Psalms 142:1-7: a reflection

1I cry with my voice to the LORD. With my voice, I ask the LORD for mercy. 2I pour out my complaint before him. I tell him my troubles. 3When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, you knew my route. On the path in which I walk, they have hidden a snare for me. 4Look on my right, and see; for there is no one who is concerned for me. Refuge has fled from me. No one cares for my soul. 5I cried to you, LORD. I said, “You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.” 6Listen to my cry, for I am in desperate need. Deliver me from my persecutors, for they are too strong for me. 7Bring my soul out of prison, that I may give thanks to your name. The righteous will surround me, for you will be good to me.

This psalm is the prayer of one who feels utterly alone in his trouble, with no one to help. I pour out my complaint before him, the psalmist says; I tell him my troubles. And he describes his desolation: Look on my right, and see; for there is no one who is concerned for me. No one cares for my soul. Yet in that very loneliness, he turns to God: I cried to you, LORD. I said, You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living. When no one else cared, he poured out his trouble to God, who was his refuge.

Notice what the psalmist did in his loneliness: he poured out his trouble to God, who was his refuge. He felt utterly alone, that no one cared for his soul, that human help had fled; and in that desolation, he did not keep his trouble to himself or sink into despair, but poured it out to God, telling him his troubles, and found in God the refuge that no human had provided. When no one else cared, God cared; when human refuge had fled, God was his refuge. He turned his loneliness into prayer, pouring out his trouble to the God who cared for his soul.

That is worth taking to heart, for we too can feel utterly alone in our trouble, and can turn that loneliness into prayer. When we feel that no one cares for our soul, that human help has fled and we are alone in our trouble, we can sink into despair; but the psalmist poured out his trouble to God, and found in him a refuge when no one else cared. When you feel alone in your trouble, that no one cares, do not sink into despair or keep your trouble to yourself; pour it out to God, who cares for your soul and is your refuge, as the psalmist cried to God when no human cared. God cares for your soul when no one else does, and is a refuge when human help has fled; pour out your trouble to him in your loneliness, as the psalmist poured out his complaint and found God his refuge, his portion in the land of the living, when no one else was concerned for him.

Lord, this psalm is the prayer of one who feels utterly alone in his trouble, with no one to help. I pour out my complaint before him, the psalmist says; I tell him my troubles. And he describes his desolation: look on my right, and see; for there is no one who is concerned for me; no one cares for my soul. Yet in that very loneliness, he turns to you: I cried to you, LORD; I said, you are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living. When no one else cared, he poured out his trouble to you, who were his refuge. Show me what the psalmist did in his loneliness: he poured out his trouble to you, who were his refuge. He felt utterly alone, that no one cared for his soul; and in that desolation, he did not keep his trouble to himself or sink into despair, but poured it out to you, and found in you the refuge that no human had provided. When no one else cared, you cared. He turned his loneliness into prayer. Take that to my heart, for I too can feel utterly alone in my trouble, and can turn that loneliness into prayer. When I feel that no one cares for my soul, that human help has fled, I can sink into despair; but the psalmist poured out his trouble to you, and found in you a refuge. When I feel alone in my trouble, keep me from sinking into despair or keeping my trouble to myself; help me pour it out to you, Lord, who care for my soul and are my refuge. Thank you that you care for my soul when no one else does, and are a refuge when human help has fled.