Psalm 142

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 142

This psalm is a prayer, the substance of which David offered up to God when he was forced by Saul to take shelter in a cave, and which he afterwards penned in this form. Here is, I. The complaint he makes to God (Ps. 142:1, 2) of the subtlety, strength, and malice, of his enemies (Ps. 142:3, 6), and the coldness and indifference of his friends, Ps. 142:4. II. The comfort he takes in God that he knew his case (Ps. 142:3) and was his refuge, Ps. 142:5. III. His expectation from God that he would... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 142:1-3

Whether it was in the cave of Adullam, or that of Engedi, that David prayed this prayer, is not material; it is plain that he was in distress. It was a great disgrace to so great a soldier, so great a courtier, to be put to such shifts for his own safety, and a great terror to be so hotly pursued and every moment in expectation of death; yet then he had such a presence of mind as to pray this prayer, and, wherever he was, still had his religion about him. Prayers and tears were his weapons,... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 142:4-7

The psalmist here tells us, for our instruction, 1. How he was disowned and deserted by his friends, Ps. 142:4. When he was in favour at court he seemed to have a great interest, but when he was made an out-law, and it was dangerous for any one to harbour him (witness Ahimelech's fate), then no man would know him, but every body was shy of him. He looked on his right hand for an advocate (Ps. 109:31), some friend or other to speak a good word for him; but, since Jonathan's appearing for him... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 142

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 142 Maschil of David; A Prayer when he was in the cave . Of the word "maschil", See Gill on Psalm 32:1 , title. This psalm is called a prayer, as some others are, the ninetieth and hundred second psalms: and was composed by David when either in the cave of Adullam, 1 Samuel 22:1 ; or rather in the cave at Engedi, where he cut off Saul's skirt, 1 Samuel 24:3 ; as Jarchi and Kimchi think. The psalm represents the troubles of David, and of the Messiah his... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 142:1

I cried unto the Lord with my voice ,.... With the voice of his soul, in the language of his mind, mentally, as Moses and Hannah cried unto the Lord when no voice was heard, or articulate sounds expressed, since this prayer was put up to the Lord in the cave where Saul was; though it might have been delivered before he came into it, while he and his men were at the mouth of it, which threw David into this distress; besides the cave was so large as to hold David and his six hundred men... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 142:2

I poured out my complaint before him ,.... Not a complaint of the Lord and of his providences, but of himself; of his sins, and particularly his unbelief; and also of them that persecuted and afflicted him; which he "poured" out from the abundance of his heart, and in the bitterness of his soul; denoting the fulness of his prayer, his freedom in it, the power and fervency of it, and which he left before the Lord, and submitted to his will; see Psalm 102:1 , title; I showed before him my... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 142:3

When my spirit was overwhelmed within me ,.... Ready to sink and faint under the present affliction, being attended with the hidings of God's face, and with unbelieving frames; which is sometimes the case of God's people, and with which they are as it were covered and overwhelmed, as well as with a sense of sin, and with shame and sorrow for it; see Psalm 61:2 ; then thou knewest my path : the eyes of the Lord are upon all men, and he knows their goings, none of them are hid from him;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 142:4

I looked on my right hand, and beheld ,.... On the left, so Kimchi supplies it, and after him Piscator; he looked about him every way to the right and left, to see if he could get any help, or find out any way of deliverance. To this sense the Targum, Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Arabic versions render the words; and so Kimchi and Aben Ezra understand them: but some render them in the imperative, "look on the right hand, and behold" F14 הביט ימין וראה "respice dexteram... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 142:5

I cried unto thee, O Lord ,.... Finding no help from man, he turns to the Lord, and directs his prayer to him in his distress; I said, thou art my refuge ; as he was, from all his enemies that were in pursuit of him, and from the storm of calamities he apprehended was coming upon him: and a refuge the Lord is to all his people in time of trouble; and where they always meet with sustenance, protection, and safety; he being a strong habitation, a strong hold, a strong refuge, to which... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 142:6

Attend unto my cry ,.... His prayer and supplication for help in his distress, which he desires might be hearkened unto and answered; for I am brought very low ; in his spirit, in the exercise of grace, being in great affliction, and reduced to the utmost extremity, weakened, impoverished, and exhausted; wanting both men and money to assist him, Psalm 79:8 ; deliver me from my persecutors ; Saul and his men, who were in pursuit of him with great warmth and eagerness; for they... read more

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