Psalms 142:1

PSALM 142

O JEHOVAH; THOU ART MY REFUGE

Baigent pointed out that the sentiments of this psalm are those of Charles Wesley's immortal hymn, "Jesus, Lover of my Soul."[1]

"Other refuge have I none;

Hangs my helpless soul on thee.

Hide me, O my Saviour, hide

Till the storm of life is past."[2]

The superscription ascribes Psalms 142 to David; and there being nothing whatever in the psalm to raise any doubt of it, we shall so consider it. Of course, scholars who find an Aramaism here and there, speak knowingly of post-exilic times, apparently never having heard of the Ras Shamra discoveries which have completely exploded the myth that Aramaisms indicate a late date. Rawlinson's comment on the author is, "Once more David cries to God for protection and deliverance."[3]

The superscription also carries the line, "When he was in the cave." Rawlinson identified the cave as that of Adullam (1 Samuel 22:1,2)."[4] Delitzsch, however, added "The cave of Engedi (1 Samuel 24) as another possibility."[5] Halley's comment is that, "This is one of David's prayers in early life, while hiding in a cave from Saul."[6]

Here we shall follow the paragraphing suggested by Delitzsch.

Psalms 142:1-3a

"I cry with my voice unto Jehovah;

With my voice unto Jehovah do I make supplication.

I pour out my complaint before him; I show before him my trouble.

When my spirit was overwhelmed within me,

Thou knewest my path."

"I cry with my voice" (Psalms 142:1). There was nothing "silent" about this prayer. Briggs pointed out that the repetition of the words, "with my voice," "Is to emphasize the fact that it was oral ... it burst forth in loud cries."[7]

Nothing embarrasses the Devil like a loud prayer. The classical example is Bartimaeus' yelling at the top of his voice, "Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy upon me!" This sent the Pharisees into a frenzy trying to hush him up, but Jesus loved it, and said, "Bring the man to me" (Mark 10:47).

"Thou knewest my path" (Psalms 142:3c). God already knew all about David's problems, but that did not eliminate the necessity of his calling upon God for help. "Your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things" (Matthew 6:32).