15th.: Psalm 142, You Can Turn to God
David continued Psalm 142 with,
“I poured out my complaint before him, I showed before him my trouble.
When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then thou knew my path.” (Ps. 142:2-3a).
David knew he could turn to God.
Nevertheless, God may sometimes delay the rescue,
until David had exhausted his natural resources, and his natural strengths.
That way, God gets the glory, and the thanks.
Again, David listed his problems to the Lord,
“In the way, wherein I walked have they privily laid a snare for me.
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.” (Ps. 142:3b-4).
We can re-format these particular complaints into:
1) My spirit is overwhelmed (from v3a).
2) They have purposely laid traps for me.
3) ‘Everyone’ avoids me.
4) No one cares for me
5) I have no place to feel safe.
Listing our problems clarifies what help we want from the Lord.
Whatever we don’t put into the list, might then not get solved.
David knew that he could find safety in the Lord,
“I cried unto thee, O Lord. I said, ‘Thou art my refuge, and my portion in the land of the living.” (Ps. 142:5).
“Thou art my hiding place. Thou shalt preserve me from trouble.” (Ps. 32:7a)