THE LORD IS MY PORTION

Passage: Psalms 142:1-7

Key verse: 142:5

NIV

Psalm 142[a]
A maskil[b] of David. When he was in the cave.(A) A prayer.

1 I cry aloud(B) to the Lord;
    I lift up my voice to the Lord for mercy.(C)
2 I pour out before him my complaint;(D)
    before him I tell my trouble.(E)

3 When my spirit grows faint(F) within me,
    it is you who watch over my way.
In the path where I walk
    people have hidden a snare for me.
4 Look and see, there is no one at my right hand;
    no one is concerned for me.
I have no refuge;(G)
    no one cares(H) for my life.

5 I cry to you, Lord;
    I say, “You are my refuge,(I)
    my portion(J) in the land of the living.”(K)

6 Listen to my cry,(L)
    for I am in desperate need;(M)
rescue me(N) from those who pursue me,
    for they are too strong(O) for me.
7 Set me free from my prison,(P)
    that I may praise your name.(Q)
Then the righteous will gather about me
    because of your goodness to me.(R)

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Footnotes
  1. Psalm 142:1 In Hebrew texts 142:1-7 is numbered 142:2-8.
  2. Psalm 142:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

You Are My Refuge

A Maskil[a] of David, when he was in (A)the cave. A Prayer.

142 With my voice I (B)cry out to the Lord;
    with my voice I (C)plead for mercy to the Lord.
2 I (D)pour out my complaint before him;
    I tell my trouble before him.

3 When my spirit (E)faints within me,
    you know my way!
In the path where I walk
    they have (F)hidden a trap for me.
4 (G)Look to the (H)right and see:
    (I)there is none who takes notice of me;
(J)no refuge remains to me;
    no one cares for my soul.

5 I cry to you, O Lord;
    I say, “You are my (K)refuge,
    my (L)portion in (M)the land of the living.”
6 (N)Attend to my cry,
    for (O)I am brought very low!
Deliver me from my persecutors,
    (P)for they are too strong for me!
7 (Q)Bring me out of prison,
    that I may give thanks to your name!
The righteous will surround me,
    for you will (R)deal bountifully with me.

Read full chapter
Footnotes
  1. Psalm 142:1 Probably a musical or liturgical term
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

First, I cry aloud to the Lord (1-5). When I am in the midst of a time of stress and under great pressure, and no one can help, I cry out to the Lord. He knows the way. He knows the snares that make a way unsafe, and he faithfully guides me. When I am alone and no one seems to care about my life, the Lord cares. He is my refuge. No one can satisfy the deepest needs of my heart, but the Lord is my portion. He satisfies my soul. Second, set me free from my prison (6,7). There are many kinds of prisons. The prisons of bad habits, of sinful lifestyles and of fatalistic situations seem to have a grip on us that is too strong. But the Lord sets us free from prison when we cry out to him for mercy and put our troubles before him. He sets us free so that we may serve him in holiness and righteousness all our days.

Prayer: Lord, set me free from my prison of sin and self. Set me free from my enemies' snares and my bad habits. Be my everlasting portion and the King of my life forever. Set me free so that I may praise and serve you.

One Word: The Lord is my everlasting portion