David's zeal to serve God in the temple: he encourageth his soul to trust in God.
To the chief musician, Maschil, for the sons of Korah.
Title. קרח לבני משׂכיל למנזח lamnatseach maskiil libnei korach.— This begins the Second Book of Psalms: the first part of which consists of pieces directed to the sons of Korah, to be set or sung by them under the direction of the chief musician who led the band. Some of these were undoubtedly the composition of David, as it is evident that most of those in the latter part of this book are directed in the same manner, and are unanimously acknowledged to have been written by him. When he composed this Psalm, it is manifest that his mind was fluctuating with despondence and hope: what the particular occasion was, is not expressed; but it is generally believed, that it was upon the rebellion of Absalom, when he was driven away from the house and service of God. The more we attend to this Psalm, the better shall we discern its beauties. It is an exquisite performance; in which David gives us in his own example a lively and natural image of a great and good man in affliction; and this is worked up with as much art and address as perhaps is to be found in any writing of the same kind. The fluctuating state of the mind even of a good man, which, when greatly oppressed, may be at sometimes desponding, and then again at others recollecting and correcting itself with religious considerations, is carried on throughout, and makes the repetition of the 5th and 6th verses at the end of the Psalm exceedingly beautiful. David's distress is finely and poetically set forth, aggravated with these three considerations: his absence from the worship of God in his tabernacle, the severe insults and blasphemous reproaches of his enemies, and the sad comparison which he could not but make between his present miserable circumstances and those of his prosperous and happy state. Finding himself in a melancholy and desponding state of mind from these thoughts, Psalms 42:5. He corrects himself with a recollection of God's powerful providence, Psalms 42:6. But (Psalms 42:9.) his reflections on his miserable condition return more horrid than they were before. At length, however, he resumes his confidence, and concludes with the same persuasion which had consoled him, Psalms 42:6. See Bishop Lowth's 23rd Prelection.
Psalms 42:1. As the hart panteth— As the hart brayeth. Mudge. The original word ערג arag, is strong, and expresses that eagerness and fervency of desire, which extreme thirst may be supposed to raise in an animal almost spent in its flight from the pursuing dogs. Nothing can give us a higher idea of the Psalmist's ardent and inexpressible longing to attend the public worship of God, than the burning thirst of such a hunted animal for a cooling and refreshing draught of water. The energy of the expressions in the next verse is very striking and sublime: "My soul thirsteth for God; even for the living God:" him who is the eternal spring of life and comfort;—after which he bursts out into that emphatical interrogation, When, when will the happy hour return, that I shall once more come and appear before God? When shall I be so happy as to have access again to his tabernacle, where he manifests his presence, and from whence I am now driven by those who seek my life?