Psalm 142.
I cried unto the LORD with my voice; with my voice unto the LORD did I make my supplication.
I poured out my complaint before Him; I shewed before Him my trouble.
When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then Thou knewest my path. In the way wherein I walked have they privily laid a snare for me.
I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul.
I cried unto Thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living.
Attend unto my cry; for I am brought very low: deliver me from my persecutors; for they are stronger than I.
Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise Thy name: the righteous shall compass me about; for Thou shalt deal bountifully with me.
Did you ever feel like that? Absolutely no one cares! Here I am, suffering and alone, and no one cares or even notices! If you are an eternal optimist, you may not have any idea how that feels. Most of us, however, have gone through days, or maybe just moments, when we have felt isolated from the world, alone, perhaps under attack in some way, and there is no one who seems to care for our souls.
David was most likely hiding in a cave when he wrote this song. Saul was chasing him. David didn’t have his band of faithful men around him yet, and he was really just a kid trying to hide from a sullen and angry king.
I love the way David often starts a psalm with his heartbroken cry for help from God, and then ends it just a few short verses later praising God. “Thou shalt deal bountifully with me!” What a triumpant ending after saying, “No man cared for my soul.”