INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 42 TO THE CHIEF MUSICIAN, MASCHIL, FOR THE SONS OF KORAH. Of the word "Maschil", Psalms 32:1, title. Korah was he who was at the head of a conspiracy against Moses and Aaron, for which sin the earth opened its mouth, and swallowed alive him and his company, and fire devoured t... [ Continue Reading ]
AS THE HART PANTETH AFTER THE WATER BROOKS,.... Either through a natural thirst that creature is said to have; or through the heat of the summer season; and especially when hunted by dogs, it betakes itself to rivers of water, partly to make its escape, and partly to extinguish its thirst, and refre... [ Continue Reading ]
MY SOUL THIRSTETH FOR GOD, FOR THE LIVING GOD,.... Who is so called, in opposition to the idols of the Gentiles, which were lifeless statues; and who is the author, giver, and maintainer of natural life; and who has promised and provided eternal life in his Son; and is himself the fountain of life,... [ Continue Reading ]
MY TEARS HAVE BEEN MY MEAT DAY AND NIGHT,.... That is, he could not eat for sorrow, like Hannah, 1SA 1:7,8; or while he was eating tears fell in plenty, and they were as common, day and night, as his food, and mixed with it f; see Psalms 80:5; WHILE THEY CONTINUALLY SAY UNTO ME, his enemies the Phi... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN I REMEMBER THESE [THINGS],.... Either the reproaches of his enemies; or rather his past enjoyments of God in his house, he after makes mention of; I POUR OUT MY SOUL IN ME, that is, he had no life nor spirit in him, but was quite overwhelmed with distress and anguish; or he poured out his soul... [ Continue Reading ]
WHY ART THOU CAST DOWN, O MY SOUL?.... The psalmist corrects himself, as being too much depressed in spirit with his present circumstances, and expostulates with himself; adding, AND [WHY] ART THOU DISQUIETED IN ME? which suggests, that the dejections of God's people are unreasonable ones; sin itse... [ Continue Reading ]
O MY GOD, MY SOUL IS CAST DOWN WITHIN ME,.... Which the psalmist repeats, partly to show the greatness of his dejection, though he had not lost his view of interest in God as his covenant God; and partly to observe another method he made use of to remove his dejection and refresh his spirits; and th... [ Continue Reading ]
DEEP CALLETH UNTO DEEP AT THE NOISE OF THE WATER SPOUTS,.... By which are meant afflictions, comparable to the deep waters of the sea, for their multitude and overwhelming nature; see Psalms 69:1; these came pouring down, one after another, upon the psalmist: as soon as one affliction over, another... [ Continue Reading ]
[YET] THE LORD WILL COMMAND HIS LOVINGKINDNESS IN THE DAYTIME,.... Which is a tender affection in God towards his people, springs from his sovereign will and pleasure, is from everlasting, is ever the same, never removes from them, and is better than life; the effects of which are all spiritual bles... [ Continue Reading ]
I WILL SAY UNTO GOD MY ROCK,.... A name frequently given to the eternal God, Father, Son, and Spirit, Deuteronomy 32:4; Psalms 18:2; WHY HAST THOU FORGOTTEN ME? Psalms 13:1; WHY GO I MOURNING BECAUSE OF THE OPPRESSION OF THE ENEMY? meaning perhaps Saul; though it may be applied to any spiritual e... [ Continue Reading ]
[AS] WITH A SWORD IN MY BONES, MINE ENEMIES REPROACH ME,.... The reproaches of his enemies were grievous and cutting to him, as if a sword pierced through the marrow in his bones, which, being very sensitive, gives exquisite pain. There is a various reading here: some copies, as Vatablus observes, r... [ Continue Reading ]
WHY ART THOU CAST DOWN, O MY SOUL?.... The same expostulation as in Psalms 42:5; and so is what follows, AND WHY ART THOU DISQUIETED WITHIN ME? and the same argument and means are made use of to remove dejection and disquietude; HOPE THOU IN GOD; FOR I SHALL YET PRAISE HIM; Psalms 42:5; to which i... [ Continue Reading ]