Psalm 142

get to read your word, and we pray that we would have minds to understand it this morning, that we would love you with all of our hearts, and that we would take comfort in knowing that you hear our prayers. In Jesus's name, amen. All right, here we go, Psalm 142. I'm eating myself already here. Psalm 142, a contemplation of David, a prayer when he was in the cave. I cry out to the Lord with my voice. With my voice to the Lord I have made my supplication. I pour out my complaint before him. I declare before him my trouble. 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. 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. I cried to you, O Lord. I said, You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living. Attend to my cry, for I am brought very low. Deliver me from my persecutors, for they are stronger than I. Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise your name. the righteous shall surround me, for you shall deal bountifully with me." Well, we need to ask ourselves, A, what is this about? B, what's the best verse to summarize this? And C, what are we called to do in response to these words? So, A, what is this about?
Well, in verses, or verse one, David, the psalmist here, is saying he's praying to God. He's pouring out his soul to God. And isn't that a comfort to us? 1 Peter 5 tells us to cast all our cares upon Christ, for he cares for you. And so, this is what David finds himself doing, crying out to God, going to God in prayer. And he says his spirit was overwhelmed with him. Right? Then you knew my path and the way in which I walk. They have secretly set a snare for me. And I think this is so typical.
Almost you want to say that the psalmist finds themselves being oppressed by the enemies of God. And we find this theme throughout the Psalms where the person of God finds themselves at enmity with the world. And in that place of weakness, they turn to the Lord.
And isn't this what Jesus Christ himself did? In the garden of Gethsemane, didn't Jesus Christ himself, when he knew his day of trial and trouble was coming, when as a psalmist here says, look at my right hand and see, for there is no one who acknowledges me, refuge has failed me, no one cares for my soul. Even his closest disciples fled from Christ. And there in the garden, we find Jesus praying. praying, going to his father, and in his anguish, letting his father know the things that were in his heart.
This is one of the most vulnerable places. People have a hard time with this when they think about the sovereignty of God and stuff like that. When they think about Jesus in the garden when he says, Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me.
But not my will, but yours be done. Jesus is pleading over and over, crying that God would take this from him, care for him. But even in the midst of this, what does the psalmist say here? for I am brought very low. Deliver me from my persecutors. Attend to my cry, for they are stronger than I. Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise your name. The righteous shall surround me, for you shall deal bountifully with me."
Even as David finds himself surrounded by his enemies, he knows that God is still going to care for him. Jesus Christ himself knew that he would not stay on that cross. that his persecutors would not have the last laugh, but that God would attend to his soul.
So what's the best verse to summarize this? Well, I'm, hmm, I think I'm going to, maybe in my Bible I would underline verse five. I cried to you, O Lord, and I said, you are my refuge, my portion, the land of the living. What would you underline? Maybe you would underline something else in that passage. Last calling, what are we called to do in light of this passage?
Cast all your cares upon Christ, for he cares for you. Don't be anxious about anything, but in all things, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your heart and mind through Christ Jesus. Go to Christ. Pray. Take refuge in the Lord. Let him know your struggles and anxieties, and he'll care for you. Let's pray. Father, we thank you so much that you do attend to our prayers, that you are our refuge. Lord, we pray that we might find comfort in you, even in trying times. In Jesus's name, amen. Well, may the Lord bless you today. May he fill you with joy and peace as you find refuge in Jesus Christ, and I'll see you tomorrow. Bye.