Psa 42:1-2, 4, 6 | Clarke | e4.org | PSALM XLII The psalmist earnestly longs for the ordinances of the Lord's house , 1-4; describes his deep distress , 5-7; endeavours to take comfort from the consideration that the Lord would appear in his behalf , 8, 9; speaks of the insults of his enemies , 10; and again takes encouragement , 11. NOTES ON PSALM XLII The title, To the chief Musician giving instruction to the sons of Korah . This is the first of the Psalms that has this title prefixed, and it is probable that such Psalms were composed by the descendants of Korah during the Babylonish captivity, or by some eminent person among those descendants, and that they were used by the Israelites during their long captivity, as means of consolation: and, indeed, most of the Psalms which bear this inscription are of the consoling kind and the sentiments appear to belong to that period of the Jewish history, and to none other. The word maskil , from sakal , signifies to make wise , to direct wisely , to give instruction ; and here is so understood by our translators, who have left this signification in the margin ; and so the Versions in general. The Syriac says, "It is a Psalm which David sung when he was an exile, and desired to return to Jerusalem." The Arabic says: "A Psalm for the backsliding Jews." Verse 1. As the hart panteth after the water brooks ] The hart is not only fond of feeding near some water for the benefit of drinking , "but when he is hard hunted, and nearly spent, he will take to some river or brook, in which," says Tuberville , "he will keep as long as his breath will suffer him. Understand that when a hart is spent and sore run, his last refuge is to the water; and he will commonly descend down the streame and swimme in the very middest thereof; for he will take as good heede as he can to touch no boughes or twygges that grow upon the sides of the river, for feare lest the hounds should there take sent of him. And sometimes the hart will lye under the water , all but his very nose ; and I have seene divers lye so until the hounds have been upon them, before they would rise; for they are constrayned to take the water as their last refuge ."- Tuberville's Art of Venerie, chap. xl. Lond. 4to., 1611. The above extracts will give a fine illustration of this passage. The hart feels himself almost entirely spent; he is nearly hunted down; the dogs are in full pursuit; he is parched with thirst; and in a burning heat pants after the water, and when he comes to the river, plunges in as his last refuge . Thus pursued, spent, and nearly ready to give up the ghost, the psalmist pants for God , for the living God ! for him who can give life , and save from death .

‏ Psalms 42:1-2

PSALM XLII

The psalmist earnestly longs for the ordinances of the Lord's house, 1-4;

describes his deep distress, 5-7;

endeavours to take comfort from the consideration that the Lord would appear in his behalf, 8, 9;

speaks of the insults of his enemies, 10;

and again takes encouragement, 11.

NOTES ON PSALM XLII

The title, To the chief Musician giving instruction to the sons of Korah. This is the first of the Psalms that has this title prefixed, and it is probable that such Psalms were composed by the descendants of Korah during the Babylonish captivity, or by some eminent person among those descendants, and that they were used by the Israelites during their long captivity, as means of consolation: and, indeed, most of the Psalms which bear this inscription are of the consoling kind and the sentiments appear to belong to that period of the Jewish history, and to none other. The word maskil, from sakal, signifies to make wise, to direct wisely, to give instruction; and here is so understood by our translators, who have left this signification in the margin; and so the Versions in general.

The Syriac says, "It is a Psalm which David sung when he was an exile, and desired to return to Jerusalem." The Arabic says: "A Psalm for the backsliding Jews."

Verse 1. As the hart panteth after the water brooks] The hart is not only fond of feeding near some water for the benefit of drinking, "but when he is hard hunted, and nearly spent, he will take to some river or brook, in which," says Tuberville, "he will keep as long as his breath will suffer him. Understand that when a hart is spent and sore run, his last refuge is to the water; and he will commonly descend down the streame and swimme in the very middest thereof; for he will take as good heede as he can to touch no boughes or twygges that grow upon the sides of the river, for feare lest the hounds should there take sent of him. And sometimes the hart will lye under the water, all but his very nose; and I have seene divers lye so until the hounds have been upon them, before they would rise; for they are constrayned to take the water as their last refuge."-Tuberville's Art of Venerie, chap. xl. Lond. 4to., 1611.

The above extracts will give a fine illustration of this passage. The hart feels himself almost entirely spent; he is nearly hunted down; the dogs are in full pursuit; he is parched with thirst; and in a burning heat pants after the water, and when he comes to the river, plunges in as his last refuge. Thus pursued, spent, and nearly ready to give up the ghost, the psalmist pants for God, for the living God! for him who can give life, and save from death.

Verse 2. When shall I come] When, when shall I have the privilege of appearing in his courts before God? In the mouth of a Christian these words would import: "When shall I see my heavenly country? When shall I come to God, the Judge of all, and to Jesus, the Mediator of the new covenant?" He who is a stranger and a pilgrim here below, and feels a heart full of piety to God, may use these words in this sense; but he who feels himself here at home, whose soul is not spiritual, wishes the earth to be eternal, and himself eternal on it-feels no panting after the living God.

‏ Psalms 42:4

Verse 4. When I remember these things] Or, these things I shall remember. They often occur to me, and sharpen my distressful feelings. My soul is dissolved, becomes weak as water, when I reflect on what I have had, and on what I have lost. Or, I pour out my soul to myself in deep regrets and complaints, when reflecting on these things. I once enjoyed all the ordinances of God, and now I have none. I once had the joyous communion of saints in God's ordinances; but that communion no longer exists, for there are no ordinances to support it. There was a multitude to worship God in public; with these I often went: but, alas, this is no more; now there are found only a few solitary individuals who sigh for the desolations of Zion. There we had our holy days, our appointed feasts, to commemorate the wonderful works of the Lord; now there are no processions, no festivals, no joyous assemblies; all is desolation in Zion, and all is mourning in our captivity. I have endeavoured to give a general sense to this verse, but there are several difficulties in it; and different commentators and critics have given it a great variety of translations, and as many different meanings. My plan will not permit me to follow them. Much may be seen in Dr. Horsley's work on this verse.

‏ Psalms 42:6

Verse 6. O my God, my soul is cast down] It is impossible for me to lighten this load; I am full of discouragements, notwithstanding I labour to hope in thee.

Therefore will I remember thee from the land of Jordan] That is, from Judea, this being the chief river of that country.

And of the Hermonites] the Hermons, used in the plural because Hermon has a double ridge joining in an angle, and rising in many summits. The river Jordan, and the mountains of Hermon, were the most striking features of the holy land.

From the hill Mizar.] mehar mitsar, from the little hill, as in the margin. The little hill probably means Sion, which was little in comparison of the Hermons.-Bishop Horsley. No such hill as Mizar is known in India.