Psalm 142:2 Komentář

This psalm is a prayer, the substance of which David offered up to God when he was forced by Saul to take shelter in a cave, and which he afterwards penned in this form. Here is, I. The complaint he makes to God (Psa 142:1, Psa 142:2) of the subtlety, strength, and malice, of his enemies (Psa 142:3, Psa 142:6), and the coldness and indifference of his friends (Psa 142:4). II. The comfort he takes in God that he knew his case (Psa 142:3) and was his refuge (Psa 142:5). III. His expectation from God that he would hear and deliver him (Psa 142:6, Psa 142:7). IV His expectation from the righteous that they would join with him in praises (Psa 142:7). Those that are troubled in mind, body, or estate, may, in singing this psalm (if they sing it in some measure with David's spirit), both warrant his complaints and fetch in his comforts. Maschil of David. A prayer when he was in the cave.

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 142 Maschil of David; A Prayer when he was in the cave. Of the word "maschil", See Gill on Psa 32:1, title. This psalm is called a prayer, as some others are, the ninetieth and hundred second psalms: and was composed by David when either in the cave of Adullam, Sa1 22:1; or rather in the cave at Engedi, where he cut off Saul's skirt, Sa1 24:3; as Jarchi and Kimchi think. The psalm represents the troubles of David, and of the Messiah his antitype, and is applicable to the church of God, or to any particular soul when in distress.

I poured out my complaint before him,.... Not a complaint of the Lord and of his providences, but of himself; of his sins, and particularly his unbelief; and also of them that persecuted and afflicted him; which he "poured" out from the abundance of his heart, and in the bitterness of his soul; denoting the fulness of his prayer, his freedom in it, the power and fervency of it, and which he left before the Lord, and submitted to his will; see Psa 102:1, title; I showed before him my trouble; the present trouble he was in, being pursued and surrounded by Saul and his army; not as if the Lord was ignorant of it, and did not see and observe it, but to affect his own soul with it, to exercise grace under it, and ease his burdened and distressed mind; the best of men have their troubles both within and without, and the way to be rid of them is to carry them to the Lord.

"I will pour out before Him my prayer" [Psalm 142:2]. What is, "before Him"? In His sight. What is, in His sight? Where He sees. But where does He not see? For so do we say, 'where He sees,' as though somewhere He sees not. But in this assemblage of bodily substances men too see, animals too see: He sees where man sees not. For your thoughts no man sees, but God sees. There then pour out your prayer, where He alone sees, who rewards. For the Lord Jesus Christ bade you pray in secret: but if you know what "your closet" is, and cleansest it, there you pray to God. "But you," says He, "when you pray, enter into your closet, and shut the door, and pray to your Father in secret, and He who sees in secret shall reward you." [Matthew 6:6] If men are to reward you, pour out your prayer before men: if God is to reward you, pour out your prayer before Him; and close the door, lest the tempter enter. Therefore the Apostle, because it is in our power to shut the door, the door of our hearts, not of our walls, for in it is our "closet,"— because it is in our power to shut this door, says, "neither give place to the devil." [Ephesians 4:27] But what is to "shut the door"? This door has as it were two leaves, desire and fear. Either thou desires something earthly, and he enters by this; or you fear something earthly, and he enters by that. Close then the door of fear and desire against the devil, open it to Christ. How do you open these folding doors to Christ? By desiring the kingdom of heaven, by fearing the fire of hell. By desire of this world the devil enters, by desire of eternal life Christ enters; by fear of temporal punishment the devil enters, by fear of everlasting fire Christ enters....

The scope of this Psalm is the same as that of the preceding. (Psa 148:1-14) heavens [and] heights--are synonymous.

(Compare Psa 62:8). I poured out my complaint--or, "a sad musing."