Psalm 142:7
Read Psalm 142:7 Using Other Translations
What does Psalm 142:7 mean?
Bring my soul out of prison
Not out of purgatory, to which some Popish writers wrest these
words very absurdly; nor out of the prison of his body, as Joseph
Ben Gorion F16; knowing that none but God had a
power of removing it from thence; but out of the cave, where he
was detained as in a prison, while Saul and his men were about
the mouth of it; or rather out of all his straits, distresses,
and difficulties, which surrounded and pressed him on all sides,
as if he was in a prison;
that I may praise thy name;
this release he desired not so much for his own sake, that he
might be at ease and liberty, but that he might have fresh
occasion to praise the Lord, and an opportunity of doing it
publicly, in the assembly and congregation of the people;
the righteous shall compass me about;
in a circle, like a crown, as the word F17
signifies; when delivered, they should flock to him and come
about him, to see him and look at him, as a miracle of mercy,
whose deliverance was marvellous; and to congratulate him upon
it, and to join with him in praises unto God for it. The Targum
is,
``for my sake the righteous will make to thee a crown of praise.''And to the same purpose Jarchi,
``for my sake the righteous shall surround thee, and praise thy name.''Aben Ezra interprets it,
``they shall glory as if the royal crown was on their heads;''for thou shalt deal bountifully with me;
in delivering him from his enemies, settling him on the throne, and bestowing upon him all the blessings of Providence and grace; see ( Psalms 116:7 ) ; and thus the psalm is concluded with a strong expression of faith in the Lord, though in such a low estate.
F16 Hist. Heb. l. 6. c. 20. p. 610.
F17 (wrtky) "coronabunt", Pagninus, Montanus; "vel in me tanquam eoronati triumphabunt", Cocceius.
