16th.: Psalm 142, Closing Pleas for Help
David closes,
“Attend unto my cry, for I am brought low.
Deliver me from my persecutors, for they are stronger than I.” (Ps. 142:6).
David has been humbled.
He has been pushed down.
Those pursuing were stronger than he.
Yet, David made one last request,
“Bring my soul out of prison that I may praise thy name.” (Ps. 142:7a).
David's prison was a cave (as mentioned in the preamble).
David could not come and go as he pleased.
David asked God to restore his freedom. David then gave the impetus,
“that I may praise thy name.”
David wanted to be able to tell the world how great God was,
but it is hard to do so, when stuck hiding in a cave.
David then exhibited faith in God, “The righteous shall compass me about, for thou shalt deal bountifully with me.” (Ps. 142:7b).
David knew that he shall have human friends to help encourage him, and that those friends came from God. David reaffirmed that God will watch over him.
We see in many of these verses, that David looked first to God for deliverance, and then was quick to praise God to the people for how God helped.
“Thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah” (Ps. 32:7b)