The Psalm is titled: To David himself during the time his son pursued him. As noted in the Book of Kings, specifically in 2 Samuel 15, we witness this happening. However, we must also consider another David, truly strong and mighty, who represents David and our Lord Jesus Christ. These past occurrences serve as foreshadows of future events. Thus, we should search through this psalm for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who reveals Himself in advance through His prophecy, proclaiming what is presently unfolding according to what occurred in ancient times. He foretold His coming through the prophets, for He is the Word of God. They spoke of Him only when inspired by that Word. They declared Christ, being filled with Christ, preceding Him who was to come, and He did not abandon those who prepared the way.
Let the Lord speak; let Christ, the fullness of Christ, communicate with us. Lord, hear my prayer; listen to my plea, as it is written, "Hear my prayer, O Lord; let my cry come to You" (Psalm 142:1). Hearing and listening are synonymous—a repetition affirming that point. "In Your faithfulness answer me, and in Your righteousness" (Psalm 142:1). May You not receive my plea without giving it the special attention warranted by Your righteousness. It is the grace of God that teaches us not to claim any righteousness of our own. The righteousness we possess is from God, bestowed upon us. The Apostle writes of those who boast of their own righteousness, saying of the Jews, "For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge" (Romans 10:2). You are misguided, attributing your evil deeds to God while claiming the good as your own. You shall find true righteousness when you acknowledge your sins as your own and attribute good to God. Therefore, "In Your righteousness, answer me" (Psalm 142:1). In reflection upon myself, I find only sin.
"And do not enter into judgment with Your servant" (Psalm 142:2). Who dares to confront Him except those who, unaware of God's righteousness, attempt to establish their own? "Why have we fasted, and You have not seen? Why have we humbled ourselves, and You take no notice?" (Isaiah 58:3). It is as if they say, "We have fulfilled Your commands; why do You not reward us as promised?" God’s response is, "I will grant you the promise you seek; I have given you the means to perform that which will bring the promise." The Prophet addresses the haughty: "Why do you contend with Me? All of you have transgressed against Me" (Jeremiah 2:29). Why do you seek to justify yourselves before Me? For none living can be justified before You. Every living soul is born of flesh, anticipating death; drawing life from man, descended from Adam, the living Adam—each may justify themselves before their own eyes by doing what pleases them, but not before You. Before oneself, one may please themselves; it does not please You. "Do not enter into judgment with me, O Lord my God." No matter how righteous I perceive myself, You measure me against the standard that reveals my crookedness. It is unworthy of You to engage in a lawsuit against Your servant or Your friend.
What about the Apostles? They too learned to pray as we pray; they received a model of prayer from the divine Counselor. Thus, He instructed, "Pray in this manner" (Matthew 6:9). Having introduced certain stipulations, He directed the leaders of His flock, the chief ones among the Shepherd and Gatherer, to say, "Forgive us our debts" (Matthew 6:12). They did not express, "Thank You for forgiving us our debts as we forgive our debtors," but rather, "Forgive us, as we also forgive." The faithful prayed sincerely at that time; indeed, they did, for this Lord's Prayer was meant for the faithful. If it referred solely to those debts forgiven through Baptism, it would have been more appropriate to say, "Forgive us our debts." Let the Apostles then affirm, “Forgive us our debts.” And when asked, “What debts do you speak of?” they may reply, for not every one who lives before You is justified.
"For the enemy has persecuted my soul; he has brought my life down to the ground" (Psalm 142:3). Here, our Head intercedes for us. Clearly, both the devil assailed the soul of Christ, as did Judas against his Master. The same devil continues to pursue the Body of Christ, with one Judas after another. Thus, there is no shortage of those of whom even the Body can lament, "For the enemy is attacking my soul." For what does each persecutor desire but to lead us away from our heavenly aspirations and entice us to cherish earthly pursuits? They have surrounded me with the darkness of despair, akin to being dead to the world. This we perceive most acutely in the Head; He died for us but was not among the dead of the world. Who are those considered dead to the world? And how was He not one of them? The dead of the world depart in their own isolated grief, having met the end of their transgressions and receiving the death that sin brought. Indeed, it is written, "For I was conceived in iniquity." He says, "In dying, I do the will of My Father, yet I do not merit death. I have committed no act warranting my demise; it is I who have chosen to die, that through the death of the Innocent, those burdened by sin may find deliverance." Place me in the depths, as if in Hades, as if in His grave, as if in His suffering itself, as a dead man in this worldly existence.
"And my spirit is overwhelmed within me" (Psalm 142:4). Consider, my soul is distressed even unto death (Matthew 26:38). Here we witness a single voice. Are we not aware of the transition from Head to members, and from members back to the Head?
