A CRY FROM THE CAVE

PSALM 142:1-7 NKJ 
1 I cry out to the Lord with my voice; 
With my voice to the Lord I make my supplication. 
2 I pour out my complaint before Him; 
I declare before Him my trouble. 
3 When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, 
Then You knew my path. 
In the way in which I walk 
They have secretly set a snare for me. 
4 Look on my right hand and see, 
For there is no one who acknowledges me; 
Refuge has failed me; 
No one cares for my soul. 
5 I cried out to You, O Lord: 
I said, "You are my refuge, 
My portion in the land of the living. 
6 Attend to my cry, 
For I am brought very low; 
Deliver me from my persecutors, 
For they are stronger than I. 
7 Bring my soul out of prison, 
That I may praise Your name; 
The righteous shall surround me, 
For You shall deal bountifully with me." 

 OBSERVATION: 

I don't usually do devotionals from an entire psalm. But this one warrants a closer look at the whole message. 

Dave is in the cave. Sorry, couldn't resist that. But it is true. David wrote this Psalm after escaping from the Philistines. He was taking shelter in the cave of Adullam. And he was between a rock and a hard place. Literally. Saul was intent on killing him, and he had no place to go.   

So, with that background, we have a better picture of what is going on with David.   

This Psalm is the cry of a man who feels pushed, pressured, and having difficulties on every side. He speaks of crying out to the Lord with his complaint and trouble.   

David felt as if he had no more strength. He declared that his spirit was overwhelmed. A literal rendering is his spirit had fainted. This is not a common theme in any of the psalms that David wrote. David is hurting. He states that no one cares for his soul.   

But in verse five, we sense a shift. David begins to declare who God is to him. "You are my refuge and my portion in the land of the living." This is sounding like the David we see overcome and win.   

He goes on to ask for deliverance from his enemies, who are stronger than he is.   

David also asks for his soul to be brought out of prison. We know he was not in a literal prison. But it's possible his difficult situation had caused him to feel that way.   

But David ends on a good note. He declares that godly good people are going to help him. Due to the fact that the Lord will deal bountifully with him. This is the David we know and love. This is the David that believes God will be good to him, and he will come through this cave season of his life.   

APPLICATION: 

David's pattern in this Psalm is worth noting. We may start out in a cave metaphorically speaking. A cave is dark, dank, and depressing.   

But. But we believe God will help us and bring us out. We believe He, God, cares for our soul. That He is our refuge and strength.   

We believe God has and will deliver us from enemies that are too strong for us. And that God will deal bountifully, abundantly well with us.   

We believe this cave season will pass.   

PRAYER: 

Thank you, Father. You are helping me and dealing well with me. You are bringing me out of the cave.