Psalms 142

Psalms 142:1-7

Psalms 1421. Maschil. By David, when he was in the cave. A prayer. It is called a maschil or didactic psalm, because it might otherwise have seemed to contain matter wholly personal to David. See above, on Psalms 32:1.

When he was, literally in his being, which does not refer exclusively to time, but suggests the occasion or exciting cause. The reference may be either to the cave of Adullam (1 Samuel 22:1), or to that of Engedi (1 Samuel 24:3), or to that period and mode of life in general, when David was obliged to seek refuge in caves, and which, he might expect to see reproduced, under other forms, in the experience of his successors, for whose guidance and encouragement this psalm was written. See above, on Psalms 57:1. It is called a prayer, because the complaint or description of the danger, Psalms 142:1-4, is merely introductory to the petition for deliver ance, Psalms 142:5-7. See above, on Psalms 17:1; Psalms 86:1; Psalms 90:1; Psalms 102:1.

2. (Psalms 142:1) (With) my voice to Jehovah I cry; (with) my voice to Jehovah I make supplication. With the first clause compare Psalms 3:4; with the second, Psalms 30:8. There are also coincidences of expression with Psalms 22:5; Psalms 77:1; Psalms 140:6; Psalms 141:1. With my voice, i.e. audibly, aloud, as opposed to a mere mental prayer. The word translated supplication means, according to its etymology, a prayer for grace or mercy.

3. (Psalms 142:2) I pour out before him my care; my trouble before him I tell. With the first clause compare Psalms 42:4; Psalms 62:8, 1 Samuel 1:15, Lamentations 2:19. The word translated care means properly reflection, meditation, musing, especially such as is anxious and sad. See above, on Psalms 64:1.

4. (Psalms 142:3) Because my spirit is overwhelmed within me— and thou knowest my path— in the way that I go, they have hid a snare for me. The literal translation of the first words is, in my spirit’s being overwhelmed, which may indicate either the time or the cause of his distress. See above, on Psalms 142:1. Some adopt this construction: when my spirit is overwhelmed (then) thou knowest my path. Others suppose two reasons to be given for his calling upon God, his distress and his trust in the divine omniscience. Because my spirit is overwhelmed, and (because) thou knowest my path.

But as the form of the two phrases is entirely different in Hebrew, the simplest and safest construction is to treat the second clause as parenthetical. Within me, literally upon me; see above, on Psalms 42:4-6. In the way that I go, i.e. along my path. See above, on Psalms 140:4. The words may mean, however, as in Psalms 143:8, in the way that I should go, i.e. in the path of duty. Without my fault they hid a snare for me.

With the first clause of this verse compare Psalms 42:4; Psalms 61:2; Psalms 77:3, and with the last, Psalms 140:5; Psalms 141:9; Psalms 143:8.

5. (Psalms 142:4) Look to the right and see— and there is no one knowing me— refuge has failed me— there is no one caring for my soul. The first two verbs must be translated as imperatives, as in the margin of the English Bible. The right hand is mentioned as the post of a protector. See above, on Psalms 109:6; Psalms 110:5; Psalms 121:5 : The and at the beginning of the second clause is foreign from our idiom, which would seem to require that or for. We might however say, look to the right and see, and (you will find that) there is not one, etc. Knowing, recognising, willing to acknowledge, much less to defend.

There is none to me, i.e. I have none. Far from having a protector at my right hand, I have not even one who will acknowledge that he knows me. Caring, literally seeking, asking, or inquiring after it, in order to assist or save it. Nearly the same form of speech is used to express the very opposite idea, that of seeking one’s soul to destroy it. See above, on Psalms 35:4.

6. (Psalms 142:5) I have cried unto thee, Jehovah. I have said, Thou (art) my refuge, my portion in the land of life. I have cried and still cry; I have said and still say. With this last expression compare Psalms 31:14; Psalms 41:4. Thou (art) my refuge, as in Psalms 62:7; Psalms 71:7. My portion, as in Psalms 16:5; Psalms 73:26; Psalms 119:57. Land of life (or of the living), as in Psalms 27:13; Psalms 52:5.

7. (Psalms 142:6) Hearken to my cry, for I am reduced greatly; free me from my persecutors, for they are mightier than I. All these are favourite Davidic phrases. Hearken to my cry, as in Psalms 17:1; Psalms 61:1. I am reduced (or weakened) greatly, as in Psalms 79:7; Psalms 116:6. Compare Judges 6:6. Free me from my persecutors, as in Psalms 7:1. They are mightier than I, as in Psalms 18:17.

8. (Psalms 142:7) Bring out from prison my soul, to thank thy name. Me shall the righteous surround when thou shalt bestow on me (favour). With the first clause compare Psalms 25:17; Psalms 107:10; Psalms 143:11. Some suppose an allusion to Joseph’s imprisonment and liberation. See above, on Psalms 105:17-20. To thank (or praise) thy name, although an exact translation, is restricted by the English idiom to the person mentioned just before, and can only mean in accordance with our usage, that I may thank thy name; whereas the Hebrew infinitive knows no such limitation, and in this case simply means, that some one (without defining who) may praise thy name; or, exchanging the active for the passive form, that thy name may be praised; or, retaining the indefiniteness of the original expression, for the praising of thy name.

The agents here intended are probably the righteous, who are mentioned in the next clause. The verb surround, which has a hostile sense in Psalms 22:13, Habakkuk 1:4, here means to gather round one with a friendly curiosity and eagerness, which some suppose to be suggested by the construction with the preposition, which cannot be expressed in English. This sympathy of the righteous in his joys and sorrows is a favourite idea with David. See above, on Psalms 35:27; Psalms 40:16. For the meaning and construction of the last verb see above, on Psalms 13:6; Psalms 103:10; Psalms 116:7.