Bible Commentaries
Psalms 142

Verse 1

« Maschil of David; A Prayer when he was in the cave. » I cried unto the LORD with my voice; with my voice unto the LORD did I make my supplication.

When he was in the cave — sc. Of Engedi, 1 Samuel 24:1 Loquitur in spelunca, sed prophetat in Christo, saith Hilary.

I cried unto the Lord with my voice — sc. Of my heart, and more with my mind than mouth; for if he had been heard, he had been taken up by the enemy. Thus Moses cried, but uttered nothing, Exodus 14:15 , Egit vocis silentio, ut corde clamaret (Aug.). Thus Christ cried, Hebrews 5:7 .

Verse 2

I poured out my complaint before him; I shewed before him my trouble.

I poured out my complaint — Heb. my mussitation.

I showed before him — Plainly and plentifully, how my danger increased to a very crisis, as one expresseth it.

Verse 3

When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then thou knewest my path. In the way wherein I walked have they privily laid a snare for me.

When my spirit was overwhelmed within me — Or, covered over, with grief, as the Greek expoundeth it.

Then thou knewest my path — sc. That I neither fretted nor fainted; or, thou knewest how to make a way to escape, 1 Corinthians 10:13 . The Lord knoweth how to deliver his, 2 Peter 2:9 .

Verse 4

I looked on [my] right hand, and beheld, but [there was] no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul.

I looked on my right hand — Not a man would appear for me. Aφιλον το δυστυχες , misery is friendless for the most part. See 2 Timothy 4:16 . Nulla fides unquam miseros delegit amicos.

Verse 5

I cried unto thee, O LORD: I said, Thou [art] my refuge [and] my portion in the land of the living.

I cried unto thee, O Lord — I ran to thee, as my last refuge, in the fail of all outward comforts. Zephaniah 3:12 , they are an "afflicted poor people"; and being so, "they trust in the name of the Lord."

Verse 6

Attend unto my cry; for I am brought very low: deliver me from my persecutors; for they are stronger than I.

For I am brought very low — Exhausted and drawn dry; utterly wasted, and disabled to help myself any way, Depauperatus sum (Vat.).

Verse 7

Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise thy name: the righteous shall compass me about; for thou shalt deal bountifully with me.

Bring my soul out of prison — i.e. Out of this distress, wherewith I am no less straitened than if in prison.

The righteous shall compass me about — Heb. shall crown me; that is, shall encircle me, as wondering at thy goodness in my deliverance; or they shall set the crown on mine head, as the saints do likewise upon Christ’s head, Song of Solomon 3:11 to whom this psalm may be fitly applied all along, as above said.