Bring my soul out of prison (Ps TL Mukumba)

Scripture:

Psalms 142 1 I cry out to the Lord with my voice; With my voice to the Lord I make my supplication. 2 I pour out my complaint before Him; I declare before Him my trouble. 3 When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, Then You knew my path. In the way in which I walk, They have secretly set a snare for me. 4 Look on my right hand and see, For there is no one who acknowledges me; Refuge has failed 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 Attend to my cry, For I am brought very low; Deliver me from my persecutors, For they are stronger than I. 7 Bring my soul out of prison, That I may praise Your name; The righteous shall surround me, For You shall deal bountifully with me.”

Introduction:

This is the last Psalms attributed to David Related to the years in which he was fleeing from Saul (Psalm 7, 34, 52, 54, 56, 57 and 59). These were difficult times and years that David had to run into exile. Saul was pursuing him whilst David was running away and hiding in caves. The prison that David refers to was the cave of Adullam (1 Sam 22) and the cave in Engedi (1 Sam 24). It is obvious David was in danger and was depressed and feeling abandoned. In times of need David looked unto the Lord for help. He knew little about Saul and his plans, but he did know about Jehovah and his promises. David did what people must do always in times of crisis. In this Psalm David prays and deals with his feelings, foes, fear and his faith. Saul was doing bad things and God was not judging him and yet David was doing good and yet he felt abandoned by God. David was overwhelmed by all that was happening to him though he had faith in God's assurances. He had to pray and ask.

There are multiple prisons that we might be in but today we must breakthrough out of our prison in Jesus. Paul and Silas did it and we can do it in Acts 16. Peter did it in Acts 12. The disciples did it in Acts 4. The children of Israel did it from Egypt. Break out of all your prisons today.

Body:

The Lord hears our prayers

David not only cried aloud with his voice but he cried earnestly from his heart. He was a Godly young man who faithfully served the Lord and his King and yet there he was in The Cave (prison). Latter, David would understand back during those figurative years in the wilderness the Lord was equipping him for the work for the rest of his life but at the time his situation was miserable. Have you ever felt like you are in prison or inward feeling of struggles and question from within were you are saying Lord it's too much. How long am I going to wait and expect change. These are the inner struggles of men. David was certainly disturbed with what the enemy was doing, but he was more concerned with what God was not doing. How long is perfect question to ask when your heart is right with God. How long is this going to end. This is not first time David asks the Lord these same question and asking for His immediate attention.

When we are in trouble and we pray for help and none comes, we tend to feel deserted. In Psalms 6:3, David says “My soul also is greatly troubled; But You, O Lord—how long?” David felt the Lord was ignoring him and hiding His face from him instead of responding to him. To behold God’s face and see God’s glory always encouraged David and even us. God knew David's difficult situations better than he did. Our prayers activate God’s providential answers to our needs (Jeremiah 33:3). When we need bread our heavenly father want us to ask (Luke 11:9-13). Sometimes we need to force for answers. The Syrophoenician woman did it (Mark 7:24-30 and Matthew 15:21-28)

The word trouble means in a tight place in the narrow streets. Do you know that every narrow place or path or road or river will lead to a wider path or Road and greater opportunities. When you are driving to a larger city you normally start from a narrow road and then get to a wider street. I once said, if there is a storm in the sky hiding the sun, the sun is still shinning. It is dangerous to give in to our feelings because our feelings are deceptive and undependable. Let’s depend on Lord because all things in heaven and on earth are in Christ. Ephesians 1:9-10 “9 having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, 10 that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him.”

As previously highlighted in my writings, Faith is not leaning on our own experiences, skills and trying to plot our own schedules. It is fully depending on the Lord because we trust in Him. Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.” We must also not however, deny our feelings and pretend everything is going well. No! No!! No!!! A big No! There is no sin in asking and expressing yourself to the Lord. But at the same time, we must realize how deceptive our feelings are when we in situations. God is greater than our hearts and can lift us above emotional storms of life. Our times are in his hands. The Lord is greater than our Hearts and he can take us out of any prison. Hazvina basa kuti key dzakatiza nebenzi, He take us out. May the Lord take you out of your prison.

The Lord knows our circumstances

What is surrounding us can change your mind if we are not careful. Though you can conquer your feelings what is surrounding you can take you back to your past defeated feelings and can affect your faith. We depend upon the power from above and finish work of Calvalry. There He said IT IS FINISHED. David was a great warrior but he was feeling faint with the situation. He was overwhelmed by all that was happening to him (Ps 77:3, 143:4, Jonah 2:7, Lam 2:12). Ladies and gentlemen we need to ask the Lord to take us out of our prison no matter the circumstances. Lord bring my soul out of prison so that I can worship you.

