Psalms 42
DOYLYVer. 4. — heal my soul;] Forgive my sins, and restore me to health. Dr. Wells.
Psalms 42:4
- When I remember &c.] I pour out my soul within me while I call to mind these things; how I went to the tabernacle, walking in solemn pace to the house of God, amidst the multitude keeping holiday, with the voice of praise and thanksgiving. Green.
Psalms 42:5
- — for I shall yet praise him &c.] This passage
Psalms 42:6
- And if he come &c.] If one of them cometh to see me, he telleth lies; his heart gathereth up falsehood against me, and when he goeth forth he immediately spreadeth it. “He telleth lies,” that is, his very compliments of condolence are falsehood and lies. Green.
Psalms 42:8
- An evil disease, &c.] That is, the punishment of some great crime hath so entirely seized upon him, that he shall not be able to escape from it. Rosemuller.
Psalms 42:9
- Yea, mine own familiar friend, &c.] He means either Aluthophel, or some other perfidious counsellor or courtier, who was a type of Judas, as David was a type of Christ, in being thus betrayed. Poole.
— hath lifted up his heel against me.] Has shewn great treachery towards me. Edwards. The figure is taken from wrestlers who endeavour to supplant each other with their feet. Rosemuller.
- — settest me before thy face, Raisest me up again to the enjoyment of thy presence. Mudge.
Psalms 42:13
- Blessed be the Lord God &c.] These words seem to be added at the end of this book of Psalms by the collector of it. Green. See the Introduction.
We learn from the third verse of this Psalm, that though an exemption from sorrow and sickness is not promised to the children of God, yet strength and comfort are given unto them from above, to support and carry them through their trials; and they who, in the days of their health, have by their alms given rest to the bodies, or by their counsels restored peace to the
conaciences, of others, shall have the bed of pain made easy unto them, by the hand of their heavenly Father. Bp. Horne. The end of the first Book of Psalms.
Psalm XLII. This Psalm was most probably composed by David, when he was driven by Absalom from Jerusalem. Dr. Wells. The author of this elegant complaint, exiled from the temple, and from the publick exercise of his religion, to the extreme parts of Judea, persecuted by his numerous enemies, and agitated by their reproaches, pours forth his soul to God in this tender and pathetic composition. The ardent feelings of a devout heart are admirably expressed, while the memory of former felicity seems to aggravate his present anguish. The extreme anxiety of a mind, depressed by the burden of sorrow, and yet at the same time impatient under it; overcome by an accumulation of evils, yet in some degree endeavouring to resist them, and admitting, through the dark cloud of affliction, a glimmering ray of hope and consolation, is finely depicted. Bp. Loath.
— the sons of Korah.] These were probably an eminent order of singers in the house of God. See 1 Chron. ix. 19, and xxvi. 1. Poole.
Ver. 3. My tears have been my meat day and night.] He means that his grief at his forced absence from God’s house was so great, that he was obliged to vent it by tears continually. Dr. Wells.