Pour Out Your Heart to God
Post written from a sermon preached by Dr. Ken Burkett. To listen to his sermon, click here.
A study of Psalm 142
Today we are continuing our study on David as he is fleeing King Saul and is utterly overwhelmed. Let’s observe Psalm 142. King Saul is determined to kill David, so he leaves and becomes a fugitive to preserve his life.
First David leaves his country and tries to hide out in the land of the Philistines. They soon recognize him, and he realizes that he is not safe there. He must head back to his own land. He finds himself all alone in a cave in the wilderness.
For the first time in David’s life, we are told he is afraid. In effect, David has now lost his job, wife, home, spiritual advisor, and best friend. David is all alone and desperately needs God’s comfort at this time in his life. How will he find it? What will it involve? What are the ramifications of this? The answers are in the Psalms that David composes at this time. Today we look at Psalm 142.
David’s negative declarations
- his complaint vs. 2
- his trouble vs. 2
- his spirit was overwhelmed vs. 3
- people laid a snare for him vs. 3
- no one would acknowledge him vs. 4
- refuge failed him vs. 4
- no one cared for his soul vs. 4
- he was brought very low vs. 6
- he had persecutors vs. 6
- his persecutors were stronger than he was vs. 6
- he was in a prison (of sorts) vs. 7
A Plea for Relief from Persecutors
A Contemplation of David. A Prayer when he was in the cave.
Psalm 142
142 I cry out to the Lord with my voice;
With my voice to the Lord I make my supplication.
2 I pour out my complaint before Him;
I declare before Him my trouble.
3 When my spirit was overwhelmed within me,
Then You knew my path.
In the way in which I walk
They have secretly set a snare for me.
4 Look on my right hand and see,
For there is no one who acknowledges me;
Refuge has failed me;
No one cares for my soul.
5 I cried out to You, O Lord:
I said, “You are my refuge,
My portion in the land of the living.
6 Attend to my cry,
For I am brought very low;
Deliver me from my persecutors,
For they are stronger than I.
7 Bring my soul out of prison,
That I may praise Your name;
The righteous shall surround me,
For You shall deal bountifully with me.”
What David Affirms about the Lord
- You are my refuge,
My portion in the land of the living. vs. 5 - The righteous shall surround me. vs. 7
- You shall deal bountifully with me. vs. 7