In Psalm 142, we come to a time in the life of King David when he was reflecting upon the time when he was relentlessly being pursued by his enemies. It was a time when he had been abandoned by his closest friends and perhaps even by his own family. David found himself hiding in the caves and in the caverns in the wilderness in isolation and in desolation. It was a time of disappointment. He was alone, except for the presence of God.

This Psalm has been written for our instruction, for our encouragement, and for our benefit. It has been written as an example for us to follow. It displays how we are to pray in our times of loneliness and despair, and even of betrayal. It is a reminder of what is essential for us to remember, and what brings results. David wrote this Psalm from his own personal experiences that remained idelibly etched into his mind and his heart.

What the enemy intended to use for evil against him, God used for good. David knew that in the solitude of those caves, in the darkness of his situation, he was not really alone because the Lord was with him. He focused on God and cried out with a voice that only David and the Lord could hear. As his voice echoed and resonated in the darkness throughout the walls of that cavern, he pleaded with God for His compassion so that he could stand firmly and confidently.

Even though the Lord knew his thoughts and fears, and even though He saw David’s wounds, still, with heart-felt cries, he declared his trouble and his affliction openly and honestly before the Lord. He expressed in words the pain that was deep within his soul.

While some people show indifference or even contempt for us in our pain and suffering, and others show sympathy and compassion, only the Lord can help us in the end. Only He can bring results at the right time and in the right way. So we pray, not so much that He might hear us or see us, because He always hears and sees us, but so that we might see Him act with mercy, and compassion, and grace towards us in response to our prayers.

David tells us that the threats to his life weighed down on him so much that he felt as if he was about to suffocate. He was confused and overwhelmed. The burden of his oppression was almost too much for him to bear. At this point he was not even sure of the path that he should follow, so he looked away from his problems and looked to God. God knew that his enemies had hidden a trap for him. The only thing David could see was danger all around him.

There were some who said that they cared for David, but they were not there to help him. No one who really understood his situation could or would come to his defense. Maybe some did not want to identify themselves with him for fear that they too would be forced to flee from the city of Jerusalem.

There was no escape for him, so where could he go for help? He was at the end of his rope. The Lord was his only refuge and his confidence, so like a child, he cried out for God to pay attention to his feeble attempts to articulate what was in his heart. He asked to be rescued from those who were hunting him down like an animal. David was weak, and they were strong, but they were not stronger than the Lord.

David trusted in God to bring his soul out of exile in the wilderness, so that he might give thanks to His holy name among His people once again. God answered his prayers so that those who sought to live for Him could surround David and rejoice with songs of thanksgiving and deliverance. They could see that it was God and God alone who had dealt bountifully and graciously with him.

This psalm is our prayer as well. Sometimes we are called upon to stand alone as a testimony to our Savior. But like David, we are not really alone as we stand in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.