David
Psalm 142
Maschil of David; A Prayer when he was in the cave.
Scripture (KJV)
1I cried unto the Lord with my voice; with my voice unto the Lord did I make my supplication.
2I poured out my complaint before him; I shewed before him my trouble.
3When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then thou knewest my path. In the way wherein I walked have they privily laid a snare for me.
4I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul.
5I cried unto thee, O Lord: I said, Thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living.
6Attend unto my cry; for I am brought very low: deliver me from my persecutors; for they are stronger than I.
7Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise thy name: the righteous shall compass me about; for thou shalt deal bountifully with me.
Summary
Psalm 142 is a maskil of David, composed when he was hiding in a cave—likely during his flight from Saul. It is one of the most transparent prayers of despair in the Psalter. David pours out his complaint, overwhelmed in spirit, with enemies secretly laying snares. He looks to his right hand and finds no human helper—refuge has failed and no one cares for his soul. In that very loneliness he turns to God: "Thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living." He cries for deliverance because his persecutors are stronger than he is, and he asks the Lord to bring his soul out of prison so that he may praise God’s name. He ends with the confidence that the righteous will surround him because God will deal bountifully with him.
The major themes are lament, loneliness, refuge, deliverance, and praise. The movement from "no man cared for my soul" to "thou art my refuge and my portion" is the heart of the psalm. Practically, it teaches that the cave of despair is the place to cry aloud to God and that the absence of human help is the occasion for divine refuge. The great lesson is that the soul brought out of prison has a new purpose: to praise the name of the Lord.
Key Themes
A Prayer from Psalm 142
Lord, I cry to You with my voice; I pour out my complaint before You and show You my trouble. When my spirit is overwhelmed within me, You know my path. Where I look for a friend and find none, where refuge fails and no one cares for my soul, be You my refuge and my portion in the land of the living. Attend to my cry, for I am brought very low. Deliver me from my persecutors, for they are stronger than I. Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise Your name. Surround me with the righteous, and deal bountifully with me as only You can. In the cave of my loneliness, let me find You and find no lack. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Reflection Questions
- 1When have I felt that "no man cared for my soul," and to whom did I turn?
- 2What does it mean for God to be my "refuge and portion in the land of the living"?
- 3What "prison" do I need God to bring my soul out of so I can praise Him?
- 4How can my present trouble become the raw material for honest prayer?
Related Psalms
Psalm 57
“Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: and in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge.”
A prayer for refuge and a resolve to awake the dawn with praise.
Read morePsalm 140
“Deliver me, O Lord, from the evil man: preserve me from the violent man;”
Psalm 140 is a lament of David against violent and deceitful enemies.
Read morePsalm 142
“I cried unto the Lord with my voice; with my voice unto the Lord did I make my supplication.”
Psalm 142 is a maskil of David, composed when he was hiding in a cave—likely during his flight from Saul.
Read morePsalm 13
“How long wilt thou forget me, O Lord? for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me?”
A short lament of seeming abandonment resolved in steadfast love.
Read morePsalm 31
“In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness.”
Trust in God amid distress and betrayal, committing the spirit to Him.
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