Psalm 142 is an individual lament. It is not cited in the options for various liturgies so no text is provided. It is characterized by simple humility and trust.
"Psalm 142. In this psalm, too. as in the previous ones (cf. Psalm 141:1-2; 142:2-3) we find earnest entreaty by a persecuted man; a trap has been set for him (cf. Psalm 141:9; 142:3) and he seeks refuge in the Lord (cf. Psalm 141:8; 142:5). However, here what comes across particularly is the man's isolation (142:4), and (unlike the man in Psalm 141:10) he does not seek the downfall of his enemies. That may be why it is described in the heading as "of David, when he was in a cave", taking the incident in 1 Samuel 22:1; 24:1-16 as epitomizing the persecuted man.
The psalmist begins by saying that in his misfortune he has recourse to the Lord (vv. 1-2). and then he asks God to see his plight (vv. 3-4) and to protect him from his persecutors (vv. 5-7). He ends with an assertion of hope (v. 7b).
The prayer of the isolated and persecuted man in this psalm reaches its high point with our Lord's prayer to his Father from the cross, "Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit" (Luke 23:46). God heard his prayer by raising him up from the dead (cf. Hebrews 5:7)."[1]
[1] The Navarre Bible: “Psalms”, Scepter Publishers, Princeton, NJ, © 2003, pp. 456
"Psalm 142. In this psalm, too. as in the previous ones (cf. Psalm 141:1-2; 142:2-3) we find earnest entreaty by a persecuted man; a trap has been set for him (cf. Psalm 141:9; 142:3) and he seeks refuge in the Lord (cf. Psalm 141:8; 142:5). However, here what comes across particularly is the man's isolation (142:4), and (unlike the man in Psalm 141:10) he does not seek the downfall of his enemies. That may be why it is described in the heading as "of David, when he was in a cave", taking the incident in 1 Samuel 22:1; 24:1-16 as epitomizing the persecuted man.
The psalmist begins by saying that in his misfortune he has recourse to the Lord (vv. 1-2). and then he asks God to see his plight (vv. 3-4) and to protect him from his persecutors (vv. 5-7). He ends with an assertion of hope (v. 7b).
The prayer of the isolated and persecuted man in this psalm reaches its high point with our Lord's prayer to his Father from the cross, "Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit" (Luke 23:46). God heard his prayer by raising him up from the dead (cf. Hebrews 5:7)."[1]
[1] The Navarre Bible: “Psalms”, Scepter Publishers, Princeton, NJ, © 2003, pp. 456
No comments:
Post a Comment