THE PSALMS BOOK II Psalms 42-72 THE SECOND BOOK OF PSALMS The Second and Third Books (Psalms 42-89) form the second principal division of the Psalter. The greater part of it (Psalms 42-83) is known as the -Elohistic" collection, because the appellative _Elôhîm_, -God," is employed throughout it... [ Continue Reading ]
As a hind which panteth for water-brooks, So panteth my soul for Thee, O God. Render hind, not _hart_, for the verb is feminine, and the timorous hind is the apter emblem for the soul. The parallel in Joel 1:20 (the only other instance of the verb) makes it clear that the figure is suggested by th... [ Continue Reading ]
The yearning of the Psalmist's soul for communion with God.... [ Continue Reading ]
_thirsteth_ Cp. Psalms 63:1; Amos 8:11-13. God, who is _the living God_, in contrast to dead impotent idols, is "the fountain of living waters" (Jeremiah 2:13; Jeremiah 17:13). With Him is "the fountain of life," and He gives men drink from the stream of His delights (Psalms 36:8-9). The phrase for... [ Continue Reading ]
_my meat_ Lit. _my bread_. Cp. Psalms 80:5; Psalms 102:4; Psalms 102:9. Tears take the place of his daily food. So Ovid, _Metam_. x. 75, "Cura dolorque animi lacrimaeque alimenta fuere." _continually_ Lit. _all the day_, and so in Psalms 42:10. _Where is thy God_ Cp. Psalms 79:10; Psalms 115:2; Joe... [ Continue Reading ]
Present sorrow contrasted with past happiness.... [ Continue Reading ]
This let me remember as I pour out my soul upon me, How I was wont to pass on with the throng, leading them to the house of God, With the voice of singing and thanksgiving, a multitude keeping festival. He must needs give free course to his feelings, to the emotional part of his nature, as he thi... [ Continue Reading ]
In this refrain the truer -self" chides the weaker -soul," the emotional nature, for its despondency and complaint. _cast down_ Bowed down as a mourner. Cp. Psalms 35:14; Psalms 38:6. The resemblance of our Lord's words in Gethsemane (Matthew 26:38; Mark 14:34) to the Sept. rendering of this verse... [ Continue Reading ]
_Within me_, or rather, as in Psalms 42:4, upon me, stands emphatically at the beginning of the sentence. His own feelings overwhelm him, and therefore he must turn to God, whose goodness he can call to mind, remote though he is from the place where God's presence is specially manifested. He describ... [ Continue Reading ]
From self he turns to God and pleads his cause.... [ Continue Reading ]
_at the noise of thy waterspouts_ Better, in the roar of thy cataracts. God is sending upon him one trouble after another. He is overwhelmed with a flood of misfortunes. The metaphorical language is derived from the surrounding scenery. The roar of the cataracts calling to one another from opposite... [ Continue Reading ]
According to the rendering of the A.V., retained by the R.V., this verse expresses the Psalmist's confidence that he will soon again experience the favour of God, and give Him thanks for His goodness. But it is equally possible to render In the day-time Jehovah used to give his lovingkindness charg... [ Continue Reading ]
_I will say_ Or, _Let me say_, the tense (voluntative, as in Psalms 42:4) emphatically expressing his resolution. _my rock_ The word, lit. my _cliff_or _crag_(_sela_), is used of God as a refuge only in Psalms 18:2 (2 Samuel 22:2); Psalms 31:3 (=Psalms 71:3). On the more common word for _rock_(_tsû... [ Continue Reading ]
Having thus recalled God's mercy in the past he expostulates with Him for having abandoned him, and exposed him to the sneers of his enemies.... [ Continue Reading ]
My bones are smitten asunder with mine adversaries" reproaches, While they continually say unto me, Where is thy God? Lit. _with crushing in my bones do mine adversaries reproach me_. They stab him to the heart with their taunts. -The bones," in the language of Hebrew poetry, denote the whole phys... [ Continue Reading ]