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The words "abide under the shadow of the Almighty" may be compared with
Gen. 19: 8, with its allusion to the inviolable character of Eastern hospitality:
"Therefore came they under the shadow of my roof."
We also find that this dwelling-place is described as "the secret place of the Most
High". This aspect of the subject we must leave for the moment, but we shall hope to
return to it in our next meditation. Meanwhile, let us rejoice in this Refuge, to which we
may flee, a "dwelling-place" and a "shadow" where we may abide.
"The Eternal God is thy Refuge."
#7.
"When others helpers fail, and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, Lord, abide with me."
pp. 143, 144
Among the experiences that left their mark upon the soul of David, was that which he
endured in connection with the cave of Adullam. In Psalm 142:, which is the last of
eight Psalms that have reference to this experience, David, in spite of his anointing and
his faith, is shown to have been sometimes brought so low that despair entered his heart.
"And David said in his heart, I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul"
(I Sam. 27: 1).
He had been hunted as a partridge in the mountains, and he knew what it was to be
overwhelmed. Looking back upon these times, David said
"When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then Thou knewest my path" (Psa. 142: 3).
Possibly, at the time, David entertained doubts as to the Lord's watchful care, but
looking back afterwards he gladly acknowledges that in his darkest moments (for the
word "overwhelmed" literally means "was darkened"), the Lord knew his path.
"Refuge failed me", said David as he remembered his isolation and loneliness.
"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" (Psa. 142: 4).
"No man . . . . . refuge failed . . . . . no man cared."--The word "refuge" David uses
here to indicate his plight, is the Hebrew manos, "somewhere to flee to", "escape"
(Job 11: 20); "way to flee" (Jer. 25: 35); "flight" (Amos 2: 14). There is a peculiar
element of bitterness in the choice of this word manos, for the verb of which it is a
derivative is used in many passages which speak of "fleeing" to one of the Cities of
Refuge (Numb. 35: 11, 25; Deut. 4: 42, etc.). But David was cut off from all
earthly provision for He had not even a City of Refuge to which he could flee, and added