LORD, in trouble have they visited thee, they poured out a prayer [when] thy chastening [was] upon them.
Ver. 16. Lord, in trouble have they visited thee.] Pulcherrimus afflictationum fructus, precandi ardor et assiduitas. Affliction exciteth devotion, as blowing doth the fire. Christ in his agony prayed most earnestly. Luk 22:44 Martha and Mary, when their brother Lazarus was sick, sent messengers to Jesus; Joh 11:3 Quos putas nisi suspiria continuata, nisi preces irremissas, saith Scultetus - i.e., what were those messengers but their continued groans and earnest prayers? See Hosea 5:15. See Trapp on " Hos 5:15 " Prayer is the daughter of affliction, and the mother of comfort.
They poured out.] Freely and largely, and well watered. as 1 Samuel 1:10 ; 1Sa 7:6 ; 1Sa 7:9-10 Not dropped, but poured; not prayers, but a prayer; one continual act: and as in the speaking of three or four words there is much efficacy in a charm, so their prayers were very prevalent.
A prayer.] Heb., A charm, a mussitation, a submiss and lowly speech. Spells and enchantments were conceived to be full of efficacy, containing much in few: think the same of prayer. But how much was he mistaken in this kind of charm or spell who would haunt the taverns, play houses, and whore houses at London all day: but he dared not go forth without private prayer in the morning, and then would say at his departure, Now, devil, do thy worst.