Psalms 142

Psalms 142:1

Psalm 142: No Man CaresPursued by his enemies, deserted by his friends, holed up in a cavethat is where we find David now. 142:1, 2 He is praying out loudeven if he is alone. The cries and supplications of a forsaken man reverberate through the cavern. He pours out his complaint before the Lordnot that he is angry or resentful but simply that he wants to tell the Lord all about his trouble and grief. It is comforting for him to know that when his strength is all but gone, Jehovah knows what he is going through. 142:3, 4 One major factor in his tale of woe is the constant threat of his enemies; they are always setting a trap where they think he will walk. When he looks to the right, that is, to the place of an advocate or helper, there is no one. Everyone seems indifferent to his desperate need. No one cares for his life. It is really a haunting cry, “No one cares for my soul,” a terrible indictment against a selfish, depersonalized societyand perhaps today against a sleeping church. 142:5-7 But if there is no refuge on the human level, he can turn to the LORD, an unfailing refuge and a blessed portion in the land of the living. So David asks the Lord to come to his rescue quickly because he is at the end of his rope. Those who are out after him hold the balance of power, so he needs the Lord to tip the scales in his favor. When Jehovah delivers him from this prison of exile and trouble, David will show how thankful he is. Also the believers will crowd around to congratulate him and join in thanksgiving because the Lord has been so good to him. As Clarke says, “Those who cannot protect us in our trouble may yet participate in our triumph.”