# 27 2022 Dev. Psalm 142:5. God Our Refuge! Read all of Psalm 142 first. We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s story. How will it affect your story? All passages are taken from the NIV.
Psalm 142:5 “I cry to you, Lord; I say, ‘You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.’”
Intro. Ps.138-145 are eight Davidic Psalms of Prayer/ Praise leading close to the end of the Psalter. The series is framed by two praise Psalms, Ps.138 praising God for answered prayer and Ps.145 praising God for His care of all of creation.
Psalm 142 is a prayer for God’s mercy. David appeals to God for help. He is hiding in a cave, probably from king Saul who is out to kill him. Was this prayer in the cave where David was hiding from King Saul? David had the opportunity to kill Saul but he refused to strike down the Lord’s anointed, because evil deeds come from evil men. (1 Sam. 24)
Vs.1-2 “I cry aloud to the Lord;” The prayer is personal, all in the first person. This prayer could come from anyone of us, who may feel alone, or persecuted, or may have relational problems, any number of troubles. “I lift up my voice to the Lord for mercy.”
Vs.3-4 “When my spirit grows faint within me,” It is you, Lord, I depend on, you know my path and all the pitfalls waiting for me. Today, how quickly we feel alone, how easily we are abandoned over difference of opinions, we all feel the lack of concern, lack of love.
Vs.5 “I cry to you, Lord; I say, ‘You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.” Here faith overtakes legitimate complaints, faith confronts trouble, faith, sees God as a refuge in the storm. You, Lord, are our portion, our healing, our salvation, our refuge and place of rest in this life and in the life to come. Praise the Lord!
Vs.6-7 “I cry to you, Lord;” not to friends, not to escape’ like drugs, alcohol, or sex, only you, Lord, can rescue me. We need to know when we cannot go on alone, admit we need help, only you, God, can set us free.
When we proclaim God as our help, our Savior, our refuge: “Then the righteous will gather about me (us) because of your goodness to me (us).” That is what church is all about, fellowship, support and witness. We thank God!
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