1 [[To the chief Musician, H5329 Maschil, H4905 for the sons H1121 of Korah.]] H7141 As the hart H354 panteth H6165 after the water H4325 brooks, H650 so panteth H6165 my soul H5315 after thee, O God. H430
2 My soul H5315 thirsteth H6770 for God, H430 for the living H2416 God: H410 when shall I come H935 and appear H7200 before H6440 God? H430
3 My tears H1832 have been my meat H3899 day H3119 and night, H3915 while they continually H3117 say H559 unto me, Where is thy God? H430
4 When I remember H2142 these things, I pour out H8210 my soul H5315 in me: for I had gone H5674 with the multitude, H5519 I went H1718 with them to the house H1004 of God, H430 with the voice H6963 of joy H7440 and praise, H8426 with a multitude H1995 that kept holyday. H2287
5 Why art thou cast down, H7817 O my soul? H5315 and why art thou disquieted H1993 in me? hope H3176 thou in God: H430 for I shall yet praise H3034 him for the help H3444 of his countenance. H6440
6 O my God, H430 my soul H5315 is cast down H7817 within me: therefore will I remember H2142 thee from the land H776 of Jordan, H3383 and of the Hermonites, H2769 from the hill H2022 Mizar. H4706
7 Deep H8415 calleth H7121 unto deep H8415 at the noise H6963 of thy waterspouts: H6794 all thy waves H4867 and thy billows H1530 are gone H5674 over me.
8 Yet the LORD H3068 will command H6680 his lovingkindness H2617 in the daytime, H3119 and in the night H3915 his song H7892 shall be with me, and my prayer H8605 unto the God H410 of my life. H2416
9 I will say H559 unto God H410 my rock, H5553 Why hast thou forgotten H7911 me? why go H3212 I mourning H6937 because of the oppression H3906 of the enemy? H341
10 As with a sword H7524 in my bones, H6106 mine enemies H6887 reproach H2778 me; while they say H559 daily H3117 unto me, Where is thy God? H430
11 Why art thou cast down, H7817 O my soul? H5315 and why art thou disquieted H1993 within me? hope H3176 thou in God: H430 for I shall yet praise H3034 him, who is the health H3444 of my countenance, H6440 and my God. H430
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Psalms 42
Commentary on Psalms 42 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
PSALM 42
Ps 42:1-11. Maschil—(See on Ps 32:1, title). For, or of (see Introduction) the sons of Korah. The writer, perhaps one of this Levitical family of singers accompanying David in exile, mourns his absence from the sanctuary, a cause of grief aggravated by the taunts of enemies, and is comforted in hopes of relief. This course of thought is repeated with some variety of detail, but closing with the same refrain.
1, 2. Compare (Ps 63:1).
panteth—desires in a state of exhaustion.
2. appear before God—in acts of worship, the terms used in the command for the stated personal appearance of the Jews at the sanctuary.
3. Where is thy God?—implying that He had forsaken him (compare 2Sa 16:7; Ps 3:2; 22:8).
4. The verbs are properly rendered as futures, "I will remember," &c.,—that is, the recollection of this season of distress will give greater zest to the privileges of God's worship, when obtained.
5. Hence he chides his despondent soul, assuring himself of a time of joy.
help of his countenance—or, "face" (compare Nu 6:25; Ps 4:6; 16:11).
6. Dejection again described.
therefore—that is, finding no comfort in myself, I turn to Thee, even in this distant "land of Jordan and the (mountains) Hermon, the country east of Jordan.
hill Mizar—as a name of a small hill contrasted with the mountains round about Jerusalem, perhaps denoted the contempt with which the place of exile was regarded.
7. The roar of successive billows, responding to that of floods of rain, represented the heavy waves of sorrow which overwhelmed him.
8. Still he relies on as constant a flow of divine mercy which will elicit his praise and encourage his prayer to God.
9, 10. in view of which [Ps 42:8], he dictates to himself a prayer based on his distress, aggravated as it was by the cruel taunts and infidel suggestions of his foes.
11. This brings on a renewed self-chiding, and excites hopes of relief.
health—or help.
of my countenance—(compare Ps 42:5) who cheers me, driving away clouds of sorrow from my face.
my God—It is He of whose existence and favor my foes would have me doubt.