Psalm 42

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 42:5

Verse 5 5O my soul! why art thou cast down? From this it appears that David contended strongly against his sorrow, lest he should yield to temptation: but what we ought chiefly to observe is, that he had experienced a strong and bitter contest before he obtained the victory over it; or we might rather say, that he was not delivered from it after one alarming assault, but was often called upon to enter into new scenes of conflict. It need not excite our wonder that he was so much disquieted and... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 42:6

Verse 6 6.O my God! my soul is cast down within me. If we suppose that this verse requires no supplement, then it will consist of two distinct and separate sentences. Literally it may be read thus: O my God! my soul is cast down within me, therefore will I remember thee, etc. But the greater number of expositors render the word על-כן , al-ken, by forasmuch as, or because, so that it is employed to express the reason of what is contained in the preceding clause. And certainly it would be very... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 42:7

Verse 7 7.Depth calleth unto depth These words express the grievousness, as well as the number and long continuance, of the miseries which he suffered; as if he had said, I am oppressed not only with one kind of misery, but various kinds of distress return one after another, so that there seems to be neither end nor measure to them. In the first place, by the term depth, he shows that the temptations by which he was assailed were such, that they might well be compared to gulfs in the sea; then... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 42:8

Verse 8 8.Jehovah will command his loving-kindness by day The verb here used is of the future tense; but I do not deny that, according to the Hebrew idiom, it might be rendered in the past tense, as some do who think that David here enumerates the benefits which he had formerly received from God, in order by contrast to add greater force to the complaint which he makes of his present sad and miserable condition; as if he had said, How comes it to pass that God, who formerly manifested so much... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 42:9

Verse 9 9.I will say to God my rock If we read the preceding verse in the past tense, the meaning of this verse will be, Since God has, in this way, heretofore shown himself so kind towards me, I will pray to him now with so much the greater confidence: for the experience which I have had of his goodness will inspire me with courage. But if the preceding verse is rendered in the future tense, David, in this verse, combines the prayer which it contains with the reflections which faith led him to... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 42:10

Verse 10 10It is as a slaughter in my bones. This verse is somewhat involved in point of expression; but as to the meaning of it there is no obscurity. David here affirms that the grief which he experienced from the reproaches of his enemies, wounded him in no degree less than if they had pierced through his bones. The word ברצה , beretsach, signifies killing; and, therefore, I have retained this idea in the translation of it. And yet I do not condemn the opinion of those who render it a... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 42:11

Verse 11 11O my soul! why art thou cast down? This repetition shows us that David had not so completely overcome his temptations in one encounter, or by one extraordinary effort, as to render it unnecessary for him to enter anew into the same conflict. By this example, therefore, we are admonished, that although Satan, by his assaults, often subjects us to a renewal of the same trouble, we ought not to lose our courage, or allow ourselves to be cast down. The latter part of this verse differs... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 42

Remonstrance of the spiritual man against the natural man. Supposed to be written by some king or priest on his way into exile, perhaps somewhere in the region of Mount Hermon. It is the remonstrance of the spiritual man within him against the despondency of the natural man. I. THE CAUSES OF HIS DESPONDENCY . 1 . An unsatisfied longing for God. He was being carried away from the temple to a land of heathen idolaters, and this aroused in him an intense longing for some... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 42:1

As the hart panteth after the water-brooks. Stags and hinds need abundant water, especially in hot countries, and, in time of drought, may be said, with a slight poetical licence, to "pant," or "cry" ( Joel 1:20 ) for it. They are still found in Palestine, though rather scarce. So panteth my soul after thee, O God. The "panting" of the soul does not mean any physical action, but a longing desire for a Messing that is, at any fate for a time, withheld. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 42:1-2

The intense longing of the soul after God. "My soul thirsteth," etc. Amid the trackless mountains and rugged valleys beyond Jordan, where the roaring torrents seem to answer one another from glen to glen, the heart of the pious exile turned with passionate yearning to the city and temple of God. It was, perhaps, as difficult for him to dissociate his deep spiritual yearning after God from the solemn and glorious services of the temple, as it is for us fully to realize the power and value... read more

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 42:5

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 42:6

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 42:7

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 42:8

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 42:9

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 42:10

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 42:11

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 42

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 42:1

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 42:1-2

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