A Brief Explication of the Last Fifty Psalms, Psalm 142
PSALME CXLII. Maschil of David, &c.
THis Psalme doth shew what was Davids exercise, when he was in the cave of one of the mountaines of Engedi, (1 Sam. 24.) flying from Saul: wherein he first setteth down his betaking of himselfe to prayer in general, v. 1, 2. Secondly, the straits wherein he was for the time, v. 3, 4. Thirdly, what was the special petitions of his prayer, with the reasons thereof, v. 5, 6, 7.
From the inscription; Learn, 1. That when the Lord doth put any of his children in straites and difficulties, he is providing instruction, and wise direction unto them, and to others, by the meanes, for this danger bringeth forth a Psalme of instruction: Maschil of David. 2. The profit which followeth, upon sharp exercises, is able to recompence all the paines whereunto they are put in trouble, as this particular instance doth shew. 3. It is wisdome for us to mark the special dangers wherein we fall, and how we have behaved our selves therein, and to see what use we should make thereof, as this example of Davids calling to minde of the danger he was in, in the cave, doth teach us.
Vers. 1. I Cried unto the LORD with my voice: With my voice unto the LORD did I make my supplication.
2. I poured out my complaint before him: I shewed before him my trouble.
In the setting down of his exercise in this danger, and how he made God his refuge by prayer; Learn, 1. The grace of God can so calme a mans mind, in the deepest danger of present death, as he may confidently put up his desire for delivery; and no danger can be so desperate, but a man may by prayer be delivered out of it, one way or other, as Davids experience teacheth: I cried unto the Lord, saith David, being in the cave, halfe buried as in a grave, Saul and his host being at the mouth of it. 2. He that is acquainted with God, and haunteth his presence by prayer, ordinarily will finde a ready way to go to God, in an extraordinary danger, whereof David in this difficulty, sheweth his experience. 3. The uttering of right words, with the voice in prayer, in the time of perplexity, is a work of faith, presuppose there were so much inward confusion and multitude of thoughts in the minde, as might call in question whether the supplication of so perplexed a minde could be an acceptable prayer: therefore David twice mentioneth the uttering of his voice: I cried with my voice, with my voice. 4. It is a sweet mercy to have grace to pray to God, and is not only profitable for the present, but also the memory of this mercy is refreshfull afterward, as experience here doth shew. 5. It may be an ease to our minde, when we are full of perplexity, and grief and fear, to tell the Lord what aileth us: I poured out my complaint before him. 6. To present our confusion and perplexity and trouble of minde, to be looked upon by God, and to be read by him, is a reall prayer or supplication; I shewed before him my trouble.
Ver. 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.
4. I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me, refuge failed my: no man cared for my soul.
The straite wherein David was, did make his wit to faile him, that he knew not what to do: for albeit his cause and carriage in it was approved of God, yet his enemies hunted him so hard, as they had very nigh catched him in the snare; his souldiers who were with him fainted, and were ready to shift for themselves, and to render up David, if the army had approached to the cave, no man cared for his life, none would stand to his defence. Whence learn, 1. Trouble and danger in extremity, do put a mans wit on work to think upon all meanes of possible delivery, and when none can be found, the minde is involved in perplexity, and falleth down as it were in a swoon: My spirit was overwhelmed within me. 2. Whatsoever danger we may fall into, it is good that our cause and carriage be such as God will allow: This was Davids advantage here, When my spirit was overwhelmed with in me, then thou knowest my path, that is, thou approvedst my part, who was unjustly pursued. 3. How innocently so ever we behave our selves, yet persecutors will not cease to hunt us, till they take us in the snare, if they can: In the way wherein I walked have they privily laid a snare for me. 4. When great straites do come, wordly friends and all who may be in danger for helping of us: will readily forsake us: and this is the lot of Christ and his servants, who in suffering for righteousnesse, are left alone without all comfort or encouragement from men: I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me, refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul. 5. It is lawfull for a believer to make use of lawfull meanes for his delivery, and to call for assistance of such as are bound to assist him, albeit he may suspect to be refused, as David did here.
Vers. 5. I cried unto thee, O LORD, I said, Thou art my refuge, and 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 then I.
7. Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise thy Name; the righteous shall compasse me about: for thou shalt deale bountifully with me.
In the last place, he setteth down his last refuge, and the words of his prayer, with the reasons to help his hope to be heard. Whence learn, 1. Albeit all men, and all meanes of delivery in the world should faile us, yet must we not give over, but pray to God, and depend upon him, who never faileth his supplicants that seek him, as David did; I cried unto thee, O Lord. 2. The lesse comfort we finde in the creature, we should trust the more in God, as David did, who when all forsook him, said o God, Thou art my refuge. 3. God alone with us may suffice …s in every condition, as he did David; Thou art my portion in the land of the living. 4. As the sense of our own weakness, and of our adversaries power, a…e good whe…stones to sharpen our prayer: so the lower we be brought and emptied of carnal confidence, we may expect the more confidently help from God, as here Dav…d reasoneth; Attend unto my cry, for I am brought very low: deliver me from my persecutors, for they are stronger then I. 5. So long as …he godly man is debarred from the benefit of Gods publick worship and ordinances, he is but in a prison in his own estimation; Bring my soul out of prison. 6. The end of our prayer for delivery out of trouble, should be that we may the more freely and fruitfully serve the Lord: Bring my life out of prison, that I may praise thy Name. 7. When any one of Gods persecuted servants is delivered, it is a matter of comfort, joy and encouragement, and of mutual congratulation to all the godly, who have interest in their righteous cause any way; The righteous shall compasse me about. 8. Before a bodily delivery come, the Lord sometime giveth inward assurance that it shall come; for, Thou shalt deal bountifully with me; for Davids words being taken as spoken in the cave, do shew so much.