Psalm 142

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 142:7

Bring my soul out of prison ,.... Not out of purgatory, to which some Popish writers wrest these words very absurdly; nor out of the prison of his body, as Joseph Ben Gorion F16 Hist. Heb. l. 6. c. 20. p. 610. ; knowing that none but God had a power of removing it from thence; but out of the cave, where he was detained as in a prison, while Saul and his men were about the mouth of it; or rather out of all his straits, distresses, and difficulties, which surrounded and pressed him on... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 142

The psalmist, in great distress and difficulty, calls upon God, Psalm 142:1-7 . The title says, "An Instruction of David," or a Psalm of David giving instruction; "A Prayer when he was in the cave." David was twice in great peril in caves. At the cave of Adullam, when he fled from Achish, king of Gath, 1 Samuel 22. When he was in the cave of En-gedi, where he had taken refuge from the pursuit of Saul; and the latter, without knowing that David was in it, had gone into it on some... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 142:1

I cried unto the Lord - See on Psalm 141:1 ; (note). read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 142:3

Then thou knewest my path - When Saul and his army were about the cave in which I was hidden, thou knewest my path - that I had then no way of escape but by miracle: but thou didst not permit them to know that I was wholly in their power. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 142:4

There was no man, that would know me - This has been applied to the time in which our Lord was deserted by his disciples. As to the case of David in the cave of En-gedi, he had no refuge: for what were the handful of men that were with him to Saul and his army? read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 142:5

Thou art my refuge - Even in these most disastrous circumstances, I will put my trust in thee. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 142:6

I am brought very low - Never was I so near total ruin before. Deliver me from my persecutors - They are now in full possession of the only means of my escape. They are stronger than I - What am I and my men against this well-appointed armed multitude, with their king at their head. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 142:7

Bring my soul out of prison - Bring נפשי naphshi , my life, out of this cave in which it is now imprisoned; Saul and his men being in possession of the entrance. The righteous shall compass me about - יכתרו yachtiru , they shall crown me; perhaps meaning that the pious Jews, on the death of Saul, would cheerfully join together to make him king, being convinced that God, by his bountiful dealings with him, intended that it should be so. The old Psalter, which is imperfect from the... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 142:1

Verse 1 1.I cried (245) to Jehovah, etc. It showed singular presence of mind in David that he was not paralyzed with fear, or that he did not in a paroxysm of fury take vengeance upon his enemy, as he easily might have done; and that he was not actuated by despair to take away his life, but composedly addressed himself to the exercise of prayer. There was good reason why the title should have been affixed to the Psalm to note this circumstance, and David had good grounds for mentioning how he... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 142:3

Verse 3 3.When, my spirit, etc. Though he owns here that he felt anxiety, yet he confirms what he had said as to the constancy of his faith. The figure which he uses of his spirit being perplexed, (246) aptly represents the state of the mind in alternating between various resolutions when there was no apparent outgate from danger, and increasing its distress by resorting to all kinds of devices. He adds, that though there was no apparent way of safety, God knew from the beginning in what way... read more

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