By Dave Branon, Our Daily Bread Writer

PHOTO: Psalm 142
I lift up my voice to the Lord for mercy.
I pour out my complaint before him;
before him I tell my trouble.
When my spirit grows faint within me,
it is you who know my way.
In the path where I walk
men have hidden a snare for me.
Look to my right and see,
no one is concerned for me.
I have no refuge;
no one cares for my life.
I cry to you, O 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.
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.
David was frightened, so he poured out his complaint to God (Psalm 142:2).
He felt alone and uncared for, so he cried out to God (Psalm 142:1, 4-5).
His situation was desperate, so he pleaded for rescue (Psalm 142:6).
David was trapped, so he begged for freedom (Psalm 142:7).
What cave surrounds you today? A cave of despair brought on by grief or illness? A cave of difficulties caused by your own poor decisions? Are you stuck in a cave of questions or doubts that rob you of joy and confidence?
Here's what David did when he was trapped in his cave. He asked God for mercy, he sought refuge in Him, and he promised to use his eventual freedom as a way to praise God. In the end, he looked forward to the comfort of fellow believers.
Complaint followed by faith. Depression followed by praise. Loneliness followed by fellowship. We can learn a lot from a cave man.
- Dave Branon
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Ni9RXNZ5YqCQPR_Rru0Q1qini6gvrmx44cWViyFXt3diwKA8TtknEdCdKNbnc9gYwO8XuXlwdrT2KT_AjJT3dQRoLxtKkYW0q3Tb27Lbl4Rl8eI0BmMN3KJVZ8wY7-MU0ffcfJSyxPTP9QZJnQ6N4wA5tvuOx5GzQ_lHhSeXrdlLJmbO1EfXJK0RJcI/s1344/a5250f796665571500452367ba38dae3_1.png
https://i.pinimg.com/1200x/a5/25/0f/a5250f796665571500452367ba38dae3.jpg
https://kr.pinterest.com/pin/27092035257602781/
I lift up my voice to the Lord for mercy.
I pour out my complaint before him;
before him I tell my trouble.
When my spirit grows faint within me,
it is you who know my way.
In the path where I walk
men have hidden a snare for me.
Look to my right and see,
no one is concerned for me.
I have no refuge;
no one cares for my life.
I cry to you, O 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.
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.

PHOTO: I pour out my complaint before him;
before him I tell my trouble.
Picture posted by Eraldo Costa
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmtSKMV5RSZbRlMaKkJ4Nn1kd4lZlvQKE_2uy3Vd2q2Rg1cW-K6pexmCYiSAbFg6QQ09u6hVpl1BPxKxdWeH3Ch9GOh1qPzZfgV71aIr6Yd0dCRbMYBwi9dGMYvFPmUNF3YKZNLo7uPBCJLwDaOBc0hsc0QwERvN9Yr_OOP8aueBrmyMNl9CPtU8Bsw1I/s1024/50a6ca9bd639572733fddef2f8e3ca48_1.png
https://i.pinimg.com/1200x/50/a6/ca/50a6ca9bd639572733fddef2f8e3ca48.jpg
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/172122017008089056/

PHOTO: David was stuck in a cave, as the note at the beginning of this particular psalm tells us. Some Bible commentators think this was when he was running from King Saul, who wanted to kill him (1 Samuel 22:1). Trouble and troublemakers hounded (pursued relentlessly) him. Hemmed (surrounded closely, restricting movement, escape, or freedom) in by his circumstances and smothered (suffocated) by danger, he turned to God for help.
Picture posted by Eraldo Costa
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJvGH4X392aDTXYP4P-4CX_LIXUn3bOYOP1fH-qbF1Evxwg1kK3kdE53hNPZh82Da8pZ0Ifko00EH2VuEu-uhX82rlseNjdFUjmDKMOAVKCLZPuBWk5rqZherAvdu5kDEKsoR4eTqddCilOaUQY6wAYRmjddCK5BdNcRtji3K0SV6dUeb43i_v-Cyf4rk/s1024/730365f3a2c4e49c7cda4b3aceb802de_1.png
https://i.pinimg.com/1200x/73/03/65/730365f3a2c4e49c7cda4b3aceb802de.jpg
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/136163588729497489/
David was frightened, so he poured out his complaint to God (Psalm 142:2).
He felt alone and uncared for, so he cried out to God (Psalm 142:1, 4-5).
His situation was desperate, so he pleaded for rescue (Psalm 142:6).
David was trapped, so he begged for freedom (Psalm 142:7).

