Psalm 142

Psalm 142 is one of the psalms of David gathered near the end of Book V of the Psalms (Psalms 107–150). The enemies' "snares" and the plea for protection in the preceding Psalm 141 continue in this psalm, and the following Psalm 143 carries on the same lament. The superscription introduces the psalm as "Maschil of David; A Prayer when he was in the cave." Maschil is a Hebrew musical or literary term of uncertain meaning.

Structure

• Verses 1–2 The psalmist cries aloud to the LORD and pours out his complaint and his trouble before Him.
• Verses 3–4 He confesses that even when his spirit was overwhelmed, the LORD knew his path. He laments that his enemies have hidden a snare in the way he walks, and that when he looks to his right hand, there is no one who knows him, no refuge, and no one who cares for him.
• Verses 5–7 He calls the LORD "my refuge" and "my portion in the land of the living." He asks to be delivered from persecutors who are stronger than he and to have his soul brought out of prison, declaring that he will then praise God's name and that the righteous will gather around him.

Key Verses

• Psalm 142:4 "There was no man that would know me: refuge failed me" (KJV) — This verse expresses utter isolation and shows where the lament begins.
• Psalm 142:5 "Thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living" — This is the heart of the psalm: a confession of God as one's portion precisely where human help has failed. "Portion" refers to an allotted share or inheritance.
• Psalm 142:7 "Bring my soul out of prison" — This marks the turning point at which the lament gives way to thanksgiving and the expectation of restored fellowship.

People and Places

• David — Named in the superscription as the author of the psalm.
• The persecutors — The text does not name them, describing them only as those who are "stronger than I."
• The cave — The place mentioned in the superscription; the specific cave is not identified.

Points for Reflection

• The "cave" of the superscription has traditionally been associated with the cave of Adullam, where David hid while fleeing from Saul (1 Samuel 22), or with the cave at En-gedi (1 Samuel 24). A similar superscription appears in Psalm 57. The body of the psalm, however, mentions neither Saul nor any specific event, so this connection rests on the superscription and on interpretive tradition. Some scholars regard the superscription as indicating the original setting of composition, while others consider it a later addition.
• The "prison" of verse 7 is commonly read not as a literal jail but as a metaphor for distress that feels like confinement.
• The Hebrew Bible counts the superscription as verse 1, giving the psalm eight verses in all. Korean Bibles set the superscription apart, giving seven verses.
• The confession of God as one's "portion" echoes Psalm 73:25–26. Some Christian interpreters read the psalmist's loud cry in isolation alongside the prayer of Jesus described in Hebrews 5:7–9. The New Testament, however, does not quote this psalm directly.