Verse-by-Verse Bible Commentary
Psalms 142:6

Clarke's Commentary

Verse Psalms 142:6. I am brought very low — Never was I so near total ruin before.

Deliver me from my persecutors — They are now in full possession of the only means of my escape.

They are stronger than I. — What am I and my men against this well-appointed armed multitude, with their king at their head.

Bridgeway Bible Commentary

Psalm 140 - 143 Troubles for the godly

These four psalms are similar, and from the title of Psalms 142:0 it appears that all four belong to the time when David was fleeing from Saul. (See introductory notes to Psalms 34:0.)

Treachery and slander are the chief weapons that David’s enemies use to attack him. These men have the poison of snakes and the cunning of hunters (140:1-5). But Yahweh is David’s God, his defender in whom he trusts for victory (6-8). David’s enemies will receive a fitting punishment if they suffer the torments that they intended to inflict upon David (9-11). The righteous will praise God when they see his justice in punishing the wicked and delivering the innocent (12-13).
When a person is the victim of slanderous talk, such as David was at the time, he is tempted to use strong words and unwise speech in return. David prays that he may be kept from such sins. He does not want to follow the evil ways of the wicked (141:1-4). If a godly person ever has cause to rebuke him, David prays that he may receive it as a blessing, as if he has been anointed with oil. But he will always remain opposed to evil (5). People will be forced to take notice when God acts, for his punishments will leave the wicked completely shattered (6-7). Meanwhile, the wicked still live, and David prays that he will be saved from the traps they have set for him (8-10).

Still pursued by his enemies, David escaped from Gath and fled to the cave of Adullam, though at the time of this psalm others have not yet joined him (1 Samuel 22:1). He is overcome by a feeling of terrible loneliness. Feeling that no one cares for him, he cries out to God (142:1-4). He prays that God will deal with his enemies and so enable him to live a normal life in freedom and security again (5-7).

The frightening thought occurs to David that God might be using the enemy to punish him for his sins. He knows that he, like others, is a sinner, and there is no way of escaping punishment if God decides to act. He therefore casts himself entirely on the mercy of God for forgiveness and deliverance (143:1-2). David tells God about his troubles, how he has been pursued and is forced to live in darkness in the cave (3-4). He thinks of God’s mighty acts in the past and prays that God will save him again (5-6). He fears the hopelessness of those who die without God. He longs for a greater experience of God (7-8). He prays that God, having rescued him, will instruct and guide him in the future (9-12).

Coffman's Commentaries on the Bible

“Attend unto 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 give thanks unto thy name: The righteous shall compass me about; And thou wilt deal bountifully with me.”

“Attend unto my cry” Again emphasizing the loud nature of this prayer, Briggs rendered this clause, “Attend unto my yell.”International Critical Commentary, op. cit., p. 523.

“They are stronger than I” “In the cave of Adullam, David had only 400 outlaws to defend him against the tens of thousands of the armies of Saul, the king of Israel (1 Samuel 22:2).”The Pulpit Commentary, op. cit., p. 343.

“Bring my soul out of prison” To this writer, it appears as simply amazing that some interpreters discover in this psalm the prayer of some “Israelite dying in jail”! To begin with, David’s “body” was not imprisoned here; his “soul,” that is his “spirit” was imprisoned by his enforced hiding from the armies of Saul. As Addis affirmed, “The term `prison’ in Psalms 142:7 need not be taken in a literal sense.”W. E. Addis, p. 395. Also, as McCaw wrote, “Prison, not in the sense of `jail’, but in the sense of being restricted in movement.”The New Bible Commentary, Revised, p. 541.

“Thou wilt deal bountifully with me” Thus, the psalm closes on a note of firm confidence in God and in his solution of all the problems that press upon David’s heart. God provides the refuge; he is the advocate on the right hand; his strength is the foil of every enemy; his love shall achieve its noble purpose in the person of “the man after God’s own heart.”

Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible

Attend unto my cry - Give ear to me when I cry to thee. Do not turn away and refuse to hear me.

For I am brought very low - I am reduced greatly; I am made very poor. The language would be applicable to one who had been in better circumstances, and who had been brought down to a condition of danger, of poverty, of want. It is language which is commonly applied to poverty.

Deliver me from my persecutors - Saul and his followers.

For they are stronger than I - More in number; better armed; better suited for battle.

Smith's Bible Commentary

Psalms 142:1-7 . This is a prayer of David when he was in the cave. No doubt the cave of Adullam when he was hiding from Saul.

I cried unto the LORD with my voice; with my voice unto the LORD did I make my prayer. I poured out my complaint before him; I showed before him my trouble. When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then you knew my path. In the way wherein I walked have they privately laid a trap for me. I looked upon my right hand, and I beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul. I cried unto thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living. Attend unto 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 thy name: the righteous shall compass me about; for thou shalt deal bountifully with me ( Psalms 142:1-7 ).

So the psalm begins so typical of David in a very mournful state, a melancholy depression, but it ends with a note of confidence. "The righteous shall compass me about; Thou shalt deal bountifully with me."

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Dr. Constable's Expository Notes

Psalms 142

The superscription identifies the time when David wrote this psalm. He wrote it when he was "in the cave," evidently while Saul was pursuing him (cf. Psalms 57; 1 Samuel 22:1; 1 Samuel 24:3). The psalmist spoke as one who had no other hope of deliverance but Yahweh. This is another individual lament psalm.

Dr. Constable's Expository Notes

3. David’s confident hope in God 142:5-7

Dr. Constable's Expository Notes

Again the psalmist begged God to help him escape from his overpowering enemies. He felt imprisoned, with no escape possible if God failed to save him. If God did deliver him he would thank the Lord, and other godly people would join David in his praise because of God’s abundant goodness.

