Bible Commentary

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. Why art thou cast down, O my soul? – This closes the second strophe of the psalm, and, with one … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 42:11”

[As] with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me; while they say daily unto me, Where [is] thy God? 10. My bones are smitten asunder with mine adversaries’ reproaches, While they continually say unto me, Where is thy God? Lit. with crushing in my bones do mine adversaries reproach me. They stab him … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 42:10”

I will say unto God my rock, Why hast thou forgotten me? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy? 9. I will say ] Or, Let me say, the tense (voluntative, as in Psa 42:4) emphatically expressing his resolution. my rock ] The word, lit. my cliff or crag ( sela), … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 42:9”

[Yet] the LORD 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. 8. According to the rendering of the A.V., retained by the R.V., this verse expresses the Psalmist’s confidence that he will soon again experience the favour … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 42:8”

Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me. 7. at the noise of thy waterspouts ] Better, in the roar of thy cataracts. God is sending upon him one trouble after another. He is overwhelmed with a flood of misfortunes. The metaphorical language … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 42:7”

O my God, my soul is cast down within me: therefore will I remember thee from the land of Jordan, and of the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar. 6. Within me, or rather, as in Psa 42:4, upon me, stands emphatically at the beginning of the sentence. His own feelings overwhelm him, and therefore he … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 42:6”

Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and [why] art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him [for] the help of his countenance. 5. In this refrain the truer ‘self’ chides the weaker ‘soul,’ the emotional nature, for its despondency and complaint. cast down ] Bowed down … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 42:5”

When I remember 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. 4. This let me remember as I pour out my soul upon me, How … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 42:4”

My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where [is] thy God? 3. my meat ] Lit. my bread. Cp. Psa 80:5; Psa 102:4; Psa 102:9. Tears take the place of his daily food. So Ovid, Metam. x. 75, “Cura dolorque animi lacrimaeque alimenta fuere.” continually ] Lit. … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 42:3”

My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God? 2. thirsteth ] Cp. Psa 63:1; Amo 8:11-13. God, who is the living God, in contrast to dead impotent idols, is “the fountain of living waters” (Jer 2:13; Jer 17:13). With Him is “the fountain of life,” and … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 42:2”