The Psalm was penned by David at a time when, either by the persecutions of Saul, or the rebellion of Absalom, he was driven from the Sanctuary and cut off from the privileges of waiting upon God in public ordinances. Thus he is like the “hart” that he sees in his mountain hideaway; “heated in the chase” and panting after the water-brooks, David, too, feels such a longing after the Lord's house and after the God of his salvation. “As the hart … so my soul …” “As the hart panteth after the water-brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.”
Verse 2 “My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God …” If you attempt to put a little child off with toys and fine things, it will not be pleased for long, but will soon cry for its mother's breast. So, let a man come into the pulpit with pretty sentences and fine stories, and these will not content a thirsty soul. He must have the sincere milk of the Word to feed upon.
Oliver Heywood
Verse 2 "… when shall I come and appear before God?” An unbeliever can never say in good earnest, “When shall I appear before God?” Because he shall come before Him too soon and before he would like to. As the devils said to Christ: “Art thou come to torment us before our time?” Ask a thief or a murderer whether he would willingly appear before the judge. I warrant you he would not; he would rather there were no judge to appear before. And so it is with the worldly man in regard to God, for he would rather be hidden from Him.
T. Horton
Verse 3 "… They continually say unto me, Where is thy God?” Just because he was absent from the Ark – the token of God's presence – David's enemies concluded that he had lost his God. Those people are mistaken who think that when they have robbed us of our Bibles, and our ministers, and our assemblies, they have robbed us of our God. Although God has tied us to these means of grace when they can be had, He has not tied Himself to them. We know where our God is and where to find Him, when we know not where His Ark is, nor where to find that.
Mathew Henry
Verse 5 “Why art thou cast down, O my soul …” Wicked men oppressed David and the devil tempted him, yet he chides his own heart and nothing else. David did not chide at Saul, nor chide at Absalom, but he chides and checks his own heart. “Why art thou cast down, O my soul?” And though the devil and wicked men … the one to tempt and the other to oppress as the instruments for punishment for sin, yet we, with David are to chide our own hearts.
Christopher Love
Verse 5 “Why art thou cast down, O my soul? And why art thou disquieted in me? Hope thou in God …” Art thou discomposed with impatience, and haunted with a discontented spirit under any affliction? Think it not enough to silence thy heart from quarrelling with God, but don't stop until thou canst bring thy heart to rely on God. Holy David drove his heart thus far. He did not only chide his heart for being disquieted, but charges it to trust in God – “Hope thou in God …”
William Gurnall
Verse 7 “Deep calleth unto deep …” What's that? Why, it is expressed in the verse before: “O God,” says he, “my soul is cast down within me.” “Down.” That is, deep into the depths of distrust and fear. And Lord, my soul in this depth of sorrow calls for help to thy depth of mercy. For though I am sinking and going down, yet not so low but that thy mercy is not underneath me.
John Bunyan
Verse 8 “Yet the Lord will command his lovingkindness …” David's expression is remarkable; he does not simply say that the Lord will bestow, but “command his lovingkindness.” As the gift bestowed is grace – free favour to the unworthy, so the manner of bestowing it is sovereign. It is given by decree; it is a royal presentation. And if He commands the blessing, who shall hinder its reception?
Henry March
Verse 11 “Why art thou cast down, O my soul …” This is the burden of David's psalm and we would commend the reader – and especially any who are finding the road difficult at this particular time – to the thirteen sermons preached by the Puritan William Bridge in the year 1648 and titled “A Lifting Up for the Downcast.” William Bridge gives solid instruction in seeking out our spiritual diseases that lay us low, and also, lays before us the only true remedy for our souls and how to apply it. (This book is still in print and published by The Banner of Truth)
This Page Title – Gleanings in the Psalms – Psalm 42 The Wicket Gate Magazine "A Continuing Witness". Internet Edition number 82 – placed on line January 2010 Magazine web address – www.wicketgate.co.uk |