In profound despondency the Psalmist lays his trouble before Jehovah (Psalms 142:1-2), though Jehovah well knows all the circumstances of his life, and the dangers which beset him in his isolation and defencelessness (Psalms 142:3-4). Jehovah has been and is his only hope, and to Him he looks for de... [ Continue Reading ]
Aloud to Jehovah will I cry; Aloud to Jehovah will I make supplication:... [ Continue Reading ]
The Psalmist's resolve to seek relief by laying his distress before Jehovah.... [ Continue Reading ]
I will pour out before him my complaint; My distress before him will I declare. _Aloud_, lit. _with my voice_, not merely in silent prayer, but with cries which give relief to pent up feeling and express the intensity of distress. Cp. Psalms 3:4; Psalms 30:8; and for -cry," a word expressing the cr... [ Continue Reading ]
When my spirit fainteth upon me, THOU knowest my path, In the way wherein I must walk have men hidden a snare for me.... [ Continue Reading ]
Jehovah knows his peril, and his loneliness.... [ Continue Reading ]
Look on the right hand and see, for I have none that acknowledgeth me: There is no asylum left me; my soul hath none that careth for her. Though he will tell Jehovah of his distress, he knows that, even if he has no human sympathisers, He at any rate (Thou is emphatic) knows it already. His spirit... [ Continue Reading ]
_I cried … I said_ I have cried … I have said. The perfect tense describes what he has done in the past and is still doing. For the form of expression _I have said_cp. Psalms 140:6; for _my refuge_(a different word from that in Psalms 142:4) see Psalms 91:2; Jeremiah 17:17; &c.; for _my portion_see... [ Continue Reading ]
Reminding God of his devotion in past times, he prays for a speedy answer to his prayer.... [ Continue Reading ]
A mosaic of phrases which occur elsewhere. Cp. Psalms 17:1; Psalms 79:8; Psalms 7:1; Psalms 31:15; Psalms 18:17.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Bring my soul out of prison_ Probably to be understood figuratively, -bring my soul out of distress" (Psalms 143:11). Cp. Isaiah 42:7, of the Exile; Psalms 107:10. But it may mean that he was actually in prison. Cp. Psalms 143:3. _praise thy name_ Give thanks unto thy name, as in Psalms 140:13. _t... [ Continue Reading ]