mh_parser/vol_split/19 - Psalms/Chapter 142.xml

<div2 id="Ps.cxliii" n="cxliii" next="Ps.cxliv" prev="Ps.cxlii" progress="69.90%" title="Chapter CXLII">
<h2 id="Ps.cxliii-p0.1">P S A L M S</h2>
<h3 id="Ps.cxliii-p0.2">PSALM CXLII.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="Ps.cxliii-p1">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 (<scripRef id="Ps.cxliii-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.142.1-Ps.142.2" parsed="|Ps|142|1|142|2" passage="Ps 142:1,2">ver.
1, 2</scripRef>) of the subtlety, strength, and malice, of his
enemies (<scripRef id="Ps.cxliii-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.142.3 Bible:Ps.142.6" parsed="|Ps|142|3|0|0;|Ps|142|6|0|0" passage="Ps 142:3,6">ver. 3, 6</scripRef>), and
the coldness and indifference of his friends, <scripRef id="Ps.cxliii-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.142.4" parsed="|Ps|142|4|0|0" passage="Ps 142:4">ver. 4</scripRef>. II. The comfort he takes in God that
he knew his case (<scripRef id="Ps.cxliii-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.142.3" parsed="|Ps|142|3|0|0" passage="Ps 142:3">ver. 3</scripRef>)
and was his refuge, <scripRef id="Ps.cxliii-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:Ps.142.5" parsed="|Ps|142|5|0|0" passage="Ps 142:5">ver. 5</scripRef>.
III. His expectation from God that he would hear and deliver him,
<scripRef id="Ps.cxliii-p1.6" osisRef="Bible:Ps.142.6-Ps.142.7" parsed="|Ps|142|6|142|7" passage="Ps 142:6,7">ver. 6, 7</scripRef>. IV His
expectation from the righteous that they would join with him in
praises, <scripRef id="Ps.cxliii-p1.7" osisRef="Bible:Ps.142.7" parsed="|Ps|142|7|0|0" passage="Ps 142:7">ver. 7</scripRef>. 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.</p>
<scripCom id="Ps.cxliii-p1.8" osisRef="Bible:Ps.142" parsed="|Ps|142|0|0|0" passage="Ps 142" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Ps.cxliii-p1.9" osisRef="Bible:Ps.142.1-Ps.142.3" parsed="|Ps|142|1|142|3" passage="Ps 142:1-3" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Ps.142.1-Ps.142.3">
<h4 id="Ps.cxliii-p1.10">David's Complaints.</h4>
<div class="Center" id="Ps.cxliii-p1.11">
<p id="Ps.cxliii-p2">Maschil of David. A prayer when he was in the cave.</p>
</div>
<p class="passage" id="Ps.cxliii-p3">1 I cried unto the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.cxliii-p3.1">Lord</span> with my voice; with my voice unto the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.cxliii-p3.2">Lord</span> did I make my supplication.   2
I poured out my complaint before him; I showed before him my
trouble.   3 When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then
thou knewest my path. In the way wherein I walked have they privily
laid a snare for me.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.cxliii-p4">Whether it was in the cave of
<i>Adullam,</i> or that of <i>Engedi,</i> that David prayed this
prayer, is not material; it is plain that he was in distress. It
was a great disgrace to so great a soldier, so great a courtier, to
be put to such shifts for his own safety, and a great terror to be
so hotly pursued and every moment in expectation of death; yet then
he had such a presence of mind as to pray this prayer, and,
wherever he was, still had his religion about him. Prayers and
tears were his weapons, and, when he durst not stretch forth his
hands against his prince, he lifted them up to his God. There is no
cave so deep, so dark, but we may out of it send up our prayers,
and our souls in prayer, to God. He calls this prayer <i>Maschil—a
psalm of instruction,</i> because of the good lessons he had
himself learnt in the cave, learnt on his knees, which he desired
to teach others. In these verses observe,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.cxliii-p5">I. How David complained to God, <scripRef id="Ps.cxliii-p5.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.142.1-Ps.142.2" parsed="|Ps|142|1|142|2" passage="Ps 142:1,2"><i>v.</i> 1, 2</scripRef>. When the danger was
over he was not ashamed to own (as great spirits sometimes are) the
fright he had been in and the application he had made to God. Let
no men of the first rank think it any diminution or disparagement
to them, when they are in affliction, to cry to God, and to cry
like children to their parents when any thing frightens them.
