_As the heart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after Thee, O God._ THE KORACHITE PSALMS The second book of the Psalter, characterized by the use of the Divine name “Elohim” instead of “Jehovah,” begins with a cluster of seven psalms (reckoning Psalms 43:1, as one), of which the su... [ Continue Reading ]
_My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?_ THIRST SATISFIED Let us, that we may realize this thirst of the soul, dwell upon the contrast. There are at least four forms of attraction presented to the soul. I. That of natural beauty. You find a delight... [ Continue Reading ]
_My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God?_ . WHERE IS THY GOD? Surely a searching, solemn query. Not a question, notice, of having, or not having, a god; not a question as to what, but where? Every man has some kind of god, for the religious... [ Continue Reading ]
_When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God._ REMEMBRANCE OF BYGONE HAPPINESS I. The happiness of David’s former condition. 1. The store of company and society which he had with him. Good company is a very blesse... [ Continue Reading ]
_Why art thou cast down, O my soul?_ and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God. A PRESCRIPTION FOR A DOWNCAST SOUL I. Inquiry. “Why art thou cast down?” Many a man is in great spiritual darkness, without knowing, or being able to discover the reason. He has been trying to live rightly,... [ Continue Reading ]
_O my God, my soul is cast down within me: therefore will I remember thee from the land of Jordan._ SOUL SORROWS AND SOUL RELIEFS I. Soul sorrows. 1. Oppressive. “O my God, my soul is cast down within me.” They seemed to rest upon his heart as lead. Beneath their weight he sank down into darkness... [ Continue Reading ]
_Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all Thy waves and Thy billows are gone over me._ THE CALL OF THE UNIVERSE I have long wanted some one whose soul hears to write a poem on this subject, the call of the sea. It has for years been a fancy of mine that the great mysterious, mult... [ Continue Reading ]
_Yet the Lord will command His lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night His song shall be with me._ THE CHANGES OF LIFE AND THEIR COMFORTS IN GOD Psalms 43:1, have so close a connection that they must be regarded as one. From external and internal evidence, they belong to David, and to that... [ Continue Reading ]
_I will say unto God my Rock, Why hast Thou forgotten me?_ why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy? DAVID’S EXPOSTULATION WITH GOD I. The preface or introduction. “I will say unto God,” etc. 1. The terms upon which David addresses himself to God. “My Rock.” This was an expression... [ Continue Reading ]
_As with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me: while they say daily unto me, Where is thy God?_ THE SWORD OF THE WICKED I. The carriage, disposition and expression of others to David. 1. They were his enemies. God’s children will never want such. 2. They reproached him. Their tongues we... [ Continue Reading ]
_Why art thou cast down, O my soul?_ and why art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise Him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God. DAVID’S MALADY AND DAVID’S MEDICINE The psalm has a beauty all its own--the beauty of an April morning--full of contrasts and... [ Continue Reading ]