Master's Prayer Network

A — Some Background about David’s First Base of Operation

David stopped at Nob while fleeing from King Saul — alone and without food or weapon. The priest gave him the showbread and the sword of Goliath. David then went into Philistine territory at Gath, but when he feared for his safety he feigned madness so the king left him alone. 1 Samuel 22:1–2 “David therefore departed thence, and escaped to the cave Adullam: and when his brethren and all his father’s house heard it, they went down thither to him. And every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented, resorted to him; and he became a captain over them: and there were with him about four hundred men.”

Comments: This is the point when David’s situation first became overwhelming to him, and Psalm 142 seems to be best suited to this point in his life. With no lapse of time given, verse one ends with the information that his family heard David was at that cave, and they came to him. Circumstances began to improve as others who were in distress joined David there, and after an unspecified time he was captain over about four hundred men.

B — David Cried to the Lord While He Was Alone

Comments: The heading for this psalm designates it as instructive by the term Maschil, and it is a prayer. David may have wanted this to be instructive to himself whenever he faced similar circumstances again, or he may have wanted it to have general application for others who would face very trying difficulties with a bleak outlook. Psalm 143:3–4 expresses the similar feeling of being overwhelmed: “For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; he hath smitten my life down to the ground… Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed within me; my heart within me is desolate.” Asaph also wrote of crying out to God: Psalm 77:1–3 “I cried to God with my voice… In the day of my trouble I sought the LORD… I remembered God, and was troubled: I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed.” The believers who are instructed by this psalm for prayer can have confidence that the Lord also knows their situation down to the smallest detail, but it is still appropriate to voice those details before the LORD.

C — The Lord Alone Became David’s Refuge

Comments: When David went to Gath he was placing himself before people who had more than enough reason to want to see him dead. He found himself completely alone with no immediate place of refuge in mind. There was no one with him to provide even the slightest solace, and he desperately cried out to the LORD declaring God as his only refuge. Psalm 59 demonstrates that David began with confidence in the LORD as his own resources for refuge began to disappear: “But I will sing of thy power; yes, I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning: for thou hast been my defense and refuge in the day of my trouble.” Psalm 46:1–2 calls the believer to sing of the most reliable source of refuge: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will we not fear, though the earth shall be removed…” In the most chaotic and threatening circumstances imaginable we can be calmed by the reality that God is with us and he is the refuge of our soul.

D — David Believed the Lord Would Deliver Him

Comments: David gave testimony throughout his lifetime that he believed the LORD would deliver him from those who wanted to take his life. Psalm 27:13–14 “I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he will strengthen thy heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.” When King Saul was pursuing David, an encounter at the cave of Engedi demonstrated that David’s trust for deliverance was in the LORD, not in King Saul. On a second encounter, David would not harm Saul but called to him: 1 Samuel 26:23–24 “The LORD render to every man his righteousness and his faithfulness: for the LORD delivered thee into my hand to-day, but I would not stretch forth my hand against the LORD’S anointed. And behold, as thy life was precious this day in mine eyes, so let my life be precious in the eyes of the LORD, and let him deliver me out of all tribulation.” David asked that his soul be brought out of captivity so he could freely praise the LORD. As David closed with the last verse of Psalm 142 he expressed confidence that the LORD would deal bountifully with him. Psalm 116:6–9 “The LORD preserveth the simple: I was brought low, and he helped me. Return to thy rest, O my soul; for the LORD hath dealt bountifully with thee. For thou hast delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, and my feet from falling. I will walk before the LORD in the land of the living.”