<i>David poured out his complaint,</i> which denotes a free and
full complaint; he was copious and particular in it. His heart was
as full of his grievances as it could hold, but he made himself
easy by pouring them out before the Lord; and this he did with
great fervency: <i>He cried unto the Lord with his voice,</i> with
the voice of his mind (so some think), for, being hidden in the
cave, he durst not speak with an audible voice, lest that should
betray him; but mental prayer is vocal to God, and he hears the
groanings which cannot, or dare not, be uttered, <scripRef id="Ps.cxliii-p5.2" osisRef="Bible:Rom.8.26" parsed="|Rom|8|26|0|0" passage="Ro 8:26">Rom. viii. 26</scripRef>. Two things David laid open to
God, in this complaint:—1. His distress. He exhibited a
remonstrance or memorial of his case: <i>I showed before him my
trouble,</i> and all the circumstances of it. He did not prescribe
to God, nor show him his trouble, as if God did not know it without
his showing; but as one that put a confidence in God, desired to
keep up communion with him, and was willing to refer himself
entirely to him, he unbosomed himself to him, humbly laid the
matter before him, and then cheerfully left it with him. We are apt
to show our trouble too much to ourselves, aggravating it, and
poring upon it, which does us no service, whereas by showing it to
God we might cast the care upon him who careth for us, and thereby
ease ourselves. Nor should we allow of any complaint to ourselves
or others which we cannot with due decency and sincerity of
devotion make to God, and stand to before him. 2. His desire. When
he made his complaint he <i>made his supplication</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.cxliii-p5.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.142.1" parsed="|Ps|142|1|0|0" passage="Ps 142:1"><i>v.</i> 1</scripRef>), not claiming relief as
a debt, but humbly begging it as a favour. Complainants must be
suppliants, for God will be sought unto.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.cxliii-p6">II. What he complained of: "<i>In the way
wherein I walked,</i> suspecting no danger, <i>have they privily
laid a snare for me,</i> to entrap me." Saul gave Michal his
daughter to David on purpose that she might be <i>a snare to
him,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.cxliii-p6.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.18.21" parsed="|1Sam|18|21|0|0" passage="1Sa 18:21">1 Sam. xviii. 21</scripRef>.
This he complains of to God, that every thing was done with a
design against him. If he had gone out of his way, and met with
snares, he might have thanked himself; but when he met with them in
the way of his duty he might with humble boldness tell God of
them.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.cxliii-p7">III. What comforted him in the midst of
these complaints (<scripRef id="Ps.cxliii-p7.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.142.3" parsed="|Ps|142|3|0|0" passage="Ps 142:3"><i>v.</i>
3</scripRef>): "<i>When my spirit was overwhelmed within me,</i>
and ready to sink under the burden of grief and fear, when I was
quite at a loss and ready to despair, <i>then thou knewest my
path,</i> that is, then it was a pleasure to me to think that thou
knewest it. Thou knewest my sincerity, the right path which I have
walked in, and that I am not such a one as my persecutors represent
me. Thou knewest my condition in all the particulars of it; when my
spirit was so overwhelmed that I could not distinctly show it, this
comforted me, that thou knewest it, <scripRef id="Ps.cxliii-p7.2" osisRef="Bible:Job.23.10" parsed="|Job|23|10|0|0" passage="Job 23:10">Job xxiii. 10</scripRef>. Thou knewest it, that is,
thou didst protect, preserve, and secure it," <scripRef id="Ps.cxliii-p7.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.31.7 Bible:Deut.2.7" parsed="|Ps|31|7|0|0;|Deut|2|7|0|0" passage="Ps 31:7,De 2:7">Ps. xxxi. 7; Deut. ii. 7</scripRef>.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Ps.cxliii-p7.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.142.4-Ps.142.7" parsed="|Ps|142|4|142|7" passage="Ps 142:4-7" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Ps.142.4-Ps.142.7">
<h4 id="Ps.cxliii-p7.5">Complaints and Petitions.</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Ps.cxliii-p8">4 I looked on <i>my</i> right hand, and beheld,
but <i>there was</i> no man that would know me: refuge failed me;
no man cared for my soul.   5 I cried unto thee, <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.cxliii-p8.1">O Lord</span>: I said, Thou <i>art</i> my refuge
<i>and</i> my portion in the land of the living.   6 Attend
unto 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 thy name: the righteous shall
compass me about; for thou shalt deal bountifully with me.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.cxliii-p9">The psalmist here tells us, for our
instruction, 1. How he was disowned and deserted by his friends,
<scripRef id="Ps.cxliii-p9.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.142.4" parsed="|Ps|142|4|0|0" passage="Ps 142:4"><i>v.</i> 4</scripRef>. When he was in
favour at court he seemed to have a great interest, but when he was
made an out-law, and it was dangerous for any one to harbour him
(witness Ahimelech's fate), then <i>no man would know him,</i> but
every body was shy of him. He looked <i>on his right hand</i> for
an advocate (<scripRef id="Ps.cxliii-p9.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.109.31" parsed="|Ps|109|31|0|0" passage="Ps 109:31">Ps. cix. 31</scripRef>),
