Show Don't Tell: Psalm 142

Instead of saying "David cried to God in desperation," hide in the cave. A maskil of David. When he was in the cave. "I cry aloud to the LORD; I lift up my voice to the LORD for mercy. I pour out before him my complaint; before him I tell my trouble." Crying, lifting, pouring, telling—four ways of praying from the cave. "When my spirit grows faint within me, it is you who watch over my way. In the path where I walk people have hidden a snare for me." Faint spirit, snared path. "Look and see, there is no one at my right hand; no one is concerned for me. I have no refuge; no one cares for my soul." The terrible isolation—no one at right hand (defender's position), no concern, no refuge, no one caring. "I cry to you, LORD; I say, 'You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.' Listen to my cry, for I am in desperate need; rescue me from those who pursue me, for they are too strong for me." Refuge, portion, desperate need, pursuit too strong. "Set me free from my prison, that I may praise your name. Then the righteous will gather about me because of your goodness to me." Prison to praise, isolation to community.