Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
Psalms Ch.42 / 150 Ch.s
PS:42
* The conflict in the soul of a believer.
#1-5 The psalmist looked to the Lord as his chief good, and set
his heart upon him accordingly; casting anchor thus at first, he
rides out the storm. A gracious soul can take little
satisfaction in God's courts, if it do not meet with God himself
there. Living souls never can take up their rest any where short
of a living God. To appear before the Lord is the desire of the
upright, as it is the dread of the hypocrite. Nothing is more
grievous to a gracious soul, than what is intended to shake its
confidence in the Lord. It was not the remembrance of the
pleasures of his court that afflicted David; but the remembrance
of the free access he formerly had to God's house, and his
pleasure in attending there. Those that commune much with their
own hearts, will often have to chide them. See the cure of
sorrow. When the soul rests on itself, it sinks; if it catches
hold on the power and promise of God, the head is kept above the
billows. And what is our support under present woes but this,
that we shall have comfort in Him. We have great cause to mourn
for sin; but being cast down springs from unbelief and a
rebellious will; we should therefore strive and pray against it.
#6-11 The way to forget our miseries, is to remember the God of
our mercies. David saw troubles coming from God's wrath, and
that discouraged him. But if one trouble follow hard after
another, if all seem to combine for our ruin, let us remember
they are all appointed and overruled by the Lord. David regards
the Divine favour as the fountain of all the good he looked for.
In the Saviour's name let us hope and pray. One word from him
will calm every storm, and turn midnight darkness into the light
of noon, the bitterest complaints into joyful praises. Our
believing expectation of mercy must quicken our prayers for it.
At length, is faith came off conqueror, by encouraging him to
trust in the name of the Lord, and to stay himself upon his God.
He adds, And my God; this thought enabled him to triumph over
all his griefs and fears. Let us never think that the God of our
life, and the Rock of our salvation, has forgotten us, if we
have made his mercy, truth, and power, our refuge. Thus the
psalmist strove against his despondency: at last his faith and
hope obtained the victory. Let us learn to check all unbelieving
doubts and fears. Apply the promise first to ourselves, and then
plead it to God.