We live in the time of the corona virus and are all experiencing its consequences. And not just us, but the whole world. One of the consequences is loneliness, not only when you are forced to stay at home, but also and especially the elderly who are 'locked up' in nursing and care homes and who are not allowed to receive visits from loved ones.
We recently read Psalm 142 and it is quite appropriate in today's circumstances.
David is chased by Saul and finds himself in the cave (Psalm 57 and 1 Samuel 22:1). He can't go anywhere, except he can go to the Lord. That is all he can do: beg the Lord for deliverance (verse 2,3) and deliverance from his persecutors (verse 4,6).
In the fourth verse we read how David knows that there is an invisible danger, everywhere he goes it can strike and hit him. But he also testifies that the Lord "knows his path."
When my spirit collapsed inside me, Ú knew my path.
They hid a snare for me in the way I should go.
That is a great comfort to know that the Lord knows your path. After all, he knows where the dangers lurk on the road you have to go.
The Lord takes care of you, and yet sometimes you can still miss something.
Pastoral care
The psalmist speaks of this in the fifth verse.
I looked to my right hand, and behold, there was no one looking after me;
for me the possibility of escape was lost, no one cared for my soul.
David needs someone who pays attention to him and understands what is going on inside him. Someone who could 'take care of his soul' and knows what he needs. You could say that he longs to have a 'pastoral talk' with someone so that his soul is encouraged. But such a person was not there and he could not go out to see such a person himself.
Caught in the circumstances, with no one around to talk to about the Lord Jesus. Because that is what a pastoral conversation is about: about Christ, Who He is and Who He wants to be for us. With the aim that we, as Paul calls it 'be made perfect in Christ Jesus' (Colossians 1:28) and 'our spirit is refreshed' (1 Corinthians 16:18). So that in our lives it becomes more and more true that the Lord Jesus Christ is our everything.
Fortunately, in our 'corona prison' we still have the opportunity to call each other and have contact and conversations that way. It is good to notice that we have many more telephone conversations than before.
To You I cry, Lord
But if, like David, you can't use a cell phone for a good conversation, then you're left alone. Fortunately, David knew who to look to. In verse 6 he cries out to the Lord and says:
'You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living' (Psalm 142:6)
David knew that as long as he lived the Lord was the only one he could rely on, the only one He could take refuge in. The only one with whom he was safe and who could turn his circumstances around.
'Cause you're good to me
The last verse of the Psalm shows that David longs to be with 'the righteous' to praise the Lord. That is why he also asks whether the Lord will deliver him from prison. He trusts that the Lord will do that, because 'He is good to him'.
Psalm 142:8
What can you say about that?
If we feel trapped in our circumstances and separated from those we hold dear, we may pray to the Lord for deliverance. It is indeed remarkable that the psalmist asks for deliverance from his soul, not his body. When his soul is free from circumstances, he can praise the name of the Lord. We can do that, anytime, regardless of the circumstances and even when you are alone.
That you then look forward to the time when you will do that together with all the righteous is only logical. Praise the Lord also makes you long for heaven, when we will be with the Lord Jesus and we will worship and glorify Him together with all the saints!
Then you may again experience the overwhelming realization that the Lord is good for you. Now and forever!
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