Psalm 142:7

I. Consider what is to be understood by "the soul in prison." The ideas suggested by the word "prison" are such as these: deprivation of liberty, severe and gloomy restraint, and exclusion from all sources of worldly comfort and enjoyment. We may say also that there is usually associated with it the idea of degradation and infamy. We are led by the text to connect these ideas with certain states of the soul, or certain experiences through which it may sometimes have to pass. (1) This expression holds good of the spiritual condition of those who are yet without Christ, and therefore unrenewed. (2) This expression holds good concerning believers when, selfishness or worldliness having for a season gained the ascendency, they lose that sensible comfort and enjoyment which they once had in religion, and feel as if they were plunged into darkness. (3) This expression holds good especially in the case of those who, through the neglect of watchfulness, are betrayed into the commission of sins which wound the conscience, and thus destroy the soul's peace, and comfort, and freedom. (4) The expression may be applied to the case of those who from their peculiar mental temperament, and perhaps partly from other causes, habitually take a gloomy view of their own spiritual state, and are thus strangers to all peace and joy in believing.

II. Notice some things connected with the deliverance. (1) It is achieved by the Lord Jesus Christ. (2) The deliverance of the unconverted man and of the believer is wrought out in the same way.

III. Notice the effects of the deliverance. "That I may praise Thy name," the praising of God being not only the devout and heartfelt ascription of thanks to Him as the Giver of all good, but the faithful employment of all the blessings He has bestowed, whether temporal or spiritual, for the ends for which He has given them; that is, generally for the advancement of His glory. There is an obvious lesson for those whose soul has been brought out of prison. The Lord, who has visited you graciously, demands of you now the sacrifice of praise. He has a great work to be carried on in this world, and in loosing your bonds He has fitted you for taking part in it.

A. D. Davidson, Lectures and Sermons, p. 365.

Reference: Psalm 143:5.—T. R. Stevenson, Christian World Pulpit, vol. iv., p. 300.