When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, Then You knew my path. In the way in which I walk They have secretly set a snare for me. Psalm142:3
A Desperate Prayer
Psalm 142, a psalm of individual lament ascribed to David, provides a specific reference for the setting of the poem. The term the cave may refer to one of two occasions on which David hid from King Saul in a cave. One occurred in En Gedi (Ps. 57; 1 Sam. 24); the other at Adullam (1 Sam. 22:1, 2). The second may well be the setting for this poem of deep anguish. This was the time in David’s life when it appeared that he was totally alone. David cries for mercy, for he is faint and alone. Yet in his desperate need, he can cry out to God, sure the Lord will set him free.
142:3-5 In the midst of his distress, David makes his preliminary confession of trust – God knew his path from the beginning. Look on my right hand: With enemies on every path, David screams aloud to God that he is defenseless. The armed soldier in ancient Israel probably would have had his spear or sword in his right hand and his shield in his left. The shield of one man would protect the right side of his neighbor. David cries that there is no one on his right side; he expects to find God there. You are my refuge: In the midst of his pain, David renews his confession of trust that somehow God must be near. He then pleads with God to deliver him from his foes.
3 When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, Then You knew my path. In the way in which I walk They have secretly set a snare for me. 4 Look on my right hand and see, For there is no one who acknowledges me; Refuge has failed me; No one cares for my soul. 5 I cried out to You, O Lord: I said, “You are my refuge, My portion in the land of the living.
142:7 The cave that was intended as a place of refuge has become a place of confinement – a prison. The psalm ends with a vow that when God would deliver him from his awful experience, David would bring renewed praise to God in the worshipping community. Even though he is still in the midst of his distress, David is able to conclude with a prayer of faith; You shall deal bountifully with me.
7 Bring my soul out of prison, That I may praise Your name; The righteous shall surround me, For You shall deal bountifully with me.”
** This prayer of a desperate cry is similar to the prayer of Jesus Christ right before His execution on the cross. Evildoers never show their hands. They operate in secret to set a snare for their target. But God is watching. God has watched everything from the very beginning until now. We know that this prayer was answered. God had spared David’s life every time he prayed as well as Isaac’s life before him. However, God did not spare the life of His own son. We have this prayer to pray if we ever find ourselves also in trouble like David did.
142 1 A Contemplation of David. A Prayer when he was in the cave. I cry out to the Lord with my voice; With my voice to the Lord I make my supplication. 2 I pour out my complaint before Him; I declare before Him my trouble. 3 When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, Then You knew my path. In the way in which I walk They have secretly set a snare for me. 4 Look on my right hand and see, For there is no one who acknowledges me; Refuge has failed me; No one cares for my soul. 5 I cried out to You, O Lord: I said, “You are my refuge, My portion in the land of the living. 6 Attend to my cry, For I am brought very low; Deliver me from my persecutors, For they are stronger than I. 7 Bring my soul out of prison, That I may praise Your name; The righteous shall surround me, For You shall deal bountifully with me.”
