David's desire after god.
Ps. xlii. 1,2. As the hart panteth after the water-lrooks, so panteth my soul after thee, 0 God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God : when shall I come and appear before GodP
GREAT are the vicissitudes of the Christian life: sometimes the soul basks, if we may so speak, in the full splendor of the Sun of Righteousness ; and at other times it feels not in any degree the cheering influence of his rays. And these variations are some- times of shorter duration, like successive days; and at other times of longer continuance, like the seasons of the year. In David these changes were carried almost to the utmost extremes of elevation and de- pression, of confidence and despondency, of exul- tation and grief. At the time of writing this psalm he was driven from his throne by Absalom, and con- strained to flee for his life beyond Jordan. There, exiled from the city and temple of his God, he stated, for the edification of the Church in all future ages, how ardently he longed for the renewed enjoyment of those ordinances, which Were the delight and solace of his life. In these things he may be con- sidered as a pattern for us : we shall therefore endeavour distinctly to mark,
I. The frame of his mind towards God —
This is described in terms peculiarly energetic : ** he thirsted after God; yea, he panted after him, as the hart panteth after the water-brooks." We cannot conceive any image that could mark more strongly the intenseness of his desire, than that which is here used. A hart or deer, when fleeing from its pursuers, has naturally its mouth parched through fear and terror : but when, by its own exer- tions in the flight, its very blood almost boils within it, the thirst is altogether insupportable, and the creature pants, or brays, (as the expression is,) for some brook, where it may refresh its sinking frame, VOL. IV. E and