Psalms 142:1

“I cried unto the Lord with my voice, etc.] With the voice of his soul, in the language of his mind, mentally, as Moses and Hannah cried unto the Lord when no voice was heard, or articulate sounds expressed, since this prayer was put up to the Lord in the cave where Saul was; though it might have been delivered before he came into it, while he and his men were at the mouth of it, which threw David into this distress; besides the cave was so large as to hold David and his six hundred men without being seen by Saul, and who could discourse together, as David and his men did, without being heard by Saul while he was in it; and so this psalm or prayer might be spoken vocally, though he was there;…”

“The scope of this Psalm is the same as that of the preceding. (Psa 148:1-14) heavens [and] heights--are synonymous.”

“I cried unto the Lord with my voice - See the notes at Psalms 3:4, where the language is the same. He uttered a loud and audible prayer, though he was alone. It was not a mental ejaculation, but he gave expression to his desires. With my voice unto the Lord did I make my supplication - See Psalms 30:8. The Hebrew word rendered “did make my supplication,” means to implore favor or mercy. It denotes the language of petition and entreaty, not the language of claim. return to 'Top of Page'”

“Ps 142 The psalmist faces severe persecution, so he cries to the Lord, and the Lord will rescue him. 142:1-7 regarding his experience in the cave: Cp. Ps 57:title. 142:1-3 Though overwhelmed by his persecutors (142:6), the psalmist looks to the Lord for wisdom.”

“A Prayer: David was twice in great peril in caves. on one occasion, in the cave of Adullam, when he fled from Achish king of Gath; and on another, in the cave of Engedi, where he had taken refuge from the pursuit of Saul. It is not certain to which of these events this Psalm refers; though probably to the former. when he was: Sa1 22:1, Sa1 22:2, Sa1 24:3; Heb 11:38 with my voice: Psa 28:2, Psa 77:1, Psa 77:2, Psa 141:1 Psalms 142:2”

“The emphasis of the first two lines rests upon אל־ה. Forsaken by all created beings, he confides in Jahve. He turns to Him in pathetic and importunate prayer (זעק, the parallel word being התחנּן, as in Psa 30:9), and that not merely inwardly ( Exo 14:15), but with his voice (vid., on Psa 3:5) \- for audible prayer reacts soothingly, strengtheningly, and sanctifyingly upon the praying one - he pours out before Him his trouble which distracts his thoughts (שׁפך שׂיח as in Psa 102:1, cf. Psa 62:9; Psa 64:2; Sa1 1:16), he lays open before Him everything that burdens and distresses him. Not as though He did not also know it without all this; on the contrary, when his spirit (רוּחי as in Psa…”