Psalms 142
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Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
The scope of this Psalm is the same as that of the preceding. (Psa 148:1-14) heavens [and] heights--are synonymous.
Open source ↗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 without being seen by Saul, and who could discourse together, as David and his men did, without being heard by Saul while he was in it; and so this psalm or prayer might be spoken vocally, though he was there; with my voice unto the Lord did I make, my supplication: the same thing in other words; "crying" is explained by making "supplication", which is praying to the Lord in an humble manner for grace and mercy, and not pleading merit and worthiness.
Open source ↗The emphasis of the first two lines rests upon אל־ה. Forsaken by all created beings, he confides in Jahve. He turns to Him in pathetic and importunate prayer (זעק, the parallel word being התחנּן, as in Psa 30:9), and that not merely inwardly (Exo 14:15), but with his voice (vid., on Psa 3:5) - for audible prayer reacts soothingly, strengtheningly, and sanctifyingly upon the praying one - he pours out before Him his trouble which distracts his thoughts (שׁפך שׂיח as in Psa 102:1, cf. Psa 62:9; Psa 64:2; Sa1 1:16), he lays open before Him everything that burdens and distresses him. Not as though He did not also know it without all this; on the contrary, when his spirit (רוּחי as in Psa 143:4; Psa 77:4, cf. נפשׁי Jon 2:7, Psa 107:5, לבּי Psa 61:3) within him (עלי, see Psa 42:5) is enshrouded and languishes, just this is his consolation, that Jahve is intimately acquainted with his way together with the dangers that threaten him at every step, and therefore also understands how to estimate the title (right) and meaning of his complaints. The Waw of ואתּה is the same as in Kg1 8:36, cf. Ps 35. Instead of saying: then I comfort myself with the fact that, etc., he at once declares the fact with which he comforts himself. Supposing this to be the case, there is no need for any alteration of the text in order to get over that which is apparently incongruous in the relation of Psa 142:4 to Psa 142:4.
Open source ↗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, and, when he durst not stretch forth his hands against his prince, he lifted them up to his God. There is no cave so deep, so dark, but we may out of it send up our prayers, and our souls in prayer, to God. He calls this prayer Maschil - a psalm of instruction, because of the good lessons he had himself learnt in the cave, learnt on his knees, which he desired to teach others. In these verses observe, I. How David complained to God, Psa 142:1, Psa 142:2. When the danger was over he was not ashamed to own (as great spirits sometimes are) the fright he had been in and the application he had made to God. Let no men of the first rank think it any diminution or disparagement to them, when they are in affliction, to cry to God, and to cry like children to their parents when any thing frightens them. David poured out his complaint, which denotes a free and full complaint; he was copious and particular in it. His heart was as full of his grievances as it could hold, but he made himself easy by pouring them out before the Lord; and this he did with great fervency: He cried unto the Lord with his voice, with the voice of his mind (so some think), for, being hidden in the cave, he durst not speak with an audible voice, lest that should betray him; but mental prayer is vocal to God, and he hears…
Open source ↗Ps 142 The psalmist faces severe persecution, so he cries to the Lord, and the Lord will rescue him. 142:1-7 regarding his experience in the cave: Cp. Ps 57:title. 142:1-3 Though overwhelmed by his persecutors (142:6), the psalmist looks to the Lord for wisdom.
