Lectionary Calendar
Friday, March 29th, 2024
Good Friday
There are 2 days til Easter!
Attention!
We are taking food to Ukrainians still living near the front lines. You can help by getting your church involved.
Click to donate today!

Bible Commentaries
Psalms 42

Garner-Howes Baptist CommentaryGarner-Howes

Verses 1-11

Psalms BOOK II

(Psalms 42-72)

INTRODUCTION

Psalms 42

The Lonely Christian

This begins a study of the second of the five books of the psalms. Psalms 42-72 is called "liber secundus," or the second book, corresponding to the book of Exodus in the Law of Moses. This lesson is based on the 42nd Psalm. It was written for the sons of Korah to sing in tabernacle worship. It recounts the sorrows and anguish of David’s soul when he was driven in exile from home and the tabernacle of God, probably at the time of the rebellion of his own son, Absalom. The key words to this psalm are "My Soul" and "My God."

The loneliness of David and longing for fellowship with God’s people in God’s house is very evident in the psalm. He recollected in exile how wonderful had been former hours of fellowship with his friends and communion with God in His tabernacle. In the midst of this loneliness his enemies taunted him until his soul was hurt and bleeding. He yearned for oppressors to flee from him that he might return to the house of God for good and pleasant dwelling with the people of God in unity again, Psalms 133:1-3.

1 Peter 5:10 reads, "The God of all grace, after ye have suffered awhile, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you." Life’s little day for the Christian is not all perfume and roses. There are thorns and briars and nettles that hurt most every day. Some days there are more nettles than perfume and roses. To believe on Christ is a gift from God. To receive peace of soul is a gift from God. But these are not all of God’s good gifts.

In order that we may become mature children and soldiers of the cross and soldiers of light, God has planned that there should be some rocks and rough places for us in life. For a life of usefulness one is not made perfect (mature) established, strengthened, and stablished for useful witnessing and working for God until he has endured some strong testing, prayer, and even suffering. Philippians 1:29 reads, "For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on Him, but also to suffer for his sake." Yes, suffering is a gift from God. His children should learn to bear it and "open not their mouth." Christ left us such an example that we should walk "in His steps"

Life’s way sometimes becomes lonely, not because Jesus is not with us, but because we become egocentric, selfish, and entertain self ­pity for our hard times. Why should I be lonely when Jesus is with me? Suppose the sun does not shine and the weather is rough and men do not appreciate my labors. Have I no refuge, no hiding place, no assurance of blessings even in hours of persecution? Matthew 5:11-12; 2 Timothy 3:12.

Scripture 1-11:

Verse 1 describes David’s soul-thirst for the living God, as he continually panted for fellowship with God, as an hart or hind thirsted for water in a desert land, where the brooks were all dried up. This was a time when David was fleeing from the betrayal, treachery of his own son, Absalom, away from Jerusalem, where spiritual fellowship with God, in worship, was predominantly to be found, Psalms 63:1; Joel 1:20; Hebrews 7:24-25; Ephesians 3:21.

Verse 2 adds "My soul thirsteth (continually) for God, the living (elohim, life giving) God," John 7:37; 1 Thessalonians 1:9. In anxiety he cried, "when shall I come and appear before Him?" How long shall I be separated from His sanctuary? the place He has pledged to meet His people, 1 Chronicles 7:14-15. See also Exodus 23:15; Exodus 23:17; Exodus 34:24; Deuteronomy 31:11. He desired to be face to face, in God’s favor, in public worship, a noble desire, Psalms 41:12; Psalms 43:3-4; Matthew 18:20; Matthew 28:20.

Verse 3 relates that David’s tears had been his meat (food) day and night, as he fled, an exile and an outcast from his own family, home, and city of Jerusalem. All the time his enemies taunted him repeatedly saying, "where is your God?" Tears were his portion, rather than food, in this lonely hour, Psalms 80:5; Psalms 102:4; Job 3:24; 1 Samuel 1:7. His exclusion from the house of God was his greatest grief, as his enemies taunted, 2 Samuel 15:25-26; 2 Samuel 16:8; Psalms 3:2; Psalms 7:11; Psalms 115:2.

