Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 143:6
I stretch forth my hands unto thee: my soul [thirsteth] after thee, as a thirsty land. Selah.
6. I stretch forth ]. R.V. I spread forth. Cp. Psa 44:20; Psa 88:9; Lam 1:17.
my soul thirsteth for thee, as a weary land ] ‘Thirsteth’ or some similar verb must be supplied. Cp. Psa 60:1, from which the words are taken. As the parched land, wearied with long continued drought, longs for refreshing rain, so he longs for a renewal of the old manifestation of God’s goodness. Cp. Psa 68:9, note, for rain as an emblem of Divine blessing.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
I stretch forth my hands unto thee – In prayer. I have nowhere else to go. See Psa 88:9.
My soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land – As land in a time of drought seems to thirst for rain. See the notes at Psa 63:1. Compare Psa 42:1. The word rendered thirsty here means properly weary. The idea is that of a land which seems to be weary; which has no vigor of growth; and where everything seems to be exhausted. The same word occurs in Isa 32:2 : As the shadow of a great rock in a weary land.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 6. I stretch forth my hands] This is a natural action. All in distress, or under the influence of eager desire, naturally extend their hands and arms, as if to catch at help and obtain succour.
As a thirsty land.] Parched and burned by the sun, longs for rain, so does my thirsty soul for the living God.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
I stretch forth my hands unto thee; I pray to thee fervently. See Poole “Psa 141:2“.
Thirsteth after thee; after thy favour and help.
As a thirsty land, to wit, thirsteth for rain.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
I stretch forth my hands unto thee,…. In prayer, as the Targum adds; for this is a prayer gesture, 1Ki 8:38; both hands were stretched forth, earnestly imploring help, and ready to receive and embrace every blessing bestowed with thankfulness;
my soul [thirsteth] after thee as a thirsty land. As a dry land, which wants water, gapes, and as it were thirsts for rain, which is very refreshing to it; so his soul thirsted after God, after his word and ordinances, after communion with him in them, after his grace and fresh supplies of it; particularly after pardoning grace and mercy, after the coming of Christ, and the blessings of grace by him; as reconciliation, atonement, righteousness, and salvation; after more knowledge of God and Christ, and divine truths; and after the enjoyment of them in heaven to all eternity. Some copies read, “in a thirsty land” x, and so some versions; see Ps 42:1.
Selah; on this word, [See comments on Ps 3:2].
x Cod. Heb. Bomberg. Venet. “in terra siticulosa”, Musculus, Tarnovius.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
6. I have stretched forth my hands to thee. Here appears the good effect of meditation, that it stirred David up to pray; for if we reflect seriously upon the acting’s of God towards his people, and towards ourselves in our own experience, this will necessarily lead out our minds to seek after him, under the alluring influence of his goodness. Prayer, indeed, springs from faith; but as practical proofs of the favor and mercy confirm this faith, they are means evidently fitted for dissipating languor. He makes use of a striking figure to set forth the ardor of his affection, comparing his soul to the parched earth. In great heats we see that the earth is cleft, and opens, as it were, its mouth to heaven for moisture. David therefore intimates, he drew near to God with vehement desire, as if the very sap of life failed him, as he shows more fully in the verse which follows. In this he gives another proof of his extraordinary faith. Feeling himself weak, and ready to sink into the very grave, he does not vacillate between this and the other hope of relief, but fixes his sole dependence upon God. And heavy as the struggle was that he underwent with his own felt weakness, the fainting of spirit he speaks of was a better stimulant to prayer than any stoical obstinacy he might have shown in suppressing fear, grief, or anxiety. We must not overlook the fact, how in order to induce himself to depend exclusively upon God, he dismisses all other hopes from his mind, and makes a chariot to himself of the extreme necessity of his case, in which he ascends upwards to God.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(6) With the first clause comp. Psa. 44:20.
Thirsty land.See Psa. 63:1, which explains this elliptical sentence. As our Lord taught, God is even more ready to send the refreshing spiritual shower than mans heart to receive it.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
6. As a thirsty land A parched land opens in seams and cracks “poor, poor dumb mouths” to plead for rain. So David waits in silent, anxious attitude of prayer.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Psa 143:6. My soul thirtieth after thee, &c. My soul is as a thirsty land for thee. Mudge.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Psa 143:6 I stretch forth my hands unto thee: my soul [thirsteth] after thee, as a thirsty land. Selah.
Ver. 6. I stretch forth my hands unto thee ] As a poor beggar for an alms. Beggary here is not the easiest and poorest trade, but the hardest and richest of all other.
My soul thirsteth after thee
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
as. Some codices, with seven early printed editions, read “in”.
Selah. Connecting and returning to prayer (7-11) as the consequence of the reflection (5, 6). This is the last Selah (of seventy-one) in the Psalms. For three others, see- Hab 3:3, Hab 3:9, Hab 3:13. See App-66.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
stretch forth: Psa 44:20, Psa 88:9, Job 11:13
my soul: Psa 42:1, Psa 42:2, Psa 63:1, Psa 84:2, Isa 26:8, Isa 26:9, Isa 35:7, Joh 7:37
Reciprocal: Gen 24:63 – to meditate Exo 9:29 – spread Deu 4:4 – General 1Sa 1:15 – poured 1Ch 11:17 – longed 2Ch 6:12 – spread forth Ezr 9:5 – spread Job 7:2 – earnestly desireth Psa 28:2 – when Psa 63:8 – followeth Psa 68:31 – stretch Psa 73:25 – none upon Psa 116:4 – O Lord Isa 37:14 – and Hezekiah went Isa 55:1 – every Lam 3:41 – lift Hab 3:9 – Selah Luk 6:21 – ye that hunger Luk 22:44 – being Rev 7:16 – hunger