1._As the hart crieth for the fountains of water, etc _The meaning of these two verses simply is, that David preferred to all the enjoyments, riches, pleasures, and honors of this world, the opportunity of access to the sanctuary, that in this way he might cherish and strengthen his faith and piety... [ Continue Reading ]
The second verse illustrates more clearly what I have already said, that David does not simply speak of the presence of God, but of the presence of God in connection with certain symbols; for he sets before himself the tabernacle, the altar, the sacrifices, and other ceremonies by which God had test... [ Continue Reading ]
3._My tears have been my bread _Here the Psalmist mentions another sharp piercing shaft with which the wicked and malevolent grievously wounded his heart. There can be no doubt that Satan made use of such means as these to fan the flame that consumed him with grief. “What,” we may suppose that adver... [ Continue Reading ]
4._When I remember these things _This verse is somewhat obscure, on account of the variation of the tenses in the Hebrew. And yet I have no doubt that the true and natural sense is, that David, when he called to remembrance his former condition, experienced so much the greater sadness by comparing i... [ Continue Reading ]
5_O my soul! why art thou cast down? _From this it appears that David contended strongly against his sorrow, lest he should yield to temptation: but what we ought chiefly to observe is, that he had experienced a strong and bitter contest before he obtained the victory over it; or we might rather say... [ Continue Reading ]
6._O my God! my soul is cast down within me. _If we suppose that this verse requires no supplement, then it will consist of two distinct and separate sentences. Literally it may be read thus: _O my God! my soul is cast down within me, therefore will I remember thee, etc. _But the greater number of e... [ Continue Reading ]
7._Depth calleth unto depth _These words express the grievousness, as well as the number and long continuance, of the miseries which he suffered; as if he had said, I am oppressed not only with one kind of misery, but various kinds of distress return one after another, so that there seems to be neit... [ Continue Reading ]
8._Jehovah will command his loving-kindness by day _The verb here used is of the future tense; but I do not deny that, according to the Hebrew idiom, it might be rendered in the past tense, as some do who think that David here enumerates the benefits which he had formerly received from God, in order... [ Continue Reading ]
9._I will say to God my rock _If we read the preceding verse in the past tense, the meaning of this verse will be, Since God has, in this way, heretofore shown himself so kind towards me, I will pray to him now with so much the greater confidence: for the experience which I have had of his goodness... [ Continue Reading ]
10_It is as a slaughter in my bones. _This verse is somewhat involved in point of expression; but as to the meaning of it there is no obscurity. David here affirms that the grief which he experienced from the reproaches of his enemies, wounded him in no degree less than if they had pierced through h... [ Continue Reading ]
11_O my soul! why art thou cast down? _This repetition shows us that David had not so completely overcome his temptations in one encounter, or by one extraordinary effort, as to render it unnecessary for him to enter anew into the same conflict. By this example, therefore, we are admonished, that al... [ Continue Reading ]