Yet we too have shared in this experience. "I remember the days of old" (Psalm 142:5). Did He recall the times through which each new day was created? No, instead the body speaks: "Anyone justified by His grace, remaining in Him in love and reverence, articulates, I have pondered all Your creations; indeed, You have fashioned all things good, and nothing exists that was not established by You." Your creation became a sight to marvel at: I sought the Creator through His handiwork. For what purpose is this, but to ascertain that every good within oneself originated from Him? Look then to the Creator of your life, the Author of your essence, your righteousness, and your salvation; contemplate the works of His hands, for even the righteousness present in you is traced back to His hand. Hear how the Apostle instructs regarding this: "Not of works, lest anyone should boast." Do we lack good deeds? Certainly, we possess them; yet, observe the continuation: "For we are His workmanship" (Ephesians 2:9-10). We are His creation—not merely human beings, but His works. Let us not dwell on speculation; continue with the text, for we are His creation, fashioned in Christ Jesus for good works. Do not assume that any merit of yours can yield good, save through His aid. "Work out your own salvation," the Apostle admonishes, "with fear and trembling" (Philippians 2:12-13). If we are to work out our salvation, why with fear and trembling? If everything rests within our power? Hearken to the reason: "for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure." Therefore, approach the task with reverence, that it may delight our Maker to act within us in this lowly existence.
"I have stretched out my hands to You; my soul is like a thirsty land before You" (Psalm 142:6). "Rain upon me," he entreats, "to yield good fruit." For "the Lord will give what is good, and our land will yield its produce." I extend my hands to You; my soul is parched, not for my sake, but for Yours. I thirst for You; I cannot quench my own thirst.
"Hasten to answer me, O Lord" (Psalm 142:7). Why do You delay, rekindling my thirst when my cravings are profound? You have held back the rain, that I might receive and absorb, not reject Your outpouring. Thus, if this delay serves a purpose, now supply my needs, for my spirit is failing. Fill me with Your Spirit. This is why You should listen. I find myself impoverished in spirit; bless me with the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 5:3). Those in whom Your Spirit resides don’t walk with pride but humility.
"Do not hide Your face from me" (Psalm 142:8). You turned Your face away when I was proud. In times of fullness, pride overwhelmed me. In my abundance, I asserted that I would not falter, failing to recognize Your righteousness and instead claiming my own. Yet, O Lord, in accordance with Your will, You have granted strength to my beauty. My claim of invulnerability came solely from the fullness You provided. To make me aware that my strength came from You, You shifted Your gaze, and I was distressed. Following that calamity born of Your absence, my spirit grew faint, my heart troubled, and as I felt forsaken, I became as parched earth: "Do not turn away Your face from me." You withdrew when I was arrogant; return it now, for I am humble. For if Your face should remain hidden, I will resemble those descending into the abyss. What does it mean to descend into the pit? The sinner who succumbs to profound sin will show disdain. The pit signifies that depth, into which a sinner, having lost even the capacity to confess their faults, may fall. "Let not the pit shut its mouth upon me."
"Let me hear of Your lovingkindness in the morning, for in You I put my trust" (Psalm 142:9). Behold, I dwell in the night, yet place my trust in You until evening's iniquity fades. As Peter expressed, "We have, as a more certain prophetic word, which you do well to heed as a light shining in a dark place until the day dawns, and the day star arises in your hearts." Then references the morning following the end of time when we will witness in fullness what we believe now. What is found here until that morning arrives? Merely hoping for dawn is insufficient; action is necessary. Why engage in action? Because God must be sought through our efforts in the night. What do hands symbolize? They signify good deeds. While we must await the morning and endure this nighttime patiently, how shall we act in the meantime? Without believing in our own merits, strive toward the morning, which could bring us to joy. "Show me, O Lord, the way in which I should walk." Therefore, He illuminated the path of prophecy, sending the Lord in a vessel of flesh, declaring, "My strength is dried up like a potsherd." Walk according to prophecy, walk in the light of what has been foretold, and proceed in accordance with the Word of God.
"Deliver me from my enemies, O Lord, for in You I take refuge" (Psalm 142:10). I, who once fled from You, now turn to You. For Adam fled from God's face, hiding among the trees in paradise, as mentioned in Job: "like a servant who flees from his master to find shelter." He sought shade from the Lord's presence. Woe to him should he remain in this shadow, for it may be said later, "All is passed away like a shadow" (Wisdom 5:9). You struggle against the rulers of this world, the rulers of darkness, the spiritual forces of evil; your struggle is significant, for you prevail without seeing your enemies. You fight against the dominions of the world, those forces of evil; not the earthly princes, of whom it is declared, "The world was made by Him," but against that world which did not recognize Him (John 1:10). I have come running to You...
THEOSIS