Chapter 142

David

2 I pour out my complaint before him; I tell my trouble before him. [Psa 142:2 ESV]

We are supposed to bring our troubles to God.  Our complaints even.

2021- A prayer to God for His help because there is no one else who will/can.  David seems to have been constantly opposed.  Many plotted to overthrown him and usurp his power, including his own son.  The evil hate the good, and never rest from trying to undermine them, push them out of power, and even to kill them to get rid of them.  David's sin gave them many openings, many reasons, much propaganda in this regard.  Powerful, god-fearing men must be as good as they possibly can be to keep these doors shut, or the Psalms of David will become their own.  You really don't want to be where David was in that regard.  They will be after you pretty aggressively even if you don't give them "backup" with your own actions.

2022 - Is this the standard against which we ought to measure our own righteousness?  If we don't feel oppressed on every side does that mean our witness in the world is pretty weak?  If no one is telling lies to undermine our character does that mean our character is too low to make a difference anyway?  I'm not saying that IS the standard, but there are also many New Testament verses that say the world will hate us...if it can tell we follow Jesus.  So...an easy, friendly life...might mean we need to be more aggressive about our Christianity.  And just maybe this gives us some information about why so many of David's psalms are asking for refuge and protection, even though you would think a King was pretty safe.  Maybe his example was that much of a provocation to the unrighteous of his time.

Possible FB post.