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
מַשְׂכִּיל (maskîyl, H4905) — instructive, i.e. a didactic poem דָּוִד (Dâvid, H1732) — David, the youngest son of Jesse תְּפִלָּה (tᵉphillâh, H8605) — intercession, supplication; by implication, a hymn מְעָרָה (mᵉʻârâh, H4631) — a cavern (as dark) זָעַק (zâʻaq, H2199) — to shriek (from anguish or danger); by analogy, (as a herald) to announce or convene… יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God קוֹל (qôwl, H6963) — a voice or sound חָנַן (chânan, H2603) — properly, to bend or stoop in kindness to an inferior; to favor, bestow; causatively to…
Open source ↗שָׁפַךְ (shâphak, H8210) — to spill forth (blood, a libation, liquid metal; or even a solid, i.e. to mound up); also… שִׂיחַ (sîyach, H7879) — a contemplation; by implication, an utterance פָּנִים (pânîym, H6440) — the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and… נָגַד (nâgad, H5046) — properly, to front, i.e. stand boldly out opposite; by implication (causatively), to… צָרָה (tsârâh, H6869) — tightness (i.e. figuratively, trouble); transitively, a female rival:
Open source ↗רוּחַ (rûwach, H7307) — wind; by resemblance breath, i.e. a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively,… עָטַף (ʻâṭaph, H5848) — to shroud, i.e. clothe (whether transitive or reflex.); hence (from the idea of darkness)… יָדַע (yâdaʻ, H3045) — to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses,… נָתִיב (nâthîyb, H5410) — a (beaten) track אֹרַח (ʼôrach, H734) — a well-trodden road (literally or figuratively); also a caravan זוּ (zûw, H2098) — this or that הָלַךְ (hâlak, H1980) — to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively) טָמַן (ṭâman, H2934) — to hide (by covering over) פַּח (pach, H6341) — a (metallic) sheet (as pounded thin); also a spring net (as spread out like a lamina)
Open source ↗נָבַט (nâbaṭ, H5027) — to scan, i.e. look intently at; by implication, to regard with pleasure, favor or care יָמִין (yâmîyn, H3225) — the right hand or side (leg, eye) of a person or other object (as the stronger and more… רָאָה (râʼâh, H7200) — to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied,… נָכַר (nâkar, H5234) — properly, to scrutinize, i.e. look intently at; hence (with recognition implied), to… מָנוֹס (mânôwç, H4498) — a retreat (literally or figuratively); abstractly, a fleeing אָבַד (ʼâbad, H6) — properly, to wander away, i.e. lose oneself; by implication to perish (causative, destroy) דָּרַשׁ (dârash, H1875) — properly, to tread or frequent; usually to follow (for pursuit or search); by… נֶפֶשׁ (nephesh, H5315) — properly, a breathing creature, i.e. animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in…
Open source ↗זָעַק (zâʻaq, H2199) — to shriek (from anguish or danger); by analogy, (as a herald) to announce or convene… יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) מַחֲסֶה (machăçeh, H4268) — a shelter (literally or figuratively) חֵלֶק (chêleq, H2506) — properly, smoothness (of the tongue); also an allotment אֶרֶץ (ʼerets, H776) — the earth (at large, or partitively a land) חַי (chay, H2416) — alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong; also (as noun, especially…
Open source ↗קָשַׁב (qâshab, H7181) — to prick up the ears, i.e. hearken רִנָּה (rinnâh, H7440) — properly, a creaking (or shrill sound), i.e. shout (of joy or grief) דָּלַל (dâlal, H1809) — to slacken or be feeble; figuratively, to be oppressed מְאֹד (mᵉʼôd, H3966) — properly, vehemence, i.e. (with or without preposition) vehemently; by implication,… נָצַל (nâtsal, H5337) — to snatch away, whether in a good or a bad sense רָדַף (râdaph, H7291) — to run after (usually with hostile intent; figuratively (of time) gone by) אָמַץ (ʼâmats, H553) — to be alert, physically (on foot) or mentally (in courage)
Open source ↗יָצָא (yâtsâʼ, H3318) — to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and… נֶפֶשׁ (nephesh, H5315) — properly, a breathing creature, i.e. animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in… מַסְגֵּר (maçgêr, H4525) — a fastener, i.e. (of a person) a smith, (of a thing) a prison יָדָה (yâdâh, H3034) — physically, to throw (a stone, an arrow) at or away; especially to revere or worship… שֵׁם (shêm, H8034) — an appellation, as amark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority,… צַדִּיק (tsaddîyq, H6662) — just כָּתַר (kâthar, H3803) — to enclose; hence (in a friendly sense) to crown, (in a hostile one) to besiege; also to… גָּמַל (gâmal, H1580) — to treat a person (well or ill), i.e. benefit or requite; by implication (of toil), to…
Open source ↗Cross-references
Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy, for in You my soul takes refuge. In the shadow of Your wings I will take shelter until the danger has passed.
To You, O LORD, I called, and I begged my Lord for mercy:
I call upon You, O LORD; come quickly to me. Hear my voice when I call to You.
And Jabez called out to the God of Israel, “If only You would bless me and enlarge my territory! May Your hand be with me and keep me from harm, so that I will be free from pain.” And God granted the request of Jabez.
Soon Saul came to the sheepfolds along the road, where there was a cave, and he went in to relieve himself. And David and his men were hiding in the recesses of the cave.
Save me, O God, by Your name, and vindicate me by Your might!
Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.
Hear my cry for mercy when I call to You for help, when I lift up my hands toward Your holy sanctuary.
The world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and hid in caves and holes in the ground.