PHOTO: David was frightened, so he poured out his complaint to God (Psalm 142:2).
He felt alone and uncared for, so he cried out to God (Psalm 142:1, 4-5).
His situation was desperate, so he pleaded for rescue (Psalm 142:6).
David was trapped, so he begged for freedom (Psalm 142:7).
Picture posted by Eraldo Costa
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP8oNoDWm5SxA_DbYsKyGGgoruXdGr-EGdl6be2rnEa6aYXocxiEQtUDb02OFZqrE0E8oCx4yF4FZkMnKHU3mZ1dfalKyDTYaN_oAsuanw8iSQz-tw1biIgD6q1lQUjEhcW-X_TfFjU6UoJf7uUty2Bl1yMBU8sHwJ_hKiHNkmiSjGA2Faq-4_bhOwZ8k/s1024/f9b345d25473f1c5457d33644f21d220_1.png
https://i.pinimg.com/1200x/f9/b3/45/f9b345d25473f1c5457d33644f21d220.jpg
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/264656915616980527/
What cave surrounds you today? A cave of despair brought on by grief or illness? A cave of difficulties caused by your own poor decisions? Are you stuck in a cave of questions or doubts that rob you of joy and confidence?

PHOTO: What cave surrounds you today? A cave of despair brought on by grief or illness? A cave of difficulties caused by your own poor decisions? Are you stuck in a cave of questions or doubts that rob you of joy and confidence?
Picture posted by sofia cortes
https://i.pinimg.com/1200x/a0/1b/c5/a01bc516affc6b2d3269bc8f22c3fa5b.jpg
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/425590233560368357/
Here's what David did when he was trapped in his cave. He asked God for mercy, he sought refuge in Him, and he promised to use his eventual freedom as a way to praise God. In the end, he looked forward to the comfort of fellow believers.

PHOTO: Here's what David did when he was trapped in his cave. He asked God for mercy, he sought refuge in Him, and he promised to use his eventual freedom as a way to praise God. In the end, he looked forward to the comfort of fellow believers.
Picture posted by HeleniHikari
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNDeQI1DHYOYVgJ-991a-k5HIxfynXyzKBeiY6CaHEZjhsPlKkh-pKgGVjcit-8JMIk2oQxx23AxlolCaOau0Q2azi1S35tyRRNyvbuZI4gPDNYAnUR7m_P1dr4PVDpXcWjdhBI9VfXXhX3kYCKxAudtomgSe_SRHSWAxuczL0TzZuPxUOWc-l5NRLICs/s2100/bf57e222cf5ab36163acfb661318e1f9_1.png
https://i.pinimg.com/1200x/bf/57/e2/bf57e222cf5ab36163acfb661318e1f9.jpg
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/641270434483571649/
Complaint followed by faith. Depression followed by praise. Loneliness followed by fellowship. We can learn a lot from a cave man.
- Dave Branon

PHOTO: Complaint followed by faith. Depression followed by praise. Loneliness followed by fellowship. We can learn a lot from a cave man.
Picture posted by ArtStation
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1fWI_U2-KFtBRw_6jreGQq7rwYraZk15z_PMx9Co0jP9tJ0zRdgBd8DlxG6GZ0hKOeuJU5F1-0MQJ4JFwZCvh5yGETk8EaT2UwXfBpUoKNPJmaegnleWymced9cFk78gT9R4WPRWeD-b5ULmjP-P_jVMYDlodB7ph8nkw66mGZpolrymz-VhjQP3-zgs/s800/8103caf4ef700fc16c02aa799102276f_11.png
https://i.pinimg.com/1200x/81/03/ca/8103caf4ef700fc16c02aa799102276f.jpg
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PHOTO: "Dear Lord, we pray that we follow what David did when he was trapped in his cave. He asked God for mercy, he sought refuge in Him, and he promised to use his eventual freedom as a way to praise God. In the end, he looked forward to the comfort of fellow believers.
May we learn from David:, complaint followed by faith. Depression followed by praise. Loneliness followed by fellowship.
Through Lord Jesus Christ we pray. Amen."
Picture posted by Cruz Terra Santa
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWAfuSSKHsMgNMnVDE3p0FUdUc_iqtiuXr9M_b3Dx6ojh4ryL8PlThODttL0ziXEfQh8Ip817wklBz8fDp9zO7aeLbXrrMjhTjvlxijjJ0uG0zCUN2YAq26p8I3kP_3UvQC_ykvXlyu1uWSPN4zCF4gNkqrnWw16H08r_B7wPdzZnhIp8_VIojzcFSNeE/s1024/238ed2dd5dcebb92097ff8d112c992d8_11.png
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Reflection - Psalm 142 - Dave Man
Source (book): "My Soul Thirsts For God", Reflections on the Psalms from Our Daily Bread, Psalm 142, "Dave Man", Page 178.
By Dave Branon, Our Daily Bread Writer

