David’s Prayer When He Was In The Cave

STUDY: #873-CHURCH IN THE HOUSES FROM: OCTOBER 6 @ 12, 2015

Topic: "David’s Prayer When He Was In The Cave" Psalm 142: 1

This psalm is written to give our lives directions on prayer. It teaches us using David as an example on how to organize our prayer in times of affliction. These instructions are very necessary for our spiritual education and they are also very practical. On one occasion the disciples said to Jesus, son of David: "Lord, teach us to pray!" It is a great necessity to know how to pray. Long before they made that request to the Lord, in this psalm King David gives us a valuable lesson about the appeal; here he lists his own experiences about prayer. We will learn about the prayer and the cry of this man of God when he was hiding in the cave fleeing from his enemies (Psalm 142:1 "With my voice I cry to the LORD; with my voice I ask the Lord for mercy."). We see that: "My complaint SHOULD NOT BE GIVEN TO ANYONE OTHER THAN THE LORD." "Before Him I poured out my complaint; I manifest before Him my trouble "Psalm 142: 2 We can complain to God but not complain "ABOUT GOD." When we complain it should not be before men but only before God. Before Him I express my anguish! We must note that we do not express our anguish before the Lord for Him to see it but rather for us to SEE HIM! It is for our relief and not for His information that we explain to the Lord everything that refers to our "woes". It does us much good to present our affliction orderly because a great part of it disappears in the process of prayer. Much of the "woes" disappears because the light of our God resists it. The rest of the "woes" loses its terror because the veil of mystery is taken away when we present to God in a clear and orderly manner the facts that afflict us. It is not the wife or the children or the friends who will deliver us; no one can release us from our fears. It would be the opposite if we go to men, we would fill them with our fears. Only God can deliver us and take away our burden! You have to pour your thoughts to the Lord and by doing so you will see how it is; show God your affliction and it will become patent (you will see clearly) the size of it. Let everything be done before the Lord (not man) because in comparison to the great majesty of His love the affliction will seem almost nothing! Do not look for one or the other to expose your sufferings because if you do your affliction will seem much greater than it is. To entrust our cause to God only is our duty; it is also our security and relief. "When my spirit (fainted) was overwhelmed within me, You knew my path. In the path where I walk men have hidden a snare for me "Psalm 142: 3. It is truly good to know that God never closes His eyes, He always knows our path. Our judgments drift, but those of the Eternal Mind are always clear. The Lord does not withdraw at a great distance away from us but rather his eyes are close to each one of us. He sees you and not with the indifference of a mere spectator but rather He observes you WITH ATTENTION. He comes out to see; He considers your ways and every circumstance that can occur to you in your path is under His care and direction. He has complete control!

When the tribulation reaches you, it will begin at the time it deems appropriate; it will not come before. It has marked the extent of that tribulation to the thickness of a hair and lasts up to the minute. It also knows how it is affecting your spirit and will provide you with supplies of grace and strength that it considers will be necessary to face it. So even when things look darkest you can say: "although it disciplines it does not kill." Therefore, wait in God because: you still have to praise Him! (Psalm 43: 5 "Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.") Often the soul seems lost in thoughts that overwhelm; it loses its footing, lurching, it looks powerless amidst the deep waters of affliction. But, remember that grief is part of God's plan and that He also asks you to show willingness and absolute trust in Him. In the path where I walk men have hidden a snare for me." When man does not dare to attack another directly, he lays a snare. He does it with secrecy, avoiding to be observed. But, the Lord is greater than them and makes us walk safely in the middle of danger. He knows us and our enemies; He knows very well our path. When our friends seek us, they show us that they know us since childhood, but only God knows us perfectly. "Look to my right and see; no one is concerned for me. I have no refuge; no one cares for my life." Psalm 142: 4. I have no refuge, God alone is my refuge! Those of us who have our share in God are in a high tower and therefore safe in all the tribulations and storms. "I cry to you, O Lord; I say, “You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living." Psalm 142: 5. I cried to you, O Lord! When we have no one it is good to go and cry out to God. Everything that leads us to cry out to God will become a blessing to us. David says: "You are my hope and my portion in the land of the living." In the land of the living there is nothing like living life centered on the living God. Having Jehovah as a refuge is something important, but to have Him as our portion IS EVERYTHING! "Set me free from my prison, that I may praise your name ..." Psalm 142: 7 To praise your name, so that God may be glorified by me; this is another prayer of the supplicant. Those who are delivered from the dungeons of despair with all certainty: magnify the Lord's name! David knew how to take his burdens to God. From the cave of affliction he cried out to the one who could deliver him. We now live what others have already lived and we learn from them. So as David prayed and cried out to God from the cave, I will also pray and cry to my God! Amen.