1. The psalmist's complaint 143:1-6

143:1-4 David appealed to God to answer his prayer because God is faithful and righteous. Evidently part of David's suffering sprang from his own sin since he asked that God not judge him. If He did, no one could stand because everyone is unrighteous. Another source of distress was an enemy who had ground David down so that he felt very depressed as well as afflicted.

143:5-6 In his distress David remembered former better days. He meditated on God's acts and works. He appealed to the Lord as a desperate man who is dying from thirst cries out for water.