Psalm 142:4-143:1 NIV

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 142:1-7

A prayer of a hunted soul: ascribed to David ’in the cave,’ but not likely to be by him.3. ’When my spirit is faint within me’ (then I remember) ’thou knowest my path.’7. Prison] metaphorical: cp. Psalms 107:10. Compass me about] RM ’crown themselves because of me.’ The meaning is, that they will rejoice with him in his rejoicing. read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Psalms 142:4

(4) I looked.—The Authorised Version follows the ancient versions in turning the Hebrew imperatives into historic tenses. But they are easily intelligible if taken rhetorically, and indeed the psalm loses in liveliness by missing them:“On the path by which I must walk they have laid a trap for me;Look to the right and see,Not a friend is in sight.Failed has refuge from me,There is none who careth for my soul.”To the “right,” because according to the regular Hebrew metaphor it was on the “right... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - Psalms 142:1-7

The Hundred and Forty-second Psalm Psalms 142:0 I. Life and liberty are sweet but we may pay too dear a price even for the sweetest things. David is now at liberty; he has escaped out of the prison-house of Gath; but he has made his escape and obtained his liberty at much too great a price. For years past the name of Gath had been the proudest name that David's flatterers could speak in his willing ears. But after his disgraceful escape from that city to David's old age, it brought a cloud to... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Psalms 142:1-7

Psalms 142:1-7THE superscription not only calls this a psalm of David’s, but specifies the circumstances of its composition. It breathes the same spirit of mingled fear and faith which characterises many earlier psalms, but one fails to catch the unmistakable note of freshness, and there are numerous echoes of preceding singers. This psalmist has as deep sorrows as his predecessors, and as firm a grasp of Jehovah, his helper. His song runs naturally in well-worn channels, and is none the less... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - Psalms 142:1-7

Psalm 140-142 These three Psalms are Psalms of David. The third one in this series, 142 is another Maschil, the last Maschil Psalm, being a prayer when David was in the cave. In these Psalms the distress of Israel, the godly remnant of Israel, is again remembered. In Psalms 140:1-13 we see prophetically the evil and violent man, that man of sin of the last days. And therefore have we one more imprecatory prayer for the destruction of the wicked (verse 10). The last verses look forward to the... read more

James Gray

James Gray's Concise Bible Commentary - Psalms 142:1-7

Psalms 135:0 Praises God for choosing Jacob (Psalms 135:1-4 ), extols His power in the natural world (Psalms 135:5-7 ), and in the deliverance of His people from Egypt (Psalms 135:8-9 ) and bringing them into the promised land (Psalms 135:10-12 ). All this is in contrast to the vanity of idols (Psalms 135:13-18 ). Psalms 136:0 Is of the same character as the preceding, but is notable for the chorus attached to each verse a chorus with which we have become familiar in other psalms (Psalms 106:1... read more

Robert Hawker

Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary - Psalms 142:4-7

Reader! look once more to Jesus, to while reading this account. Call to min d how one disciple betrayed him, and another denied him, and all forsook him and fled! Hear the strong cries Jesus on the cross, when casting himself upon his Father, as his refuge and his portion! Behold the Lord Jehovah bringing him out of the prison, in his resurrection; and trace the blessed consequences, in the righteous believing in him, and compassing him about, now the Lord hath exalted him, and given him a name... read more

George Haydock

George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary - Psalms 142:4

Troubled. David knew not what course to take, 1 Kings xv. 25, 31. Our Saviour was in the greatest agony. (Calmet) read more

Paul E. Kretzmann

The Popular Commentary by Paul E. Kretzmann - Psalms 142:1-7

Cry for Help in Great Extremity. Maschil, a didactic poem, one teaching an important lesson, of David; a prayer when he was in the cave, either in that of Adullam, 1 Samuel 22, or in that of Engedi, 1 Samuel 24, teaching all believers the manner of praying to the Lord when trouble has reached its highest point. v. 1. I cried unto the Lord with my voice, in a loud appeal for help; with my voice unto the Lord did I make my supplication, with great earnestness and importunity, imploring His... read more

Johann Peter Lange

Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures: Critical, Doctrinal and Homiletical - Psalms 142:1-7

Psalms 142:0Maschil of David; A Prayer when he was in the cave2 I cried unto the Lord with my voice;With my voice unto the Lord did I make my supplication.3 I poured out my complaint before him;I shewed before him my trouble.4 When my spirit was overwhelmed within me,Then thou knewest my path.In the way wherein I walkedHave they privily laid a snare for me.5 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... read more