The Pulpit Commentary — Psalms — Volume 1 — Section 324

VII, FoB TIIE WHOLE OF THIS MOANING CRY IS ONE CONTINUOUS PRAYER, Thouah not every sentence is in orderly petition, yet the outgoing of the soul in this psalm''is one prayer from beginning to end. And however broken the prayer may be, it is real, it is intense, it is wrung out of the necessities of a living soul. And such a prayer with nil its ruggedness and brokenness, is infinitely better than one of those orderly: r.old, lukewarm petitions which come from no suffering, and cry for no relief. Far better to hear a man who prays as if he had something to pray for, than one who pravs as if he must pray for something. FClr note: Those who have gone down to the lowest depths in suffering and humiliation will be led up to the noblest heights of glad- ness and of honour. Our God never did, never will, never can, desert the soul that leans on him. We are never in a surer or safer position than when, deep in sorrow and care, deserted by friends, slighted by neighbours, taunted by foes, we, in loneliness of spirit, look up to God, and to God alone. Who shall separa.te us from his love? Let our earthly sorrows now be what they may- " He who has loved us bears U8 through, And makes us more than conquerors too I" o. Vers. 1-11.-Spfritual depressio11,, The scene of this psalm seems to have been on the other side of Jordan, near the shining heights of Hermon. Here we may imagine the writer, probably a Helirew exile, straining his eyes to catch a glimpse of the dear land of his fathers that was soon to pass from his sight. To him it seemed as if to be separated from Jerusalem was to be separated from God; as if losing the fellowship of the saints were losing God. The hart panting for the water-brooks imaged the grief of his heart athirst after God. The Jordan with its winding rapids," deep calling unto deep," reflected the tumults of his soul, and reminded him of his distance from home and from the house of God. But hi' encourages himself by meditation and prayer, and the hope of better times. We 1.Day take the psalm as a picture of spiritual depression. I. 'l'HE GODLY MA.N CAST DOWN. His trouble does not arise from outward causes; it is within, it is from the absence or God. There were still faith, affection, the going forth of his whole being toward God in love and desire; hut there seemed to be no response. Like the hart, hard pressed by the hunters, " the big tears rolling from his eyes, and the moisture standing black upon his side," and panting for the water-brooks, bis soul thirsted, but thirsted in vain, for God. His sorrows were increased by the taunts of scoffers and the remembrance of happier times (vers. 3, 4). Repulsed on all sides and lonely, and fooling as if God had forsaken him, he is in sore trouble, and hi!I own heart sadly echoes the cry of his enemies, " Where is now thy God ? " Such experiences are not uncommon. We all know what it is to" thirst;" but what do we thirst arter? Is it gain, or pleasure, or worldly honours, or such-like? 1£ so, our thirst will not be satisfied. Ilut if we have been quickened by the Spirit, we cannot but thirst after God. He and he alone can supply our need and satisry our hearts. And if we" thirst for God," let us remember that this implies fa.r more than longing for outward ordinances and joys which for a season we have lost. We are persons, and want a personal God. We are living souls, and crave a living God. We love truth and justice and goodness, and therefore we cry after the eternal God, in whom all truth and justice and goodness dwell. There will come to us, as to others, times of trin.!, days of darkness, when God seems afar off and silent. But let us not be cast dowu with overmuch sorrow. "'!'he feeling or forsakonness is no proof of being forsaken. Mourning an absent God is an evidence of love as strong ns rejoicing in a present one." With God, for us to desire is to have; and to hunger and thirst is to be filled. II. THE GODLY MAN COMFORTED. "Why?" This question is first of all addressed to the soul. There is self-interrogation. '!'his is good. When we ask, " Why?" this sets us to inquire as to the reason of things. Light will arise. We may sec that the c11use of depression is not in Goel, but in ourselves. For us to abide in this state is unreasonable, contrary to our past experiences, and inconsistent with God's mercy and truth. We can therefore call upon ourselves to cast out fear, and still to hope in God as om· God and our Redeemer. But though something has boen gained in this way, it is not enough. Old foes rise up, and beat down the soul into the deep waters, where 336 THE BOOK OF PS.ALMS. [PB. XLII. 1-11.