Psalm 142 — Known by God — Reading the Psalms

Maschil of David, when he was in the cave; a Prayer.

1 I cry with my voice unto the LORD;
With my voice unto the LORD do I make supplication.
2 I pour out my complaint before him;
I shew before him my trouble.
3 When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, thou knewest my path.
In the way wherein I walk have they hidden a snare for me.
4 Look on my right hand, and see; for there is no man that knoweth me:
Refuge hath failed me; no man careth for my soul.
5 I cried unto thee, O LORD;
I said, Thou art my refuge,
My portion in the land of the living.
6 Attend unto my cry; for I am brought very low:
Deliver me from my persecutors; for they are stronger than I.
7 Bring my soul out of prison, that I may give thanks unto thy name:
The righteous shall compass me about;
for thou shalt deal bountifully with me.

It may be romantic to explore a cave or to sneak deep into the dark to hide from an enemy – but I am no longer just a kid. I may enjoy romances and fantasies, but the prospect of hiding from harm in a hole in the ground brings no delight to my day. David hiding in a cave is a romance to all but David. The dank darkness was as real as his anxieties.

I know that before I felt worse than I do today. My past anxieties surely overtop my present plight. So why do I then feel so frustrated and dissatisfied? It takes little for anyone of us to identify our days with psalms like these. Thank God for good words that move our thoughts toward him who is above.

I adore vs. 3-4 – feeling overwhelmed, God knows our path. Even when so many know us not and refuse to acknowledge our lives, God knows our path. It may be because he helps plan it out and lay it down. It may be because he sees where we are, where we’ve been and where we will go. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me. When others don’t come to recognize us, God comes to know us and our needs. God does know.

Just as Paul writes, “you have come to know God, or rather, to be known by God”. We see in this one of the greatest blessings attainable in this complicated & blasted world. Whether w’re deep in a cavern or safe in a castle, our path and plight is known by God. Let us grow strong in our faith as we give glory to God who knows us all.