# 385 A journey through the Psalms. Psalm 142. You have to appeal!

In a recent game of cricket between Australia and the West Indies, there was an unusual situation when a batter from the West Indies was clearly “run out” by the Australians, but not deemed out by the umpire because none of the Australian team “appealed” for the out decision. This created some angst in the Australian team, but the umpire was absolutely right according to the cricket rules as follows: “31.1 Umpire not to give batter out without an appeal. Neither umpire shall give a batter out, even though he/she may be out under the Laws, unless appealed to by a fielder.”      https://www.lords.org/mcc/the-laws-of-cricket/appeals

Fortunately, God does not have such hard and fast laws concerning us – Before they call I will answer. (Isaiah 65:24). But have you ever wondered, do we even need to pray when God knows very clearly about our situation and our needs? Do we really need to “appeal”? Or as the psalmist here puts it:

¹ I cry aloud to the Lord;
    I lift up my voice to the Lord for mercy.
² I pour out before him my complaint;
    before him I tell my trouble.

As we consider Psalm 142, we shall consider this question, but first some background.

The title for this Psalm is, A maskil of David. When he was in the cave. A prayer. Most commentators suggest that the situation mentioned is when David was hiding in the Cave of Adullam from King Saul who, due to irrational jealousy, was out to kill him. The story is found in 1 Samuel 22.

Kidner comments on the “fluctuating state of David’s emotions in the ordeal” as seen in this psalm and “a companion piece … Psalm 57 [Titled: When he had fled from Saul into the cave.]. He continues: “Psalm 57 is bold and animated, almost enjoying the situation for the certainty of its triumphant outcome. In the present psalm [though] the strain of being hated and hunted is almost too much, and faith is at full stretch.” (# 29)

David continues:

³ When my spirit grows faint within me,
    it is you who watch over my way.
In the path where I walk
    people have hidden a snare for me.
⁴ Look and see, there is no one at my right hand;
    no one is concerned for me.
I have no refuge;
    no one cares for my life.

Despite the negative feelings, we note a certain confidence here that God knows all about these stressful things happening as he says in v. 3 it is you who watch over my way. And here we see this interesting request in v. 4, that despite God’s knowledge of his way, David still  asks the Lord to Look and see.

Broyles suggests, “Recognizing that God knows our affairs should not lead to a passive acceptance of circumstances or of God’s so-called will, nor should it lead to a presumption that God must intervene on our behalf. According to the Psalms, there should always be a dynamic engagement in the relationship, in which we show initiative to cry aloud to the Lord (v. 1) and he is expected to respond and rescue (v. 6)” (# 4)

So, it seems the answer to the question, “do we really need to appeal” is yes, this according to the psalmist and then from a reading of the Bible generally – Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. Matthew 7:7) –  and I think a key reason being as Broyles puts it, to encourage “a dynamic engagement in the relationship” between ourselves and God.

And so David continues to engage as he prays:

⁵ I cry to you, Lord;
    I say, “You are my refuge,
    my portion in the land of the living.”

⁶ Listen to my cry,
    for I am in desperate need;
rescue me from those who pursue me,
    for they are too strong for me.
⁷ Set me free from my prison,
    that I may praise your name.
Then the righteous will gather about me
    because of your goodness to me.

There are three key positives in David’s relationship with God, despite his troubles. They are:

• v. 3 God knows all about David’s way (his life and all that happens)
• v. 5 God is David’s portion (“you are all I want.” TEV)
• V. 7 God is David’s hope because of [His] goodness to [him].

So, may we learn from David and “appeal” and cry out to the Lord in our times of trouble, confident that He hears and sees and will answer out of His mercy and goodness.