Psalm 42:1, Psalm 42:2 WEB

George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary - Psalms 42:1

David. Septuagint add, "it has no title, in Hebrew," being composed by the same author, and on the same subject, as the preceding [psalm]. (Calmet) --- David teaches the faithful how to begin a good work; and priests how they ought to officiate at Mass. (Worthington) --- Holy. Hebrew, "merciful." The Babylonians and their king, treated the Jews with great cruelty. (Calmet) --- After we have proved ourselves, according to the admonition of St. Paul, (1 Corinthians xi.) before approaching to the... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 42:1-5

1-5 The psalmist looked to the Lord as his chief good, and set his heart upon him accordingly; casting anchor thus at first, he rides out the storm. A gracious soul can take little satisfaction in God's courts, if it do not meet with God himself there. Living souls never can take up their rest any where short of a living God. To appear before the Lord is the desire of the upright, as it is the dread of the hypocrite. Nothing is more grievous to a gracious soul, than what is intended to shake... read more

Paul E. Kretzmann

The Popular Commentary by Paul E. Kretzmann - Psalms 42:1-11

An Exile's Longing for Zion. To the chief musician, for performance in the liturgical part of the Temple-services, Maschil, a didactic poem, for the sons of Korah, written by some member of this Levitical family, or organization, 1 Chronicles 6:22-Jonah :, belonging to the Kohathite division of the tribe of Levi. Korah himself had perished in the punishment which followed his revolt, Numbers 16, but his sons had not been included in the judgment, Numbers 26:11. Their descendants were... read more

Johann Peter Lange

Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures: Critical, Doctrinal and Homiletical - Psalms 42:1-11

THE PSALTERSECOND BOOKPsalms 42-72_______________Psalms 42:0To the chief Musician, Maschil, for the sons of Korah1 As the hart panteth after the water brooks,So panteth my soul after thee, O God.2 My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God:When shall I come and appear before God?3 My tears have been my meat day and night,While they continually say unto me, Where is thy God?4 When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me:For I had gone with the multitude, I went... read more

Frederick Brotherton Meyer

F.B. Meyer's 'Through the Bible' Commentary - Psalms 42:1-11

Thirsting after God Psalms 42:1-11 This psalm clearly embalms the holy musings and yearnings of the exiled king during Absalom’s rebellion. Their setting to music was left to the sons of Korah, 2 Chronicles 20:19 . It was a great favorite with the early Church, driven to the Catacombs, on the walls of which are many designs of hunted deer. The water brooks, Psalms 42:1-3 . The hind suffers much from the sultry heat, but it dare not linger too long at the water-hole, because the wild beasts... read more

G. Campbell Morgan

G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible - Psalms 42:1-11

This is the song of an exile and, moreover, of an exile among enemies who have no sympathy with his religious convictions. He cries out after God with all the intensity of one who knows God and cares supremely for the honor of God's name. His greatest grief is their mocking inquiry after his God. By contrast he remembers being in the midst of worshiping multitudes, their leader and companion. In the midst of his grief he appeals to his own soul in the language of hope and confidence. A great... read more

James Nisbet

James Nisbet's Church Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 42:1

ATHIRST FOR GOD‘As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after Thee, O God.’Psalms 42:1Religion in some form or other is inseparable from man. The hunger of the human spirit is raised in prayer and in worship. I. Mental and moral aspiration.—What does the Psalmist mean by using the language of bodily appetite to describe the needs of the soul? The panting of the thirsty stag for the water brook is indeed a very eloquent description of mental and moral aspiration. The... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 42:1-2

‘As the hind pants after the water brooks, So pants my soul after you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God: When shall I come and see the face of God?’ He commences by describing the great longing that he has to enjoy the presence of God, and compares it with the gentle, timorous hind (the verb is feminine) which, in a season of drought, pants and longs for water with its tongue hanging out (compare Joel 1:20 - ‘for the animals in the wild pant to you, for the water brooks are... read more

Arthur Peake

Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 42:1-11

Psalms 42, 43. Originally these two Pss. were one. This is proved by the long refrain common to each, “ Why art thou cast down, O my soul,” etc. It recurs in Psalms 42:5; Psalms 42:11 and Psalms 43:5, and thus divides the Ps. into fairly equal portions. The theme, moreover, is the same in both, and Psalms 43 is an “ orphan” Ps. (p. 366), i.e. it has no title, because it did not originally rank as an independent poem. Psalms 42:1-Deuteronomy : . The misery of exile from the Temple and the... read more

Matthew Poole

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Psalms 42:1

After thee; after the enjoyment of thee in thy sanctuary, as it appears from Psalms 42:4. read more