Psalm 142

Read Psalm 142

“With my voice I cry out to the Lord.” David's prayer to the Lord was full of the intensity of a man who understood that God's answer to his petition was a matter of life and death. He needed the Lord's mercy.

His enemies had laid a trap for him. Though David was an expert at hiding, the Lord knew exactly where to find him. No one else could save this chosen servant of God. If the Lord would be David's friend, no additional support would be necessary. God plus no one else is more than enough.

Yet without the Lord, David was convinced that he would never be able to make it. He knew that his persecutors were just too strong for him. Like a prisoner who heard the footsteps of his executioners coming toward him, David needed an amazing turn of events.

Could any of us trust in the Lord in such a situation? Like Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, could we still say, “Not My will, but Yours, be done,” when we saw the faces of those who would lead us to our death?

Our God is worthy of trust even when all hope may seem to be gone. It is always right to give thanks to His Name, for He alone can carry us beyond the grave into His heavenly kingdom. Like David, and especially like our Savior who died for our sins, we can commit ourselves into the loving and powerful hands of the Almighty in every circumstance.

It is the grace of the Lord at such a profound moment of need to give the gift of praising Him to His beloved children. In the loneliness of an imminent death we find ourselves surrounded by a great cloud of unseen heavenly witnesses encouraging us in the resolve of faith. What a great time to sing David's words of hope: “The righteous will surround me, for You will deal bountifully with me.”

Prayer from A Book of Prayers

Lord God, hear our cry in the time of trouble. You see our weakness. Our help is not among the sons of men. You alone can rescue us. Pick us up in the day of our despondent condition. Cause the righteous to surround us with peace, that we may know Your bountiful love.