Living In A Dark Place

Psalm 142

A psalm of David, regarding his experience in the cave. A prayer.

1I cry out to the LORD;

I plead for the LORD’s mercy.

2I pour out my complaints before him

and tell him all my troubles.

3For I am overwhelmed,

and you alone know the way I should turn.

Wherever I go,

my enemies have set traps for me.

4I look for someone to come and help me,

but no one gives me a passing thought!

No one will help me;

no one cares a bit what happens to me.

5Then I pray to you, O LORD.

I say, “You are my place of refuge.

You are all I really want in life.

6Hear my cry,

for I am very low.

Rescue me from my persecutors,

for they are too strong for me.

7Bring me out of prison

so I can thank you.

The godly will crowd around me,

for you treat me kindly.”

Some people enjoy spelunking—that is, exploring caves—as a hobby. For David, however, it was no hobby. It was a matter of life and death.

As David was trying to stay a step ahead of King Saul’s goon squad, he fled to caves in the canyons of the Judean desert (1 Samuel 22:1; 24:1-3).

Imagine what it would be like living in the dark of a desert cave, not knowing if or when your pursuers would find you. Talk about stress! You would have to be on edge all the time, not to mention the anxiety involved in finding food for each day. On top of all this, you would be cut off from many of the people who mean the most to you. True, David had a band of loyal soldiers with him, but he was isolated from his family and friends. Besides that, he wouldn’t be able to worship God in the Tabernacle. At times the physical darkness of the cave must have seemed like spiritual darkness as well.

Now read Psalm 142 again, and consider how David must have felt.

Have you ever felt that way—trapped in darkness, hoping for light to fall upon a particular situation in your life but finding no light at all?

David prayed, “You alone know the way I should turn.” God knows what we don’t know. In the darkness of the cave we can’t see a thing, but God can. He could see everything even before he said, “Let there be light.” In times of darkness, let him be your light.

There may be days of darkness and distress,

When sin has power to tempt, and care to press;

Yet in the darkest day I will not fear,

For ‘mid the shadows, Thou wilt still be near.

HENRY LEIGH

Bible Networking

Compare verse 6 with our Lord’s words in John 12:27. Also check out John 11:33 and 13:21.

Notable Quotable

“Soul-emancipation is the noblest form of liberation and calls for the loudest praise. He who is delivered from the dungeon of despair is sure to magnify the name of the Lord.”

CHARLES HADDON SPURGEON