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Daily Devotion: Psalm 142:1

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Psalm 142:1     "I cried unto the LORD with my voice; with my voice unto the LORD did I make my supplication."

This Psalm is titled, "Maschil of David; A Prayer when he was in the cave." The word, maschil, means it is a poem of instruction or to give information.  As a quick reminder, David and his men had hidden in a cave from King Saul who was trying to kill David. As they were in the cave, suddenly Saul and his army came into the cave. Saul's army was at the mouth of the cave. David and his army were in the back of the cave. Apparently it was a very large cave for Saul did not know David's army was also in that cave.  David's men tried to get David to kill Saul while he slept. David refused to kill the anointed king of Israel; rather, while Saul slept, David cut the hem of his robe. Afterwards, David felt guilty about doing this. You can find this account in 1 Samuel chapter 24.

Today's Psalm was written as a result of that night in the cave. By the title of the Psalm, we can see David giving instructions concerning this type situation. It isn't known if David prayed this prayer before Saul arrived, while the king was in the cave, or after it was over.  It seems David caved to the pressure of his men. Although he did not kill the king, he did show himself by cutting the hem of Saul's robe.  When David went against the bear, the lion, and the giant, he declared himself acting in the name of the Lord God of Israel. But in this account, we do not read David invoking the name of the Lord as he slipped upon Saul while he was sleeping. It almost seems this Psalm is written in the aftermath of his emotions. "And it came to pass afterward, that David's heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul's skirt." (1 Samuel 24:5)  Peer pressure was present in the day of David as well as it is in our day.

As a result of David's feeling of guilt, we find today's text. "I cried unto the LORD with my voice; with my voice unto the LORD did I make my supplication."  The word, supplication, in this passage carries the meaning of seeking mercy and grace. It is the act of humbling oneself before the very presence of God and crying out for help.  I am so thankful that God has given to us the means whereby we are able to approach the very throne of God and there we can find mercy and grace to help in our time of need.  We should never be discouraged from seeking the blessings of the Lord, especially when we are brought low by our own actions.  He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  Pay attention to that last phrase: "cleanse us from ALL unrighteousness."  Aren't you glad?  I surely am. 

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