Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 142:5
I cried unto thee, O Lord - When there was no help; when I saw myself encompassed with dangers; when I looked on every hand and there was no “man” that would undertake for me.I said, Thou art my refuge - (a) My “only” refuge. I can go nowhere else.(b) Thou art “in fact” my refuge. I can and do put my trust in thee. See the notes at Psalms 46:1.And my portion - See the notes at Psalms 16:5.In the land of the living - Among all those that live - all living beings. There is no one else among the... read more
The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 142:5
The soul's rights in God. "Thou art my Refuge, my Portion in the land of the living." This apprehension of God's relations belongs to a man who was placed in distressing circumstances, which were all the more distressing because he looked this way and that for human helpers, and found none. It is not that, disappointed in man, the psalmist turned to God. It is that, having linked together God's help and man's, he has had to learn that there are times in life when a man must turn from the... read more