he psalmist pours out his soul to God in lamentation. (1-9)
He wrestles by faith, in his prayer to God for comfort. (10-18)
Verses 1-9: The first words of the psalmist are the only words of
comfort and support in this psalm. Thus greatly may good men be
afflicted, and such dismal thoughts may they have about their
afflictions, and such dark conclusion may they make about their
end, through the power of melancholy and the weakness of faith.
He complained most of God's displeasure. Even the children of
God's love may sometimes think themselves children of wrath and
no outward trouble can be so hard upon them as that. Probably
the psalmist described his own case, yet he leads to Christ.
Thus are we called to look unto Jesus, wounded and bruised for
our iniquities. But the wrath of God poured the greatest
bitterness into his cup. This weighed him down into darkness and
the deep.
Verses 10-18: Departed souls may declare God's faithfulness, justice,
and lovingkindness; but deceased bodies can neither receive
God's favours in comfort, nor return them in praise. The
psalmist resolved to continue in prayer, and the more so,
because deliverance did not come speedily. Though our prayers
are not soon answered, yet we must not give over praying. The
greater our troubles, the more earnest and serious we should be
in prayer. Nothing grieves a child of God so much as losing
sight of him; nor is there any thing he so much dreads as God's
casting off his soul. If the sun be clouded, that darkens the
earth; but if the sun should leave the earth, what a dungeon
would it be! Even those designed for God's favours, may for a
time suffer his terrors. See how deep those terrors wounded the
psalmist. If friends are put far from us by providences, or
death, we have reason to look upon it as affliction. Such was
the calamitous state of a good man. But the pleas here used were
peculiarly suited to Christ. And we are not to think that the
holy Jesus suffered for us only at Gethsemane and on Calvary.
His whole life was labour and sorrow; he was afflicted as never
man was, from his youth up. He was prepared for that death of
which he tasted through life. No man could share in the
sufferings by which other men were to be redeemed. All forsook
him, and fled. Oftentimes, blessed Jesus, do we forsake thee;
but do not forsake us, O take not thy Holy Spirit from us.
he psalmist pours out his soul to God in lamentation. (1-9)
He wrestles by faith, in his prayer to God for comfort. (10-18)