When God’s people feel forsaken by all other human allies, they may turn to the Lord-who is always with the righteous. God is able to deliver His own, even if there are no other helpers. [Note: See R. B. Allen, And I . . ., pp. 181-97.]

"No matter the circumstances around us or the feelings within us, God cares for us (1 Peter 5:7)." [Note: Wiersbe, The . . . Wisdom . . ., p. 372.]

Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

Attend unto my cry,.... His prayer and supplication for help in his distress, which he desires might be hearkened unto and answered;

for I am brought very low; in his spirit, in the exercise of grace, being in great affliction, and reduced to the utmost extremity, weakened, impoverished, and exhausted; wanting both men and money to assist him, Psalms 79:8;

deliver me from my persecutors; Saul and his men, who were in pursuit of him with great warmth and eagerness;

for they are stronger than I; more in number, and greater in strength; Saul had with him three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, ablebodied men, and expert in war; veteran troops, and in high spirits, with their king at the head of them; David had about six hundred men, and these poor mean creatures, such as were in distress, in debt, and discontented, and in want of provisions, and dispirited; see

1 Samuel 22:2. So the spiritual enemies of the Lord's people are stronger than they, Jeremiah 31:11.

Henry's Complete Commentary on the Bible

      4 I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul.   5 I cried unto thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living.   6 Attend unto my cry; for I am brought very low: deliver me from my persecutors; for they are stronger than I.   7 Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise thy name: the righteous shall compass me about; for thou shalt deal bountifully with me.

      The psalmist here tells us, for our instruction, 1. How he was disowned and deserted by his friends, Psalms 142:4; Psalms 142:4. When he was in favour at court he seemed to have a great interest, but when he was made an out-law, and it was dangerous for any one to harbour him (witness Ahimelech's fate), then no man would know him, but every body was shy of him. He looked on his right hand for an advocate (Psalms 109:31), some friend or other to speak a good word for him; but, since Jonathan's appearing for him had like to have cost him his life, nobody was willing to venture in defence of his innocency, but all were ready to say they knew nothing of the matter. He looked round to see if any would open their doors to him; but refuge failed him. None of all his old friends would give him a night's lodging, or direct him to any place of secresy and safety. How many good men have been deceived by such swallow-friends, who are gone when winter comes! David's life was exceedingly precious, and yet, when he was unjustly proscribed, no man cared for it, nor would move a hand for the protection of it. Herein he was a type of Christ, who, in his sufferings for us, was forsaken of all men, even of his own disciples, and trod the wine-press alone, for there was none to help, none to uphold,Isaiah 63:5. 2. How he then found satisfaction in God, Psalms 142:5; Psalms 142:5. Lovers and friends stood aloof from him, and it was in vain to call to them. "But," said he, "I cried unto thee, O Lord! who knowest me, and carest for me, when none else will, and wilt not fail me nor forsake me when men do;" for God is constant in his love. David tells us what he said to God in the cave: "Thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living; I depend upon thee to be so, my refuge to save me from being miserable, my portion to make me happy. The cave I am in is but a poor refuge. Lord, thy name is the strong tower that I run into. Thou art my refuge, in whom alone I shall think myself safe. The crown I am in hopes of is but a poor portion; I can never think myself well provided for till I know that the Lord is the portion of my inheritance and of my cup." Those who in sincerity take the Lord for their God shall find him all-sufficient both as a refuge and as a portion, so that, as no evil shall hurt them, so no good shall be wanting to them; and they may humbly claim their interest: "Lord, thou art my refuge and my portion; every thing else is a refuge of lies and a portion of no value. Thou art so in the land of the living, that is, while I live and have my being, whether in this world or in a better." There is enough in God to answer all the necessities of this present time. We live in a world of dangers and wants; but what danger need we fear if God is our refuge, or what wants if he be our portion? Heaven, which alone deserves to be called the land of the living, will be to all believers both a refuge and a portion. 3. How, in this satisfaction, he addressed himself to God (Psalms 142:5; Psalms 142:6): "Lord, give a gracious ear to my cry, the cry of my affliction, the cry of my supplication, for I am brought very low, and, if thou help me not, I shall be quite sunk. Lord, deliver me from my persecutors, either tie their hands or turn their hearts, break their power or blast their projects, restrain them or rescue me, for they are stronger than I, and it will be thy honour to take part with the weakest. Deliver me from them, or I shall be ruined by them, for I am not yet myself a match for them. Lord, bring my soul out of prison, not only bring me safe out of this cave, but bring me out of all my perplexities." We may apply it spiritually: the souls of good men are often straitened by doubts and fears, cramped and fettered through the weakness of faith and the prevalency of corruption; and it is then their duty and interest to apply themselves to God, and beg of him to set them at liberty and to enlarge their hearts, that they may run the way of his commandments. 4. How much he expected his deliverance would redound to the glory of God. (1.) By his own thanksgivings, into which his present complaints would then be turned: "Bring my soul out of prison, not that I may enjoy myself and my friends and live at ease, no, nor that I may secure my country, but that I may praise thy name." This we should have an eye to, in all our prayers to God for deliverance out of trouble, that we may have occasion to praise God and may live to his praise. This is the greatest comfort of temporal mercies that they furnish us with matter, and give us opportunity, for the excellent duty of praise. (2.) By the thanksgivings of many on his behalf (2 Corinthians 1:11): "When I am enlarged the righteous shall encompass me about; for my cause they shall make thee a crown of praise, so the Chaldee. They shall flock about me to congratulate me on my deliverance, to hear my experiences, and to receive (Maschil) instructions from me; they shall encompass me, to join with me in my thanksgivings, because thou shalt have dealt bountifully with me." Note, The mercies of others ought to be the matter of our praises to God; and the praises of others, on our behalf, ought to be both desired and rejoiced in by us.