Psalms 142:7
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. 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.
The plea belongs to David in the cave, brought very low while fleeing Saul and taking refuge in the cave of Adullam, pouring out vocal cries with melting moans of heart and tears. It is the prayer of deep affliction and distress, uttered as a soul-assuring trust that God brings His people through tribulation. The prison is the low, desolate condition brought by evil stronger than the sufferer.
The cry asks God to destroy the persecutor's band, break every fetter, defeat every weapon bent against the soul, and bring the soul out of prison before it dies. Its first clause prays for deliverance from an uncommonly wicked heart by the Lord's dealings with the soul. It prays for freedom from spiritual distress and the power of the enemy, expressing the hope of one trapped in despair for mercy and restoration.
The prison is bondage in sin, meaning sinners are spirits in prison held by their sins and iniquities. Christ's mission through all time is to open that prison to those who are bound so they may praise Him for dealing bountifully. The prison also means the grave, not a place where the wicked are tormented forever, and bringing the soul out means bringing the dead out of the grave by resurrection.
The verse shows ardent, crying prayer in deep distress prevailing with God, where crying gives faith courage and tears water faith until it grows into confidence that God will deal bountifully. Plentiful tears bring bountiful mercies. Deliverance is sought so the soul may praise God's name, giving all praise to God, so that a crying crier becomes a triumphant praiser trusting God to bring him out of distress.
Dealing bountifully means God giving Himself wholly to His servant and showing wonderful goodness, His promises to Israel, His power to save and to keep, and His goodness in all His dealings with men. The righteous compassing about means righteousness encompassing the delivered one and surrounding him as a crowned conqueror. David's trials illustrate how God brings His people through tribulation as a soul-assuring trust. Personal knowledge of this deliverance is sweet matter for preaching that is delivered in a more feeling and earnest manner.