Psalm 42:11

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 42:6-11

Complaints and comforts here, as before, take their turn, like day and night in the course of nature. I. He complains of the dejections of his spirit, but comforts himself with the thoughts of God, Ps. 42:6. 1. In his troubles. His soul was dejected, and he goes to God and tells him so: O my God! my soul is cast down within me. It is a great support to us, when upon any account we are distressed, that we have liberty of access to God, and liberty of speech before him, and may open to him the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 42:11

Why art thou cast down, O my soul ?.... The same expostulation as in Psalm 42:5 ; and so is what follows, and why art thou disquieted within me ? and the same argument and means are made use of to remove dejection and disquietude; hope thou in God; for I shall yet praise him ; See Gill on Psalm 42:5 ; to which is added a new argument, taken from the grace and goodness of God, and covenant interest in him; who is the health of my countenance, and my God ; as the bodily... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 42:11

Why art thou cast down - There is no reason why thou shouldst despair. God will appear and release thee and thy brother captives and soon thy sighing and sorrowing shall flee away. Who is the health of my countenance - As a healthy state of the constitution shows itself in the appearance of the face; God will so rejoice thy heart, heal all thy spiritual maladies, that thy face shall testify the happiness that is within thee. There is a curious gloss on the first verse of this Psalm in... 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 42:1-11

There is an intimate union between this psalm and the next, which is a sort of additional stanza, terminating in the same refrain (comp. Psalms 43:5 with Psalms 42:5 and Psalms 42:11 ). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 42:1-11

A thirst for God. This is one of the most touching, pathetic, and beautiful of the Psalms. It is not possible to decide either its author or the time of its composition. Its tones are very much like the plaintive sounds from David's harp, whether or no he was its writer (but see homily on Psalms 43:1-5 .). Leaving untouched, owing to want of space, the historical and geographical matters suggested in the psalm, £ we shall devote ourselves entirely to the opening up of its deep pathos... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 42:1-11

Spiritual depression. The scene of this psalm seems to have been on the other side of Jordan, near the shining heights of Hermon. Here we may imagine the writer, probably a Hebrew exile, straining his eyes to catch a glimpse of the dear laud of his fathers that was soon to pass from his sight. To him it seemed as if to be separated from Jerusalem was to be separated from God; as if losing the fellowship of the saints were losing God. The hart panting for the water-brooks imaged the grief... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 42:11

Why art thou cast down (or, bowed down ), O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me! hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him. Thus far is identical with Psalms 42:5 ; but what follows is slightly different: who is the health of my countenance, and my God, instead of "for the help (health?) of his countenance. " Most commentators assimilate the text in Psalms 42:5 to that of the present verse, which can be effected by a mere alteration of the pointing; but... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 42:11

Why art thou cast down, O my soul? - This closes the second strophe of the psalm, and, with one or two slight and immaterial variations, is the same as that which closes the first Psalms 42:5. In this latter, the word “why” is inserted, and the expression “the salvation of my countenance” occurs instead of “salvations of his countenance,” with the addition of the words “and my God” at the close. The sense, however, is the same; and the verse contains, as before, self-reproof for being thus cast... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Psalms 42:11

Psalms 42:11. Why art thou cast down, &c. See note on Psalms 42:5. Who is the health of my countenance Hebrew, The salvations of my face: which will make my face to shine, and my countenance cheerful, which supposes the gladness of the heart and the bettering of his condition. And my God As he formerly was, so he is still, and ever will be; and will assuredly show himself to be my God, although, for a season, he may hide his face, or withdraw his help from me. read more

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