Yesterday, as we finished the first part of Psalm 142, we left David pouring out his complaint to God, “I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul.” (Psalm 142:4) Humanly speaking, there was no helped for David. There was no refuge. He was hiding in the cave from Saul who had three thousand men with him. Saul came into the cave. At that point, David had gone as far as he could. There was no refuge, there was no more place to escape. David, however, was not without hope.
In the very next verse, David says, “I cried unto thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living.” (Psalm 142:5) The LORD was David’s refuge. He sustained David. David cried to the Lord and knew that He would deliver him and allow him to remain among the living.
David goes on in his prayer, “Attend unto my cry; for I am brought very low: deliver me from my persecutors; for they are stronger than I.” (Psalm 142:6) David had indeed been brought very low, about as low as he could go. There was no place to run, and his persecutors were right there, and they outnumbered him. They were much stronger than he. We can remember that if we are in any trouble. Also, we can remember to pray for other persecuted believers. All through the ages, the children of God have been persecuted by the enemies of God. Humanly speaking, the enemies of God are often stronger than the believers they persecute; but God is the refuge and portion for those who fear and trust in Him.
“Bring my soul out of prison,” cries David, “that I may praise thy name: the righteous shall compass me about; for thou shalt deal bountifully with me.” (See Psalm 142:7) Though David could see no way out at the present, he knew that the righteousness of God surrounded him and that God would deal bountifully with him. But, oh, how he longed to see that deliverance from God right now, “Bring my soul out of prison.” Even so, he knew that God would bring him out, and he trusted in the refuge and sustenance of his Lord.
We, as Christians today, can also trust in the refuge and sustenance of the Lord. That does not mean we will not feel afraid. There may be times when we face great danger or are very troubled, but the righteousness of God will surround us, and we can trust in Him.
The Lord is also the way out of prison for the lost, the unbeliever. The Lord told Isaiah, “6) I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles; 7) To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.” (Isaiah 42:6,7) Many years later, Jesus would go into a synagogue in Nazareth, and the people would see the fulfillment of this portion of Scripture, “17) And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, 18) The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, 19) To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. 20) And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him. 21) And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears." (Luke 4:17-21)
Whether you are a Christian who is in trouble or a lost person looking for salvation, Jesus is the answer. It may be that no man cares for your soul, but Jesus does. He said, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28) Come to Jesus. He is the answer to your need, the refuge for your soul, the deliverance from your prison and light to blinded eyes. His arms are always open and ready to receive you if you just come to Him in faith, repent of your sin (turn to God from your sin; realize that you cannot stop sinning on your own, you cannot save yourself, and you need a Savior), believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and call upon the name of the Lord. “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:13)