Psalms 142:1

Psalms 142:1 says, Maschil of David; A Prayer when he was in the cave.  This is identified as a maschil, or prayer, of Davd, written in the cave, then verse one says, I cried unto the LORD with my voice; with my voice unto the LORD did I make my supplication.  This was written when David was hiding from Saul in a cave.  Even after God chose David to be king, not everything was perfect in his life.  We should not expect everything in this world to be perfect after we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord either.  David cried out to God during this time, and so should we as Christians in times of trouble.  Verse two adds, I poured out my complaint before him; I shewed before him my trouble.  David said he poured out his complaint to God.  I don't believe that he did that in a demanding way, but as a prayer for help.  I believe that we should let God know our concerns in life, not because He doesn't already know them, but to show our faith in Him.  Then, we should have faith in His answering us in the best way possible.  Verse three continues, When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then thou knewest my path. In the way wherein I walked have they privily laid a snare for me.  David said even when he felt spiritually overwhelmed that God knew the path that he should take, and where the snares that his enemies had laid for him were.  God is with us and knows the source of all our problems even when we are feeling spiritually overwhelmed.  Verse four states, 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.  David said he could find no one to help him.  If we are ever feeling alone in our spiritual walk, we need to look to God for strength as followers of Christ.  Verse five adds, I cried unto thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living.  David cried out to God, declaring God to be his refuge in the land of the living.  God is our refuge as Christians, not only in this life but in the everlasting life to come.  Verse six continues, Attend unto my cry; for I am brought very low: deliver me from my persecutors; for they are stronger than I.  David, known for his strength and bravery, asked God to deliver him because his enemies were stronger than he was.  David's strength always came from God, and so does ours.  Verse seven concludes, 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.  David asked God to bring him out of the prison that he felt he was in because of Saul wanting to kill him.  He said he wanted this so that he could praise the name of God, knowing that God would deal bountifully with him.  When we ask God for help in times of trouble, we should always do it so that God's name can be praised, and never for our own profit or glory.  God has already dealt bountifully with us by providing salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.