Verse 4 laments "when I remember these things my soul is poured out or melted like wax in me," a thing of self-deprecation that made his pain more cutting, as he brooded over the past, a very human inclination, Psalms 77:3; Job 30:16; Psalms 22:14. He reflected times when he had walked in step with Israel’s multitude to the house of God, where the voices of joy and praise filled the air as they kept an holy day, 2 Samuel 6:5-6; 2 Samuel 6:14-15; See also Psalms 120-134 for such processional psalms of joy and praise, from which he was now an exile.

Verse 5 recounts David’s arousal to arise and chide or scold himself "just why are you so depressed and downcast, O my soul?" God is just as alive and loving and merciful as He has ever been! Actually, like the prodigal son, he "came to himself," Luke 15:17. His spirit arose in this hour of dejection and strove with his flesh, a very Divine thing for every believer to experience, Romans 7:15-25. He instructed himself, as the prodigal did, Luke 15:17-24. "Hope thou" or "lay hold" of hope in God, the living (elohim God), he instructed himself, on his covenant promise, Proverbs 3:3-5; Hebrews 13:5. He further resolved, "I shall yet praise Him for the help of His countenance," for His good favor or face toward me, he concluded with deep resolve, Psalms 56:3; Psalms 56:11; Isaiah 50:10; La 3:24; Romans 4:18-20.

Verse 6 continues, addressing his God, acknowledging that his soul is depressed, dejected, in humiliation within him; yet he resolved to remember the living God, as a wandering exile, a refuge from the land of Jordan, and of the Hermonites from the hill Mizor, the "little hill" in the trans-Jordan, northern Jordan area, looking toward Mt Hermon to the north, Psalms 139:12; Psalms 68:15-16; Psalms 114:4-6; Isaiah 2:2. All the mountains are subordinate in height or importance to Mt Zion in Jerusalem, Psalms 133:3.

Verse 7 states that deep calls for (appeals) for deep at the noise of the waterspouts of the Lord. All his waves and billows had gone over, flooded over David, bringing drowning depression, sorrow, and despair. His deep needs called for God’s deep love, to cover and embrace him in this hour, Psalms 64:4; Psalms 92:5; See also Isaiah 55:8-9; Ephesians 3:18-19; Romans 11:33-34; 1 Corinthians 2:10; Psalms 78:8-15; Job 10:17; Jeremiah 4:20; Ezekiel 7:26; Jonah 2:3; Jonah 2:5 draw on this.

Verse 8 confides that the Lord will still command, send forth His loving-kindness in the daytime, before it is too late, as related Leviticus 25:21; Deuteronomy 28:8; Psalms 44:4; Psalms 133:3. He adds that even "in the night," (in deepest sorrows) "his song shall be with me and my prayer shall be unto the living (elohim) God of my life," as expressed Psalms 32:7; Psalms 92:1-2; Job 35:10; Acts 16:35; Psalms 40:3.

Verse 9 declares that David would ask God, his rock, foundation support, just why He had forgotten him? And why he was caused to go on mourning because of the oppression of his enemies. He kept crying, why God? you can’t keep on can you? why? Psalms 10:1; Psalms 13:1; Psalms 77:9; Isaiah 40:27; James 5:16-17.

Verse 10 laments that David’s enemies reproached him with a sword or instrument of death, and slaughter, in his bones, while they repeatedly, daily derided and jeered, "where is your God, now?" ; Luke 21:35; Joel 2:17; Micah 7:10.

Verse 11 recounts David’s chiding his own soul, "just why are you despondent, depressed, or dejected, O my soul?" then he councils himself, "hope or trust in the living Elohim God," declaring that it was his resolve to praise Him who was the health of his countenance, whom he embraced by testamentary faith as "My God," V. 5; Psalms 43:5.

Bibliographical Information
Garner, Albert & Howes, J.C. "Commentary on Psalms 42". Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary. https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/eng/ghb/psalms-42.html. 1985.
adsFree icon
Ads FreeProfile