What life does to us depends on what life finds in US. David was a man with faith in his heart. He trusted God to show him the way to go and to protect him on the path. One day he looked back in the book of Psalms 23:6 and he realized that God's goodness and mercy was always with him. I've come to tell someone here that the Lord will guide you and protect you and He will take you out of your prison. His goodness and mercy is on your side. He will guide you and protect against hidden traps. Nobody seemed to care about David when he was in the cave (prison), surrounded by his enemies. They did not care whether he lived or died but the Lord cared and stood at his right hand (Ps 16:8, 109::31. 110::5, 121:5). Do you know that the Lord is at your right hand. No matter the circumstances around us and the feelings within us, God cares for us deeply (1 Pet 5:7). If David had failed; God’s name could have been ridiculed. Ladies and gentlemen, All things worketh for good to them that love the Lord (Rom 8:28). Fear not, you are coming out of prison.

The Lord meets our need

He is our refuge and strength, so we have got all the protection and provision that we need in Him. Haleluyah!!! The Cave may have been a temporary home but David knew that the Lord was his rock and his fortress. These desperate situation deprived him of nothing but to seek the Lord. Do you know that Desperate times need DESPERATE PRAYERS. In the Lord we all have got what we need brethren. In their false confidence let the enemy rejoice but I will continue in the Lord. God is still the same yesterday, today and forever more. God does not change. He is a loving God. God’s mercy is all that we needed, for He will not fail us. David received, witnessed, experienced and felt God’s mercy. As God’s people we do not live on explanations, we live on God's promises and those promises are unchanged just as His character is also unchanged. He prayed to be delivered so that he might praise and glorify God. Relying on the Lord leads to salvation. Do you know that the Lord gives bountifully to his children (Ps 142:7). I once said the word bountifully focuses on the goodness of God; His generosity and blessings in dealing with His people.

The Lord will perfect that which He started in you (Phil 1:6). Fear not . Just pray like David and Deal bountifully with Your servant, That I may live and keep Your word (Psalms 119:17). You can also say, Return to your rest, O my soul, For the Lord has dealt bountifully with you (Psalms 116:7). Celebrate your victory and say, Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits (Psalms 103:2). I want you to trust God in your rough terrain and even in the prison. The song says; HE IS LORD; HE HAS RISEN FROM THE DEAD AND HE IS LORD. We should put the devil and his angels to trouble in the name of Jesus. We are fearfully and wonderfully made. Marvelous are the works of God in us. Greater is He that is in us that is in us than the one that is in the world (1 John 4:4). What is born of God overcomes the world. John 5:4-5 "4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 5 Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?"

God will definitely take you through in Jesus name. Haleluyah!!! When David stopped looking at his feelings and foes and by faith started looking to the Lord he said Lord take me out of this prison. Just say, "Lord Bring my Soul out of Prison." Relying on the Lord leads to salvation. People can help but God can help you more than people.

As I get to my conclusion David said (1) I cried unto the Lord (v1a); (2) I made supplication unto Him (v1b); (3) I poured out my complaint to Him (v2); (4) I showed Him my trouble (v2); (5) I looked for help and found none from people. (V4); (6) I settled it that God was my only help and refuge and told him so. These were his Acts. God was equipping David and even ourselves. He is equipping us for His work. He works all things for His glory and for our good. You are definitely going to get a giant miracle.

David was specific and his 3 Requests were: (1) Attend unto my cry; (2) Deliver me from my pursuers and (3) Bring my soul out of this prison.

The 3 Reasons for his 3 request were because: (1) I have been brought very low; (2) My enemies are stronger than I and (3) That I may praise your name. I believe you have got the same reason today. Mix your reasons with actions and requests and the Lord will deal with you bountifully. The righteous will encompass you and celebrate with you in the Mighty Name of Jesus Christ. Lord take us out of prison so that we can praise your name. Remember the violent will take it by force (Matthew 11:12). Ramba kudzvanyirirwa. Refuse any abuse in your life (Matthew 16:18).

Lastly regardless of any feelings and circumstances Prayer and consistence can give way to your breakthrough. Put pressure. In the Lord we always have all that we need (Ephesians 1:10; Luke 1:37).