal despondency.

Psalm 143 10 Word analysis

• Teach (לַמְּדֵנִי - lammədênî): This is a Hiphil imperative, expressing a direct and urgent plea. It signifies instruction, making one know, training. It's not just about imparting information, but discipleship – a request for a personal, active teaching relationship from God. The implication is a transformation of conduct through divine wisdom.
• me (-נִי - nî): The first person singular suffix directly attaches the request to the psalmist. It’s a profoundly personal and dependent plea, highlighting individual vulnerability and the need for God's specific intervention in his life.
• to do (לַעֲשׂוֹת - la‘ăśôt): An infinitive construct, indicating purpose or result. The teaching requested is not for mere intellectual assent or theoretical knowledge, but for practical execution and obedience. The focus is on active, demonstrable performance of God's will.
• your will (רְצוֹנֶךָ - rəṣônkā): From ratson (רָצוֹן), meaning pleasure, delight, favor, good will. It encompasses what is agreeable or acceptable to God, His moral purpose, His commands, and the way He desires humanity to live. It's not simply His sovereign plan that will unfold regardless, but the way He wants His people to align their actions and character with His own nature.
• for you are my God (כִּי־אַתָּה אֱלֹהָי - kî ’attāh ’ělōhāy): "For" (kî) serves as a causal conjunction, stating the foundational reason for the prayer. This is a covenant declaration. "You are my God" is a confession of allegiance, exclusive trust, and dependence. It grounds the plea in a pre-existing relationship where God is recognized as the sovereign, all-competent, and faithful Lord who has a right to be known and obeyed.
• your Spirit (רוּחֲךָ - rûaḥakā): Hebrew ruach (רוּחַ), which can mean wind, breath, or spirit. In this context, it unmistakably refers to the Spirit of God, the divine animating presence and power, specifically the Holy Spirit. This points to the agent of divine instruction and guidance within the believer.
• is good (טוֹבָה - ṭôvāh): Feminine form of tov (טוֹב). This adjective denotes moral and inherent excellence, benefaction, fitness, and beauty. The "goodness" of the Spirit implies that His guidance is always benevolent, perfect, leading to what is genuinely wholesome, true, and beneficial for the psalmist. It counters any fear of misdirection.
• lead me (תַּנְחֵנִי - tanḥēnî): Hiphil imperative from naḥah (נָחָה), meaning to guide, conduct, direct, or shepherd. This verb suggests continuous, careful, and secure guidance, especially through difficult or unknown terrain, similar to a shepherd guiding sheep.
• in the land (בְּאֶרֶץ - bə’ereṣ): "In the land" or "in a land." While "land" (ereṣ) can denote physical territory, in a spiritual context like this, it points to a sphere or condition of existence, a metaphorical domain.
• of uprightness (מִישׁוֹר - mîšôr): From yashar (יָשַׁר), to be straight, right. Mishor literally means a level place, plain, or equity/straightness. Metaphorically, it represents a state or path of moral rectitude, fairness, truth, and stability. It's not just avoiding wrong, but walking in positive righteousness, a stable and morally sound existence.

• Teach me to do your will: This phrase highlights the interconnectedness of knowing and doing. It implies a desire for practical theology, where knowledge of God’s desires immediately translates into obedient action. It shows a commitment to intentional, Spirit-led living.
• for you are my God: This declaration serves as the bedrock for the psalmist's petition. It defines the nature of the relationship, grounding the request in covenant loyalty, God’s sovereignty, and His intimate knowledge of His worshiper's needs and capacity. It acknowledges God's exclusive right to dictate purpose and direction.
• your Spirit is good; lead me in the land of uprightness: This grouping identifies the divine agent (the good Spirit) and the desired outcome or sphere of life (the land of uprightness). The goodness of the Spirit guarantees that the guidance is trustworthy and leads to morally straight and flourishing paths, rather than confusing or destructive ones. It promises steady, secure navigation through the complexities of life into a realm characterized by moral rectitude and spiritual stability.

Psalm 143 10 Bonus section

• This verse subtly points to the practical outworking of Trinitarian theology: The psalmist prays to God (the Father implicitly through "my God") for guidance into His will, by the agency of "Your Spirit." This shows the unified work of the Godhead in human spiritual formation and guidance.
• The "land of uprightness" can be seen as a counterpoint to the chaotic and unrighteous world in which the psalmist finds himself. It represents an ideal, divinely ordered existence, a foreshadowing of life lived fully in the Kingdom of God, characterized by peace, justice, and alignment with God's perfect standard.
• The continuous nature of the verbs "teach" and "lead" implies that this is not a one-time request but an ongoing spiritual discipline and necessity. Believers constantly need renewed instruction and persistent guidance from God and His Spirit throughout their lives, especially amidst evolving challenges.
• The "goodness" of the Spirit is critical. It ensures that God's guidance is never manipulative, harmful, or arbitrary. It is always directed towards the flourishing and ultimate good of the believer, consistent with God's character. This assurance empowers confident reliance on His direction.

Psalm 143 10 Commentary

Psalm 143:10 stands as a timeless prayer for intentional divine guidance. It moves beyond a general desire for help, pinpointing the specific need to "do Your will." This emphasis on doing underscores that true spiritual understanding is not merely intellectual, but expressed through obedience and lifestyle. The psalmist grounds his plea in the intimate covenant relationship, "for You are my God," affirming his absolute dependence on God's sovereignty and faithfulness as the ultimate teacher. The second part of the verse turns to the empowering agent: God's "good Spirit." This highlights the crucial role of the Holy Spirit as the benevolent guide who transforms the will to understand God's desires and empowers the believer to walk "in the land of uprightness." This "land" is not a physical location but a metaphorical sphere of existence marked by righteousness, integrity, and spiritual stability. Amidst overwhelming external pressures, this prayer offers a paradigm for all believers: seeking the good Spirit's instruction not just to escape hardship, but to live purposefully and righteously within it, consistently conforming to God's benevolent design for life. It transforms despair into a path of deliberate spiritual formation and obedient living.