Bible Commentaries
Psalms 42

Verse 1

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.

Verse 3

42:3 {c} 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.

Verse 4

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.

Verse 5

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.

Verse 6

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.

Verse 7

42:7 {g} 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.

Verse 8

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.

Verse 10

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.

Verse 11

42:11 {k} 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.