Psalms 42

The Pen-man of this Psalm is uncertain, as not being named in the Title. It was Composed, Either, 1. By David, when he was banished from the house of God, either by Saul's Tyranny, or by Absalom's Rebellion. Or, 2. By the Sons of Korah, in the time of the Captivity of Babylon. Whence some read the Words of the Title of this Psalm, Maschil of the Sons of Korah. But this is not usual in this Book, to name the Author of a Psalm, so obscurely and indefinitely. For the sons of Korah were a numerous Company, and it is not likely, that either all, or divers of them did joyn in the Enditing of this and the following Psalms so called. Nor is there any one Psalm where the Author is named, but he is one certain and single Person. And therefore it seems more probable that David Penned this, as it is Confessed, he did some other Psalms which have not his Name in the Title.

AS the hart panteth after the waterbrooks The Hart is naturally Hot and Thirsty. And this Thirst is increased; Partly, by its dwelling in Desert and dry places, to which it retireth for fear of Men and Wild beasts: and Partly, by its long and violent Running, when it is pursued by the Hunters: And, some add, by eating of Serpents., so panteth my Soul after thee After the enjoyment of thee in thy Sanctuary, as it appears from v. 4., O God.

My soul thirsteth Thirst is more Vehement than Hunger, and more impatient of Dis-satisfacton. for God, for the living God This he mentions as a just Cause of his Thirst. He did not Thirst after vain useless Idols, but after the only true and living God, who was his Life, and the length of his Days, as is said, Deut. 30. 20. and without whose Presence and Favour, David accounted himself for a Dead and lost Man, Psal. 143. 7.: when shall I come and appear before God In the place of his special Presence and publick Worship. See, Exod. 23 15. and 25. 30. What is called, before the Lord, 1 Chron. 13. 10. is before, or with the Ark 2 Sam. 6. 7..

My tears have been my meat Which notes both the great abundance and constant Course of his Tears, and the secret Satisfaction, and Ease which he found in giving vent to his Passion this way. Possibly his Tears and Grief took away his Appetite, and so were to him instead of Food., day and night, while they continually say unto me; Where is thy God Of whom thou hast so often boasted, as of one so able and ready to help, all that trust in him, and call upon him, and particularly, as one ingaged to thee by many great and special Promises. He is gone and departed from thee, and no where to be found of thee. He is either unable or unwilling to help thee, or regardless of thee.!

When I remember these things Either, 1. Which follow, to wit, my former Freedom: Or rather, 2. Last mentioned, my Banishment from God's Presence, and mine Enemies scoffs and Triumphs upon that Occasion., I pour out my soul This Phrase notes Either, 1. His fervent Prayer, as it is taken, 1 Sam. 1. 15. Psal. 62. 8. Or, 2. His bitter Sorrows, whereby his very Heart was almost melted, or dissolved, and his Spirits spent, and he was ready to saint away; as it is used, Iob 30. 16. Lam. 2. 12. Comp. Psal. 22. 14. Or rather, 3. Both together; that he breathed out his Sorrows and sad Complaints, unto God by fervent Prayers. in me (i. e.) Within my own Breast, between God and my own Soul; not openly, lest mine Enemies should turn it into matter of rejoycing and insulting over me., for I had gone To wit, in the way to Ierusalem. And my sorrow was increased, by the Remembrance of my former Enjoyments. Comp.... am. 1. 7. with the multitude According to the Custome, and in the Company of Israelites, who went thither in great numbers. Comp. Psal. 84. 6, 7., I went with them Or, I led them, encouraging them by my Presence and Forwardness. to the house of God; with the voyce of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holy-day Or, That kept the Feast, to wit, the three Solemn Festival Solemnities, which they kept holy unto the Lord..

Why art thou cast down With excessive Sorrow and Despair., O my soul! and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God, for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance. r Heb. for the Salvavations of his Face, (i. e.) For those Suppor... s, Deliverances, and Comforts which I doubt not, I shall ere long enjoy, both in his Presence and Sanctuary, to which he will restore me, and from his Presence, and the Light of his Countenance, which he will graciously afford to me.

