Psalms 42
DortThe Prophet doth bitterly bemoan his being deprived of the comfort of the public worship of God, during his exile, and the blasphemies of his enemies, which caused his spirit it to be overwhelmed: Never the less, he rouseth his soul up again, unto a firm hope and confidence in the grace of God.
1. An Instruction: See Pslam.32.on ver.1.] For the chief Song-master [see Psalm 4.on verse 1. This we must so understand, that the Prophet having made this Psalm whilest he was banished and flying before Saul (as most conceive) he delivered the same afterwards when he came to be King, and the Ark was brought to Zion, to be solemnly sung in the house of God. [Among the children of Korah] i.e. the posterity of Korah, whose insurrection and destruction is described, Num.16. This Korah was a grandchild of Kahat the son of Levi: but who was this chief song-master, or chief musitia to the house of God in Davids time, thereof see 1 Chron.16.on ver.33. Note, this first verse is read by some, An instruction of the children of Korah, for the chief song-master, and so in some of the Psalms following.]
2. Like as a Hart [Or, Hind in regard of the verb adjoined in the Hebrew is of the feminine gender, although the Hebrews have a peculiar word otherwise, that signifies an Hind] crieth after the water streams: [the Hebrew verb here used, is found onely in this place, and Joel 1:20. where it is ascribed to the beasts of the field in generally, to express the roaring, braying, howling, neighing, crying which every beast in his species makes after his kind, when they are greatly athirst, and long for water, however the thirst be caused, whether by want or scarcity of water in general, or by drying up of rivers, or by excessive heat, after their being hunted, and as David in his wandering exile was hunted indeed like a while beast by Saul, wherein yet nothing so much grieved him, as his being deprived of the publique pure worship of God, as is further declared in the sequel] so my soul crieth unto thee O God.
3. My soul thirsteth after God, [i.e. longeth extreamly. Compare Psalm 63,2, Isa.55.1. John 7:37. Rev.22.17.] after the living God: When shall I enter, [into the house of the LORD, where the public worship of God is celebrated, and the Ark of the Covenant is, where God dwelleth, 2 Sam.6.2.] and appear before the face of God?
4. M y tears are to me for food, [Hebr. Bread. i.e. I feed and fill my self with tears, as if they were my onely food and sustenance. Compare Psalms 60:6.] day and night; because they say unto me all the day, Where is thy God? [i.e. where is now the help of thy God, in whom thou hast trusted, so below, ver.11.&c.]
5. I remember it, and power out my soul within me; [Or, with, by my self, in private. i.e. I do even faint and decay with it, my strength faileth me, my heart melteth away, and is ready to break with grief and vexation. Compare Job 30:16. Lam.2.12. otherwise by the powering out of the heart, is also understood the uttering forth all a mans thoughts or mind, and desires by prayer, as 1. Sam.1.15. Psalms 62:9.] because I was wont to go among the company, (and) to tread [or, decently, stately, softly to tread (or pace) The Hebr. Word, is onely found here, and Isa.38.15. siginifying (according to most opinions) that same which here is expressed. Other. Walk on cheerfully] with them to the house of God, with a voice of Hymn, (or, joyful song) and praise (among) the feast-keeping multitude.
6. Why doest thou bow thee down, O my soul, [Or, art thou bowed down. Here David describeth his spiritual inward combate, which he had in this cross of his] and art unquiet within me? Hope in God, for I shall proceed from his gracious presence, which he shall shew me yet according to his word. Or it may be read thus. I shall is an assured, or, manifold salvation.]
7. O my God, my soul boweth down within me; therefore I remember thee, out of the land of Jordan and Hermonim, [i.e. the hills of Hermon, or the Hermonites, i.e. those that live on those hills or on that mountain, See of Hermon, Deut.3.8.] out of the little hill. [Oth. Out of Mount Mitsar, holding it to be the proper name of certain Mountain. Some are of opinion, that David hath an eye here to the three borders or frontiers of Canaan, implying that whithersoever he were or should be chased, yet he did and would mind God still, and take his refuge to him, whether it were to the East to Canaan, where the Jordan is; or to the North, where the Mountains of Libnus and Hermon are: or to the South, where Juda is enclosed with less hills, then the North. Nevertheless this may be ground also of his dismayedness, that he, instead of partaking with public solemnities of Gods worship, (as formerly he was wont to do) must wander about from place to place, in the uuttermost borders of Israel, which makes some to render the words thus; because, or for as much as I remember thee.]
8. The Abyss calls to the Abyss, [Or Abyss on Abyss calls, i.e. one abysse (bottomless depth) comes upon the other: one danger is no sooner past, but another comes in place. The Prophet implieth thereby, that God doth or did send him so many afflictions, that he is like one in a tempestuous weather at Sea, whereby reason of the swelling and raging waves, there is no other appearance, but that every billow will throw and plunge one in top the bottomless element. Compare Psa.107.v.24,25,26. &c.] by the boisterousness [Heb. Properly voice, but the Hebrew word is used of all manner of noises] of thy water-gushes: [understand the gushing showers, which being driven and agitated by the wind, do make such a boistertous noise, as swift running waters, which by sluces or channels gush down from the top to the bottom with great violence] all thy waves and gulfs are passed over me.
9. (But) the LORD shall command his kindness by day, [as if he said; this alone is that which maintains me still day and night without which I were but a lost man. See of this kind of speaking, Lev.21.on v.21. and compare Psa.44.5.] and by night his song shall be with me, [i.e. the song of him that gives me always cause to thank him, and to pray to him. Compare Job 35:10. and Isa.30.29.] the prayer to the God of my life. [i.e. who doth wonderfully keep me alive, and preserveth me in all dangers.]
10. I will say to God, my rock, [I will take the freedom with my God, who is my rock (i.e. my refuge and protection) that I make known my moan unto him in this sort] why doest thou forget me? [by the preceeding works of faith, it is apparent enough, that these are not words of unbelief, but import thus much. Since I believe that thou art my strength, why shouldest forgotten me. Compare Psa.43.2. and Gen.8.1.] wherefore go I in black [See above Psa.35.on v.14.] by reason of the Enemies oppression?
11. With a deaths stab in my bones do mine adversaries scorn me. [Or with a sword, murthering-skane. Heb. Murdering weapon, or instrument. His Meaning is, that it is as grievous unto him, as if they ran him through with a sword, or stabbed him at the heart, for thus are the bones oft taken for the body, the inward parts, the vigour, strength, ability and health of man. See Job 7.on v.15. and Psa.35. on v.10.] when they say unto me all the day, where is thy God.
12. Why bowest thou thee down, o my soul, and why art thou unquiet within me? Hope in God, for I shall praise him: he is the manifold salvation of the my face, and my God. [Heb. Salvations or deliverances, above v.6. he said, that his salvation, his deliverance or preservation came or proceeded from the face of God, or consisted in his loving countenance: here now the prophet says, that God is the salvation of his (the prophets) face, i.e. that which he hath and doth six his eyes upon, or which is daily presented to his eyes. It seems he means to say, that God doth so constantly deliver save, and preserve him, that he doth plainly see it before him, without that he might have often perished.]