some friend or other to speak a good word for him; but, since
Jonathan's appearing for him had like to have cost him his life,
nobody was willing to venture in defence of his innocency, but all
were ready to say they knew nothing of the matter. He looked round
to see if any would open their doors to him; but <i>refuge failed
him.</i> None of all his old friends would give him a night's
lodging, or direct him to any place of secresy and safety. How many
good men have been deceived by such swallow-friends, who are gone
when winter comes! David's life was exceedingly precious, and yet,
when he was unjustly proscribed, <i>no man cared for it,</i> nor
would move a hand for the protection of it. Herein he was a type of
Christ, who, in his sufferings for us, was forsaken of all men,
even of his own disciples, and trod the wine-press alone, for there
was <i>none to help, none to uphold,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.cxliii-p9.3" osisRef="Bible:Isa.63.5" parsed="|Isa|63|5|0|0" passage="Isa 63:5">Isa. lxiii. 5</scripRef>. 2. How he then found
satisfaction in God, <scripRef id="Ps.cxliii-p9.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.142.5" parsed="|Ps|142|5|0|0" passage="Ps 142:5"><i>v.</i>
5</scripRef>. Lovers and friends stood aloof from him, and it was
in vain to call to them. "But," said he, "<i>I cried unto thee, O
Lord!</i> who knowest me, and carest for me, when none else will,
and wilt not fail me nor forsake me when men do;" for God is
constant in his love. David tells us what he said to God in the
cave: "<i>Thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the
living;</i> I depend upon thee to be so, <i>my refuge</i> to save
me from being miserable, <i>my portion</i> to make me happy. The
cave I am in is but a poor refuge. Lord, <i>thy name</i> is the
<i>strong tower</i> that <i>I run into.</i> Thou art <i>my
refuge,</i> in whom alone I shall think myself safe. The crown I am
in hopes of is but a poor portion; I can never think myself well
provided for till I know that <i>the Lord is the portion of my
inheritance and of my cup.</i>" Those who in sincerity take the
Lord for their God shall find him all-sufficient both as a refuge
and as a portion, so that, as no evil shall hurt them, so no good
shall be wanting to them; and they may humbly claim their interest:
"<i>Lord, thou art my refuge and my portion;</i> every thing else
is a refuge of lies and a portion of no value. Thou art so <i>in
the land of the living,</i> that is, while I live and have my
being, whether in this world or in a better." There is enough in
God to answer all the necessities of this present time. We live in
a world of dangers and wants; but what danger need we fear if God
is our refuge, or what wants if he be our portion? Heaven, which
alone deserves to be called <i>the land of the living,</i> will be
to all believers both a refuge and a portion. 3. How, in this
satisfaction, he addressed himself to God (<scripRef id="Ps.cxliii-p9.5" osisRef="Bible:Ps.142.5-Ps.142.6" parsed="|Ps|142|5|142|6" passage="Ps 142:5,6"><i>v.</i> 5, 6</scripRef>): "Lord, give a gracious
<i>ear to my cry,</i> the cry of my affliction, the cry of my
supplication, for <i>I am brought very low,</i> and, if thou help
me not, I shall be quite sunk. Lord, <i>deliver me from my
persecutors,</i> either tie their hands or turn their hearts, break
their power or blast their projects, restrain them or rescue me,
<i>for they are stronger than I,</i> and it will be thy honour to
take part with the weakest. Deliver me from them, or I shall be
ruined by them, for I am not yet myself a match for them. Lord,
<i>bring my soul out of prison,</i> not only bring me safe out of
this cave, but bring me out of all my perplexities." We may apply
it spiritually: the souls of good men are often straitened by
doubts and fears, cramped and fettered through the weakness of
faith and the prevalency of corruption; and it is then their duty
and interest to apply themselves to God, and beg of him to set them
at liberty and to enlarge their hearts, that they may <i>run the
way of his commandments.</i> 4. How much he expected his
deliverance would redound to the glory of God. (1.) By his own
thanksgivings, into which his present complaints would then be
turned: "<i>Bring my soul out of prison,</i> not that I may enjoy
myself and my friends and live at ease, no, nor that I may secure
my country, but <i>that I may praise thy name.</i>" This we should
have an eye to, in all our prayers to God for deliverance out of
trouble, that we may have occasion to praise God and may live to
his praise. This is the greatest comfort of temporal mercies that
they furnish us with matter, and give us opportunity, for the
excellent duty of praise. (2.) By the thanksgivings of many on his
behalf (<scripRef id="Ps.cxliii-p9.6" osisRef="Bible:2Cor.1.11" parsed="|2Cor|1|11|0|0" passage="2Co 1:11">2 Cor. i. 11</scripRef>):
"When I am enlarged <i>the righteous shall encompass me about;</i>
for <i>my cause they shall make thee a crown of praise,</i> so the
Chaldee. They shall flock about me to congratulate me on my
deliverance, to hear my experiences, and to receive (Maschil)
instructions from me; they shall encompass me, to join with me in
my thanksgivings, <i>because thou shalt</i> have dealt
<i>bountifully with me.</i>" Note, The mercies of others ought to
be the matter of our praises to God; and the praises of others, on
our behalf, ought to be both desired and rejoiced in by us.</p>
</div></div2>