The Bible Commentaries and Others: Psalms 142 v 7

http://biblebitbybit.blogspot.com/2016/01/psalms-142-v-7.html
Posted by Psalms on Saturday, 23 January 2016

Psalms 142:7

Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise thy name: the righteous shall compass me about; for thou shalt deal bountifully with me.

142:7. Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise thy name. That God may be glorified is another notable plea for a suppliant. Escaped prisoners are sure to speak well of those who give them liberty. Soul-emancipation is the noblest form of liberation, and call s for the loudest praise: he who is delivered from the dungeons of despair is sure to magnify the name of the Lord. We are in such a prison that only God himself can bring us out of it, and when he does so he will put a new song into our mouths. The cave was not half such a dungeon to David’s body as persecution and temptation made for his soul. To be exiled from the godly is worse than imprisonment; hence David makes it one point of his release that he would be restored to church fellowship—

The righteous shall compass me about. Saints gather around a child of God when his Father smiles upon him; they come to hear his joyful testimony, to rejoice with him, and to have their own faith encouraged. All the true believers in the twelve tribes were glad to have their own faith encouraged. All the true believers in the twelve tribes were glad to rally to David’s banner when the Lord enlarged his spirit; they glorified God for him and with him and through him. They congratulated him, consorted with him, crowned him, and championed him. This was a sweet experience for righteous David, who had for a while come under the censure of the upright. He bore their smiting with patience, and now he welcomes their sanction with gratitude.

For thou shalt deal bountifully with me. God’s bountiful dealing is sure to bring with it the sympathy and alliance of all the favorites of the great King. What a change from looking for a friend and finding none to this enthusiastic concourse of allies around the man after God’s own heart! When we can begin a psalm with crying, we may hope to close it with singing. The voice of prayer soon awakens praise.

Excerpt from:

The Treasury of David by Charles Haddon Spurgeon (1834-1892)