David was certainly no stranger to suffering, was he? Throughout his life, not only his military opponents but even members of his own family kept setting traps for him (verse 3) and persecuting him (verse 6). And let’s face it: the Son of David endured the same sort of suffering, and said that all his followers would too (John 15:20). So what can we learn from this prayer that David offered when things were about as bad as they could be for him, while he was hiding out in a cave in fear for his life?

Well, in verse 3, David doesn’t shy away from the fact that God knows exactly what he is going through. Instead, he insists, “Thou didst know my path,” the path that was laden with his enemies’ traps. David thus admits that God at the very least was allowing him to experience the pain and anguish he was going through.

And yet, at the same time, David can claim that the God Who was permitting his suffering is his “refuge” (verse 5). Moreover, David insists that God is his “portion in the land of the living” (verse 5), that his relationship with God is the only thing he has or desires to have in this world. In short, as David cowers in a cave, he nevertheless claims that he is safe and content. It’s hard to imagine greater faith.

But that’s not the most amazing part of David’s prayer. For why does he cry out for deliverance from his enemies? Why does he want to be released from the prison of being a fugitive and an outlaw? Not just for his own comfort, but so that he might have more reasons to give God thanks and praise (verse 7). Instead of longing for a hot meal and a warm bed, all David wants is to gather good and godly people around him and tell them about the way God delivered him from his persecutors.

This is the essence of prayer: it looks to God for relief, it relies on God for safety, it seeks God as its highest good, and its greatest desire is that God receive all the glory for everything He does. And the good news is that, because the Son of David endured much greater suffering with much greater faithfulness, we can be confident that such prayers will be answered – that God will indeed deal bountifully with all those who trust in Him.

Psalm 142 (NASB)

Maskil of David, when he was in the cave. A Prayer.
I cry aloud with my voice to the LORD; I make supplication with my voice to the LORD.
2 I pour out my complaint before Him; I declare my trouble before Him.
3 When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, Thou didst know my path. In the way where I walk They have hidden a trap for me.
4 Look to the right and see; For there is no one who regards me; There is no escape for me; No one cares for my soul.
5 I cried out to Thee, O LORD; I said, “Thou art my refuge, My portion in the land of the living.
6 “Give heed to my cry, For I am brought very low; Deliver me from my persecutors, For they are too strong for me.
7 “Bring my soul out of prison, So that I may give thanks to Thy name; The righteous will surround me, For Thou wilt deal bountifully with me.”