December 21, 2009
hIDE OR SEEK?
Psalm 142
Lindsey Harris
Central Truth
Trust God to be your shelter, and He will take care of you.
Key Verse | Psalm 142:5
I cry out to you, O Lord;
I say, “You are my shelter,
my security in the land of the living.”
(Psalm 142:5)
Psalm 142
You Are My Refuge
A Maskil 1 142:1 Probably a musical or liturgical term of David, when he was in the cave. A Prayer.
1
With my voice I cry out to the LORD;
with my voice I plead for mercy to the LORD.
2
I pour out my complaint before him;
I tell my trouble before him.
3
When my spirit faints within me,
you know my way!
In the path where I walk
they have hidden a trap for me.
4
Look to the right and see:
there is none who takes notice of me;
no refuge remains to me;
no one cares for my soul.
5
I cry to you, O LORD;
I say, “You are my refuge,
my portion in the land of the living.”
6
Attend to my cry,
for I am brought very low!
Deliver me from my persecutors,
for they are too strong for me!
7
Bring me out of prison,
that I may give thanks to your name!
The righteous will surround me,
for you will deal bountifully with me.
Dive Deeper | Psalm 142
I loved playing hide and seek as a little girl. Those butterflies of anticipation in my stomach were such fun! I imagine David felt more serious pangs of anxiety as he penned this psalm while hiding in a cave from an army searching to find and kill him. Yet, even from his dark, wet, and cold hiding place, David was able to write, "You are my shelter, my security." (Psalm 142:5) What trust David had in God's plan!
Too often in my own life I have hidden in a cave of my own making rather than running to the protection God has waiting for me. I trust in my own intelligence, social skills, and determination when I try to fix my relationships, parent my children, and make both big and small life decisions. Instead, I should seek God in prayer and "tell Him about my troubles," like David did. (Psalm 142:2)
Why is it so hard for me to trust that God's way is the best way for me? God has time and again proven Himself faithful to me. I have seen that "all things work together for good for those who love God." (Romans 8:28) He has produced great things from my struggles with infertility, challenges in my marriage, and some unpleasant work environments. While David surely wasn't happy about having to hide in a cave for protection, he kept trusting that God's way was the right way. Nahum 1:7 (NIV) says, "The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him." I want the same kind of trust David had!
After all, God loved me so much that he sent His Son, Jesus, to take on my many sins and pay their price so that I would not have to pay that price myself. If God was willing to make that amazing sacrifice for me, I have no doubt that He is willing to take care of me through each day.
Discussion Questions
1. Are you looking for security in a cave of your own making or a shelter that God has provided?
2. When has the Lord proven Himself faithful to you?
3. What area of your life do you need to trust God with today?