PSALMS 142

READING CYCLE THREE(see “Guide
to Good Bible Reading“)

FOLLOWING THE ORIGINAL AUTHOR’S INTENT AT
PARAGRAPH LEVEL

This is a study guide commentary which means that you are
responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in
the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in
interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.

Read the chapter in one sitting. Identify the subjects (reading cycle #3). Compare your subject divisions with the five translations
above. Paragraphing is not inspired, but it is the key to following the original
author’s intent, which is the heart of interpretation. Every paragraph has one
and only one subject.

1. First paragraph

2. Second paragraph

3. Etc.

WORD AND PHRASE STUDY

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 142:1-4
 ¹I cry aloud with my
voice to the Lord;
 I make supplication with my
voice to the Lord.
 ²I pour out my
complaint before Him;
 I declare my trouble before
Him.
 ³When my spirit was
overwhelmed within me,
 You knew my path.
 In the way where I walk
 They have hidden a trap for
me.
 ⁴Look to the right
and see;
 For there is no one who
regards me;
 There is no escape for me;
 No one cares for my soul.

142:1-2 This Psalm starts out with
four imperfects which denote ongoing prayer.

1. I cry aloud – BDB 277, KB 277, Qal imperfect

2. I make supplication – BDB 335, KB 334,
Hithpael imperfect

3. I pour out my complaint – BDB 1049, KB 1629,
Qal imperfect, cf. 1 Sam. 1:15; Ps. 62:8; Lam.
2:19

4. I declare my trouble – BDB 616, KB 665,
Hiphil imperfect

142:3 “my spirit” This is the Hebrew
term ruah (BDB 924), which denotes “wind,” “breath,” or “spirit.” It is
used of the God-given life force in humanity. See
Special Topic: Spirit in the
Bible.

The psalmist is confused by the attacks of his accusers (i.e.,
those who hid a trap for him, Ps. 142:3d, cf. Ps. 140:4-5; 141:9-10; they are
also called “persecutors” in Ps. 142:6c).

The psalmist asserts that YHWH knows him (i.e., his path, where
he walks, Ps. 142:3b,c and Psalm 139) but it does not feel that way (i.e., Ps.
142:4).

NASB, NKJV“overwhelmed”
NRSV, NJB,
REB“faint”
LXX“failing me”
JPSOA“fails within me”

This Hithpael
infinitive construct (BDB 742 III) basically means “to be feeble” or “to
faint.”

1. feeble – Hiphil, Gen. 30:42

2. faint – Qal, Ps. 61:3; Isa. 57:16

3. faint – Hithpael, Ps. 77:4; 107:5;
143:4; Lam. 2:12; Jonah 2:7

It is an idiom of discouragement and hopelessness.

▣ Lines b and c express the truth that
God is well acquainted with the lives of His faithful followers. Why problems,
sickness, rejection, and attacks come is a mystery (i.e., Job), but the Bible
teaches YHWH is for us, with us, and will never leave us. We can face
circumstances with faith in Him!

142:4 The psalmist is surprised that
no one comes to his aid (cf. Psalm 142:4), not even YHWH. Note the
imperatives.

1. look – BDB 613, KB 661, Hiphil imperative

2. see – BDB 906, KB 1157, Qal imperative

Line d is so sad! He felt all alone, all alone! He felt his
situation was hopeless (i.e., Job)!

The LXX, apparently following the DSS understanding, made the imperatives into simple statements, “I look. .
.I see,” referring not to YHWH, but to the psalmist. This is followed by the
Aramaic Targums and the Vulgate. I think the imperatives fit the context best (i.e., the
psalmist is addressing God, Ps. 142:1-3).

▣ “soul” This is the Hebrew term
nephesh; see note at Gen. 35:18.

▣ “No one cares for my soul” The participle (BDB 205, KB 233, Qal participle) is literally “seek” and the phrase
may be translated “no one seeks my life,” but this is easily misunderstood in
English. So the NASB caught the meaning well.

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 142:5-7
 ⁵I cried out to You,
O Lord;
 I said, “You are my refuge,
 My portion in the land of the
living.
 ⁶Give heed to my
cry,
 For I am brought very low;
 Deliver me from my
persecutors,
 For they are too strong for
me.
 ⁷Bring my soul out
of prison,
 So that I may give thanks to
Your name;
 The righteous will surround
me,
 For You will deal bountifully
with me.”

142:5 This is the psalmist’s
affirmation of faith.

1. You are my refuge

2. You are my portion in the land of the living
(i.e., note, not the afterlife, cf. Job 28:13; Ps. 27:13; 52:5; 116:9; Isa.
38:11; Jer. 11:19)

▣ “refuge” See
Special Topic: Refuge
(OT).

▣ “my portion” See note at Ps. 16:5
online.

142:6-7 There is a series of prayer
requests (Hiphil imperatives).

1. give heed – BDB 904, KB 1151, Hiphil imperative

2. deliver me – BDB 664, KB 717, Hiphil imperative

3. bring out – BDB 422, KB 425, Hiphil imperative

142:7 “out of prison” This must be

1. metaphorical for his confusion and low state
(cf. Ps. 142:3-4,6-7)

2. a reference to one taken forcibly into exile

3. an idiom for Sheol

The term “prison” (BDB 689) can mean

1. “locksmith” or “smith” – 2 Kgs. 24:14; Jer.
24:1; 29:2

2. dungeon (only three times in the OT)

a. literal of eschatological underground prison
(cf. I Enoch 10.4,12)

b. figurative – Isa. 42:7

▣ “So that I may give thanks to Your name”
This would be a request to visit the temple in Jerusalem. This is reinforced by
the next line, “the righteous will surround me” (i.e., in corporate worship).

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

This is a study guide
commentary which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of
the Bible. Each of us must walk n the light we have. You, the Bible, and the
Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a
commentator.

These discussion questions are provided to help you think
through the major issues of this section of the book. They are meant to be
thought provoking, not definitive.

1. The psalmist asserts YHWH’s knowledge of him
(cf. Psalm 142:3b, c), but questions his circumstances! Sound familiar? Does
knowledge of God’s presence and care remove problems, sickness, and evil people
from our lives? 

2. Is Ps. 142:4 about being abandoned by friends
and family or by God?

3. To what does “prison” of Ps. 142:7 refer?

4. Is Ps. 142:7 referring to temple worship?

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