Heart of a Psalmist - Worshipping Christ Through The Psalms

places. These verses closely parallel Psalm 140:5; “The proud have set a trap to catch me; they have stretched out a net; they have placed traps all along the way” causing us to believe that the background of both psalms was similar or the same. In both psalms David calls upon the “Sovereign Lord” [Yahweh Adonai] to be his deliverer: “O Sovereign Lord, my strong savior…” (Ps. 140:7) In times when we are helpless to defend ourselves there is a refuge in prayer and in the name of our God who is completely limitless and sovereign. ‘My prayer is painful and feeble, and worthy only to be called a cry; but it is a cry unto Jehovah, and this ennobles it.’ 7

1 Keil & Delitzsch 2 Spurgeon 3 Scroggie 4 Scroggie 5 Keil & Delitzsch

6 Spurgeon 7 Spurgeon

PSALM 142: BRING ME OUT OF PRISON Jesus is Right Beside Me

This is the last of six psalms by David recounting the times where his father-in-law, King Saul, hunted him. It is the second of two (57, 142) written from the caves that David used to hide from the angry King. The language and desperate circumstances makes it a close relative with Psalms 140, 141 and 143. It begins with David focused on his own troubles represented by his use of the word “I”; and switches to a newly deepened trust in the Lord indicated by the word “you”. It is personal prayer of the highest cal- iber coming from the depths and despair of the human soul. Christ is seen as the one who will ‘stand at our right hand’ to help us when no one else cares. He is also the one who was delivered from the ‘cave of death’ and is now surrounded by those whom he has made godly. It is outlined in two, distinct sec- tions:

I TELL HIM ALL MY TROUBLES - vs 1-4

Focused on “I”

II TREAT ME KINDLY - vs. 5-7

Focused on “You”

INTRODUCTION:

Here are the six psalm Introductions that relate to Saul: • Psalm 18- “For the choir director: A psalm of David, the servant of the Lord. He sang this song to the Lord on the day the Lord rescued him from all his enemies and from Saul.” • Psalm 52- “For the choir director: A psalm of David, regarding the time Doeg the Edomite told Saul that Ahimelech had given refuge to David.” • Psalm 54- “For the choir director: A meditation of David, regarding the time the Ziphites came and said to Saul, ‘ We know where David is hiding.’ To be accompanied by stringed instruments.” • Psalm 57- “For the choir director: A psalm of David, regarding the time he fled from Saul and went into the cave. To be sung to the tune ‘Do Not Destroy!’” • Psalm 59- “For the choir director: A psalm of David, regarding the time Saul sent soldiers to watch David’s house in order to kill him. To be sung to the tune ‘Do Not Destroy!’” • Psalm 142- “A psalm of David, regarding his experience in the cave. A prayer.” The cave referred to in this psalm is either ‘the cave of Adullam;’ “So David left Gath and escaped to the cave of Adullam. Soon his brothers and other relatives joined him there. Then others began com- ing –men who were in trouble or in debt or who were just discontented–until David was the leader of about four hundred men.” (1 Sam. 22:1, 2) Or it was most likely referring to the incident at the cave of En-Gedi, a labyrinth of caverns that has never been fully explored and mapped: “At the place where the road passes some sheepfolds, Saul went into a cave to relieve himself. But as it happened, David and his men were hiding in that very cave!” Rather than killing Saul, David cut off a piece of his garment and then confronted his King moments later at the entrance of the cave: “Then he shouted to Saul, ‘ Why do you listen to the people who say I am trying to harm you? This very day you can see with your own eyes

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