Day 880: Psalm 142- Cave Song (2)

With my voice I cry out to the Lord;
    with my voice I plead for mercy to the Lord.
2 I pour out my complaint before him;
    I tell my trouble before him.
 
3 When my spirit faints within me,
    you know my way!
In the path where I walk
    they have hidden a trap for me.
4 Look to the right and see:
    there is none who takes notice of me;
no refuge remains to me;
    no one cares for my soul.
5 I cry to you, O Lord;
    I say, “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 too strong for me!
7 Bring me out of prison,
    that I may give thanks to your name!
The righteous will surround me,
    for you will deal bountifully with me.
 
 
Meditation
God is sovereign and His shepherding care invites us to worship Him with wholehearted honesty. Today’s reading is a companion to Psalm 57, a contrast to the animated joy of David’s first cave song. Today’s song gives lyrics of focused faith for life’s pain and problems. The contrast of David’s second recorded song from the same situation invites us to honestly engage the Lord in every circumstance.
 
David is hiding in a cave because he is being hunted by the king. David’s song offers a path of prayer for people in prisons of pain. Hearts hungering for hope will see a view of God’s sovereign strength that will fuel faith.

1. Our plea helps us see the path God has for us (1-3a): The key to coming out of the cave is crying to God for mercy. When our spirits are poured out before Him, we will see a path through our problems.

 

1. Our plight helps us see God is our portion (3b-5): David is honest with how his circumstances heighten his fear, and his honesty drives him to declare the Lord as enough, his “portion in the land of the living.”

 

1. Honesty with our problems helps us see God is our protector (6-7): God will deliver, bringing people out of the “prison” of pain and problems, that they may give thanks!

 
Whole hearted honesty in worship helps us see God with us on the path of struggle. God’s presence is enough and He will protect us. 
 
Richly Dwelling
-Which hopeful cry resonates with you the most? Why?
 
-Where do you turn in your pain and problems other than God? Do those places free you?
 
-Jesus gives us ultimate hope, going into the darkness of death and emerging from the cave of the grave unscathed. All who trust in Him know God will redeem all He allows and that He is with us. How does the finished work of Jesus fuel hope in hard times? Where do you need to fuel your faith through focusing on God’s faithfulness?
 
Key Verse
5 I cry to you, O Lord; I say, “You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.”