Hiding in a Cave - part 3
Over the last two months, we have been discussing David’s profound words in Psalm 142. As we read through this psalm, we find some key insights into David’s thought process. From the heading of this psalm, we learn that David was hiding in a cave when he penned these words. He is fearing for his life as Saul hunts him like a wild animal. He is feeling vulnerable, overwhelmed, alone, and hopeless.
It’s highly unlikely that you are reading these words from a mountainside cave. It is entirely possible, however, that you are living trapped inside a spiritual or emotional cave carefully constructed by your fears, insecurities, and false assumptions. Perhaps you have been hiding in a cave for quite some time, and you are not sure how to escape. It’s possible that you originally sought shelter from the world in order to protect yourself spiritually or emotionally. If this describes your situation, Psalm 142 is for you.
Psalm 142 offers tremendous insight into how you can break free from the cave you have created. In the first article in this three part series, we discussed the importance of pouring your heart out to God during times of trouble (Psalm 142:1-2). In the second installment, we examined the importance of trusting your life to God’s care (Psalm 142:3-4). In this final piece, we will consider the key to breaking free from the cave in which you are hiding. In order to find the freedom you are longing for, you must consistently remind yourself of the truth (Psalm 142:5-7).
As a follower of Christ, you must understand that lies abound in our fallen world. In Revelation 12:9, John reminds Christians that Satan is the ultimate deceiver of the world. Make no mistake about it, deception is all around you. Our culture is dominated by lies. And sadly, your heart and mine are prone to believing the falsehoods our flesh and the world tells us.
Whenever you find yourself trapped in an emotional or spiritual cave, freedom is discovered when you remind yourself of two simple truths found in Psalm 142:5.
1. God is a refuge (i.e., a stronghold or place of shelter). While you may feel abandoned and unloved, like David in Psalm 142:4, 6, you are never alone. People may fail you, but the shortcomings of those around you do not reflect God’s character and steadfast love for you. No matter how alone, vulnerable, overwhelmed, and hopeless you may feel, God is always there to strengthen you. When your soul feels vulnerable and overwhelmed, run to the Lord who can provide the protection and comfort your soul craves.
2. God is sufficient (i.e., “my portion”). One of the lies American culture sells is the idea that possessions, approval of people, the perfect physique, or financial independence is necessary for you to be happy and content. When in fact, from a biblical perspective, all a person needs is Christ to be happy and content. When David proclaimed God is “my portion in the land of the living,” he was making a profound and countercultural statement. Contentment is possible, even in this fallen world, when you are satisfied with God alone. When your soul feels alone and hopeless, run to the Lord who can satisfy your thirsty soul.
Because of these two truths, David could make two specific petitions.
1. David prayed for deliverance from his persecutors (i.e., enemies). Certainly, David wanted to be delivered from those who were seeking his life. I would suggest, however, that there was a larger context to David’s plea. Yes, he wanted God to spare his life in his immediate circumstances. But it seems David also understood that permanent deliverance would only happen when he entered the eternal presence of his Creator. Like David, you can pray for the deliverance your soul seeks.
2. David also prayed that the Lord would bring him out of prison. Given the immediate context of Psalm 142, David is not referencing a physical prison. Instead, this is a poetic expression used to depict his current circumstances (e.g., hiding in a cave while fearing for his life). David’s poetic description of the circumstances which he was facing can be applied to the mindsets that often imprison us. Attitudes such as anger, envy, jealousy, bitterness, and resentment can quickly erect impenetrable prison walls around your heart. For many believers, the past can become the most confining prison. Being bound by the hurts and disappointments of the past will keep your heart locked away in a prison until you deal with these events in a biblical manner. Like David, you can pray for deliverance from the prison walls confining your soul.
What I personally find remarkable about Psalm 142 is the reasons David longed for the Lord’s deliverance. Interestingly, he was not merely concerned about his personal comfort and deliverance. Notice the two reasons David offers in verse 7.
1. “That I may give thanks to your name.” The first reason is a private one. There is an aspect to your suffering that is entirely individual. No matter how hard you try to get others to fully comprehend what you are experiencing, they are unable to do so. People do not know how you feel simply because they cannot personally experience the pain and emotions you are suffering through. Because there is a private aspect to suffering, David wanted the opportunity to personally give praise to God.
2. “The righteous will surround me” (and rejoice with him!). The second reason is a corporate one. There is also an aspect to our suffering in which people can stand alongside us and support us through our trials. From its miraculous beginning in Acts 2, the early church was known for its togetherness. Even today, the local body of believers is to live corporately. Believers are to spend time together, eat together, minister together, learn together, pray together, bear one another’s burdens together, and worship together. While David lived long before Acts 2 and the foundation of the church, he understood the importance of God’s people suffering and worshipping together in unity.
Although Psalm 142 was written centuries ago, it remains practical and applicable in today’s culture. Maybe you feel as if the world is collapsing around you. With hardships, disappointments, and threats surrounding you, it is tempting to crawl inside your cave and hide. When you feel like you are living in a cave, pour your heart out to the Lord, trust in God’s care, and continually remind yourself of what is true. After all, it is the truth that will set you free!