O my God, my soul is cast down within me: therefore That I may revive my drooping Spirits. will I remember thee I will consider thy infinite Mercy and Power, and Faithfulness, and thy gracious Presence in the Sanctuary, from whence thou dost hear and Answer, all those that call upon thee, in all the parts of the Land. from the land of Iordan, and of the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar (i. e.) From all the places, and parts of the Land, to which I shall be driven, whether from the Parts about, or beyond Iordan on the East; Or, the Hermonim, (i. e.) Either, the People inhabiting Herm... n; Or, the Mountain of Hermon, which was in the Northern parts, N... mb. 34. 7. Deut. 3. 8. Psal. 89. 12. here called Hermonim in the plural Number, because of its great largeness, and many Tops and Parts of it, which are called by several Names: Or, the Hill Missar, an Hill so called, though not mentioned elsewhere, which is supposed to have been in the Southern parts of the Land: But peradventure it was in the East and beyond Iordan: and David might mention these places, because when he was banished by Absalom, he had been successively at all of them, and in all of them, had remembred God, and directed his Prayer to him..

Deep calleth unto deep (i, e.) One affliction comes immediately after another, as if it were called for, and invited by the former. Which he expresseth by a Metaphor taken, Either, 1. From the old Flood, when the... pper deep, or Abyss of Waters (in the Clouds) called for the lower deep, or Abyss of Waters, in the Sea and Rivers, that both might unite their Forces together, to drown the World. And thus the Chaldee understands it. Or, 2. From the Sea, when its Waves Rage, and it is full of deep furrows, into which ships and Passingers sink down, and then rise and sink again, successively and continually. But these Tempests are caused in the Sea by God's mighty Winds, rather than by his Water-spouts. Or, 3. From violent and successive showers of Rain; which frequently come down from Heaven, as it were at the Noise, or Call of God's Waterspouts, to wit, the Clouds; which by their ratling Noises and terrible Thunders, do in a manner invite and call forth the Showers, which are contained in their Bowels. at the noise of thy water-spouts: all thy waves and thy billows Thou hast sent one sharp Tryal, or affliction upon me after another: are gone over me (i. e.) Are gone over my Head, as this same Verb is used, Psal. 38. 4. They do not lightly sprinkle me, but almost overwhelm me..

Yet the LORD will command (i. e.) Will effectually procure or Confer upon me, as this Verb is used, Levit. 25. 21. Psa. 7. 6. &c. The Verb is Future, but some render it by the time past: The Lord has Commanded, making this Rehearsal of his former Experiences of Gods goodness, his Argument to support himself, and to prevail with God in Prayer. Which may seem to suit best with the foregoing and following Verses. But we must remember that Davi... 's Hopes and Fears were strangely mixed, and his Expressions of them are commonly interwoven in the same P... alm, and sometimes in one and the same Verse, a... it is here v. 5. 11. And therefore there is no necessity of departing from the Proper signification of the Verb. his loving kindness (i. e.) His blessings, the Effects of his Loving-kindness, which God is oft said to Command, as Deut. 28. 8. Psal. 133. 3. in the day-time, and in the night Both day and night, (i. e.) Continually. his song shall be with me (i. e.) I shall have constant matter of singing and praising God for his loving kindness., and my prayer shall be unto the God And therefore I will boldly and believingly direct my Prayers to him, of whose readiness to hear and help me, I have had such ample Experience. of my life The giver and preserver of my Life, from time to time..

I will say unto God I will expostulate the Case with him. my rock Who has formerly been a su... e Refuge to me., Why hast thou forgotten me Why dost thou now seem quite to forget, and neglect me?? Why go I mourning Why dost thou leave me in this mournful State, and not succour me speedily? because of the oppression of the enemy?

As with a sword in my bones Or, in my Body, the Bones being oft put for the Body, whereof they are a very Considerable part. Or, as a Sword, which Pierceth and Cutteth my Flesh even to the Bones, and Cutteth or breaketh the very Bones also. So painful and Vexa... ious are their Reproaches., mine enemies reproach me: While they say daily unto me, Where is thy God Of which see above, on v. 3.?

Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God, for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my Countenance Heb. the Salvations of my Face, (i. e.) Either, 1. Which are present and manifest, being before my Face. Or, 2. Which will make my Face to shine, and my Countenance cheerful, which supposeth the gladness of the Heart, and the bettering of his Condition. Or, 3. Of his Person; as the Face sometimes signifies, as 2 Sam. 17. 11. Isa. 3. 15. As also the Greek word signifying Face, is very frequently put for the Person, whereof the Face is an eminent Part., and my God As he formerly was, so he still is, and ever will be, and will suddenly show himself to be my God, although for a season he may hide his Face, Or, withdraw his help from me..