42:1(To the chief Musician, Maschil, a for the sons of
Korah.) As the hart b panteth after the water brooks, so
panteth my soul after thee, O God.
(a) As a treasure to be kept by them, who were of the
number of the Levites.
(b) By these comparisons of the thirst and panting, he
shows his fervent desire to serve God in his temple.
42:3c My tears have been my meat day and night, while they
continually say unto me, Where [is] thy God?
(c) As others take pleasure in eating and drinking, so he
was altogether given to weeping.
42:4 When I remember d these [things], I pour out my soul in
me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to
the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a
multitude that kept holyday.
(d) That is, how I led the people to serve you in your
tabernacle, and now seeing my contrary estate, I die
for sorrow.
42:5 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and [why] art thou
disquieted in me? e hope thou in God: for I shall yet
praise him [for] the help of his countenance.
(e) Though he sustained grievous assaults of the flesh to
cast him into despair, yet his faith grounded on God's
accustomed mercies gets the victory.
42:6 O my God, my soul is cast down within me: f therefore
will I remember thee from the land of Jordan, and of the
Hermonites, from the hill Mizar.
(f) That is, when I remember you in this land of my
banishment among the mountains.
42:7g Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts:
all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me.
(g) Afflictions came so thick upon me that I felt
overwhelmed: by which he shows there is no end to our
misery till God is pacified and sends help.
42:8 [Yet] the LORD h will command his lovingkindness in the
daytime, and in the night his song [shall be] with me,
[and] my prayer unto the God of my life.
(h) He assures himself of God's help in time to come.
42:10 [As] with a sword in my i bones, mine enemies reproach
me; while they say daily unto me, Where [is] thy God?
(i) That is, I am most grievously tormented.
42:11k 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, and my
God.
(k) This repetition declares that David did not overcome
at once, to teach us to be constant, for as much as
God will certainly deliver his.
