6 things to do in a crisis...

"O, Lord I call upon Thee..." Psalm 141: 1

Years ago when I was attending Community Bible Study, one of the ladies in leadership gave a short study on Psalm 142, which she said she gleaned from Beth Moore.  Today, Psalm 142 was part of my daily reading, and I thought it would be appropriate to share her mini study since everyone at sometime has a crisis of some sort.  First it is important to read the entire Psalm, then I will take it apart.

Psalm 142

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Prayer for Help in Trouble.

Maskil of David, when he was in the cave. A Prayer.

142 

I cry aloud with my voice to the Lord;

I make supplication with my voice to the Lord.

2 

I pour out my complaint before Him;

I declare my trouble before Him.

3 

When my spirit was overwhelmed within me,

You knew my path.

In the way where I walk

They have hidden a trap for me.

4 

Look to the right and see;

For there is no one who regards me;

There is no escape for me;

No one cares for my soul.

5 

I cried out to You, O Lord;

I said, “You are my refuge,

My portion in the land of the living.

6 

“Give heed to my cry,

For I am brought very low;

Deliver me from my persecutors,

For they are too strong for me.

7 

“Bring my soul out of prison,

So that I may give thanks to Your name;

The righteous will surround me,

For You will deal bountifully with me.”

Six steps David took in his time of trouble or crisis.

1.  He prayed.  The title to the Psalm gives insight that David was in trouble. Running from King Saul,    David was hiding in a cave, and wrote this song or ballad (called a Maskil). Notice it is called a PRAYER.  We can sing, or say our prayers.  But we must pray.  

2.  He cried aloud.  Verse one lets us know he "cried aloud to the Lord, making supplication."  

3.  He poured out his complaint.  Verse 2, "I pour out my complaint before Him, and declare my trouble."  Complaint is best taken to God first.  God is able to do more than we can think or imagine.

4.  He rehearsed his trust in God.  In verses 3-4, David recounts his trust in desperate times. It is important to recall how God has been faithful in the past circumstances.  This is what helps us to know He will be faithful in the present as well.  Rehearsing our trust is equivalent to us taking up our shield of faith.  We will extinguish those fiery darts of the evil one by recounting and stating our trust in God.

5.  He longs for God's presence.  In verse 5, he cries out to God. 

6.  He confesses his desperate need for God. In the last half of verse 5, and all of verse 6, he declares his need for God's help.  There is no one better to turn to in time of need.  He loves us, and cares for us.  Most of all He alone is able.  

2 Results deliverance brings

The results are found in verse 7 when his soul is brought out of prison (prison=circumstances)

1.  Praise or thanks to God. "that I may give thanks to Your name."

2.  People of God will be around him. "The righteous will surround me."