Psalms 142

A maskil of David; a prayer when he was in the cave

142:Title See 1 Sam 22:1; 1 Sam 24:3. Maskil was probably a literary or musical term.⚜

I cried out to the LORD with

my voice;

with my voice I made my

supplication to the LORD.

2 I poured out my complaint

before him.

I declared my trouble in

his presence.

142:1-2 This is the prayer of a lonely, desperate man. It teaches us what to do if we are ever in such a state. The first and most important thing is to lay our troubles before the Lord. There may be no human being we know who can help us, but He will hear us with sympathy and compassion. It is far better to pour out our complaint to the Lord than to men (Ps 3:4; 30:8; 34:6; 50:15; 62:8; Phil 4:6-7; 1 Pet 5:7).⚜

3 When my spirit was overwhelmed

within me,

then you knew my path.

They have secretly laid a snare for

me in the road where I walk.

142:3 David was a man of exceptional courage and faith, as his history shows. But he knew times of great spiritual weakness and depression – Ps 6:2; 38:8, 17; 61:2; 143:4. But God knew all about it and had compassion on him.⚜

4 I looked to my right

and considered,

but there was no

man who was willing

to know me.

Refuge failed me.

No one cared for my soul.

5 I cried out to you, O LORD.

I said, “You are my refuge

and my portion

in the land of the living.

142:5 A person without help or safety can take the Lord Himself for a refuge (Ps 7:1; 9:9; 37:39; 46:1; 61:3), and the person without a friend or a possession can go to the Friend of the friendless and find an eternally satisfying portion (Ps 16:5; 73:26).⚜

6 Be attentive to my cry,

for I am brought very low.

Deliver me from my persecutors,

for they are stronger than I.

142:6 See Ps 25:20; 43:1; 71:2; 116:4. God is the strength of those who learn they have not enough of their own (Ps 18:1; 31:4; 59:17; 62:7; Hab 3:19; 2 Cor 12:9).⚜

7 Bring my soul out of prison,

that I may praise your name.

The righteous will be all

around me,

for you will show goodness to me”.

142:7 David was not in a literal prison. The cave he was in, the surrounding enemy forces seemed like a prison to him. God heard David’s prayer in this psalm and David praised God for his deliverance.⚜