Psalm 8:1

My Shepherd met me in His green pastures, foraging in Isaiah 62. But I wanted a comforting Psalm. He sent me to Psalm 142. In Psalm 142, He showed me the comfort He was extending to me in Isaiah 62.

David was in exile, hiding from Saul in “the cave” (Psalm 142:0). “The cave” refers to Adullam, a cave near the valley of Elah.* The tenor of the Psalm suggests he was pretty much alone (1 Samuel 21:1—1028 BC), before his family came to visit him “in prison” (Psalm 142:7a).

His soul was in prison!

What seized my attention was the opening clause of verse 7: “Bring my soul out of prison.” In 1611, the word “prison” was not primarily used to speak of a place of punishment. Coke (AD 1552-1634) defined prison as a place of safe custody, not primarily a place of punishment.**

Someone who was set apart in custody to ensure their availability and also for protection would be kept in a comfortable confinement pending the resolution of the trial.

David’s “soul prison” was a place of protection during a time of trying or testing. He was set aside for examination.

The trial of his faith included troubles, which involved enemies pursuing him relentlessly, laying snares for him (Psalm 142:3). He felt abandoned: “There was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul” (Psalm 142:4). The trial of his faith included persecutors who were stronger than he (Psalm 142:6).

Weary of this trial of his faith, he pleaded with the LORD to “Bring my soul out of prison.” This was so that he might “praise [the] name” of His LORD (Psalm 142:7b).

David was assured that when his spirit was overwhelmed, and he cried out to Him, then the LORD “knewest [his] path” (Psalm 142:3), took an interested notice of where he was. But nowhere in this Psalm does David testify that God delivered his soul from prison—that is, his trial did not end at this time. Mercifully, God sent his family to visit and succor him in prison (1 Samuel 22:1). But he would remain in his prison for three more years: his persecutor, King Saul, would be slain three years later (1 Samuel 31:5).

In the valley, with David, at the Cross, Jesus directed my attention to how David comforted himself in God’s promise: “The righteous shall compass me about” — intriguingly, the word translated by the phrase compass me about can signify “to crown.” David remembered God’s promise communicated to him by the Prophet/Priest Samuel. David ended, “For thou shalt deal bountifully with me” (Psalm 142:7). David surrendered to God’s purpose for his prison and, trusting the promise of God, he waited for the fiery trial of his faith to end.

When we are set aside to “soul prison,” to be tried, let us remember our call to the Cross: “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23).

At the table, Jesus reminded me of the exhortation of Peter, and I encourage you to take the time to read it in hopes it will bless you as it did me:

1Peter 4:11 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

1Peter 4:12 ¶ Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:

1Peter 4:13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

1Peter 4:14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.

The “prison” is for your safety during your trial! It’s temporary! “Endure hardness,” with a heart soft toward God.

Praying for revival! 🙏

Going live asap:

https://rumble.com/v6zf4fy-shepherds-pasture.html

[*Adullam was located about seven miles southeast of Gath (hometown of Goliath), 11 miles northwest of Hebron, 17 miles southwest of Bethlehem, and 21 miles southwest of Jerusalem, near the floor of the valley of Elah, the valley made famous in the story of David and Goliath.]

[**Coke premised his remarks on this upon Bracton, Fleta, and Britton (13th Century—AD 1200s), and Blackstone (18th century) repeated this point, and Webster’s Dictionary of the English Language refers to Coke’s definition. It is appropriate to assume that at the time of the 1611 translation (KJV), this was the most likely sense intended.]