Reflection - Faithful to the end (Links)
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2017/06/reflection-faithful-to-end-links.html
"Finding rest for the soul" Responding to Jesus' Invitation in Matthew 11:28-29, © 2016 by Robert M. Solomon

Reflection - Finding rest for the soul (Links)
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2018/10/reflection-finding-rest-for-soul-links.html
"God in Pursuit" Lessons from the Book of Jonah, © 2016 by Robert M. Solomon

Reflection - God in Pursuit (Links) - PART I-III, posted on Saturday, 10 August 2019
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2019/08/reflection-god-in-pursuit-links-part-i.html
"God in Pursuit" Lessons from the Book of Jonah, © 2016 by Robert M. Solomon

Reflection - God in Pursuit (Links) - PART IV, posted on Saturday, 10 August 2019
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2019/08/reflection-god-in-pursuit-links-part-iv.html
"Songs of Christmas", The Stories and Significance of 20 Well-Loved Carols, © 2018 by Robert M. Solomon

Reflection - Songs of Christmas (Links), posted on Friday, 24 April 2020
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2020/04/reflection-songs-of-christmas-links.html
"Growing Old Gracefully", Following Jesus to the End, © 2019 by Robert M. Solomon

Reflection - Growing Old Gracefully, Part I - III (Links), posted on Wednesday, 09 December 2020
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2020/12/reflection-growing-old-gracefully-part.html

Reflection - Growing Old Gracefully, Part IV - V (Links), posted on Thursday, 22 April 2021
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2020/12/reflection-growing-old-gracefully-part_9.html
"Teach Us to Number Our Days", © 2008 by David Roper

Reflection - Number Our Days, Chapter 1 - 40 (Links), posted on Tuesday, 16 November 2021
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2021/11/reflection-number-our-days-chapter-1-40.html

Reflection - Number Our Days, Chapter 41 - 64 (Links), posted on Wednesday, 16 March 2022
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2022/03/reflection-number-our-days-chapter-41.html
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2022/08/reflection-he-walks-with-me-links.html
"Classic Gem: Timeless Devotions from Our Daily Bread Authors", Copyright © 2021 by Our Daily Bread Ministries

Reflection - Classic Gem, Chapter 1 - 45 (Links), posted on 03 April 2023
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2023/04/reflection-classic-gem-chapter-1-45.html
"Classic Gem: Timeless Devotions from Our Daily Bread Authors", Copyright © 2021 by Our Daily Bread Ministries

Reflection - Classic Gem, Chapter 46 - 90 (Links), posted on Tuesday, 24 October 2023
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2023/10/reflection-classic-gem-chapter-46-90.html
"Making All Things New", 52 Reflections to Challenge the Way You Live, Copyright @ 2022 by Robert M. Solomon

Reflection - Making All Things New, Chapter 1 - 28 (Links), posted on Saturday, 04 August 2024
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2024/08/reflection-making-all-things-new.html
"Making All Things New", 52 Reflections to Challenge the Way You Live, Copyright @ 2022 by Robert M. Solomon

Reflection - Making All Things New, Chapter 29 - 52 (Links), posted on Saturday, 15 March 2025
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2025/03/reflection-making-all-things-new.html

Reflection - My Soul Thirsts For God, Verse 1 - 46 (Links) on Monday, 25 August 2025
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2025/08/reflection-my-soul-thirsts-for-god.html
New International Version (NIV), Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Psalm 142:2 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%20142%3A2&version=NIV
Psalm 142:1, 4--5 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%20142%3A1%2C%204--5&version=NIV
Psalm 142::6 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%20142%3A6&version=NIV
Psalm 142:7 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%20142%3A7&version=NIV
Matthew 11:28-29 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+11%3A28-29&version=NIV
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