3. An opportunity of doing more good. Thomas Horton.
Verse 4. I had gone, etc. Sunny memories, their lessons of gratitude and hope.
Verse 4. (last clause) . Not Chaucer's tales of the Canterbury pilgrims, but David's tales of the Jerusalem pilgrims.
Verse 4. With the voice, etc. Congregational singing defended, extolled, discriminated, and urged.
Verse 5. Sorrow put to the question, or the Consolatory Catechism.
Verse 5. The sweetness, safety, and rightness of hope in God. Good grip for the anchor.
Verse 5. The music of the future, I shall yet praise him.
Verse 5. The help of his countenance, or the sustaining power of God's presence.
Verse 5. Why art thou cast down?
1. The mind, even of a holy man, may be unduly cast down and disquieted.
2. In cases of undue dejection and disquietude, the proper remedy is to expostulate with the soul, and to direct it to the only true source of relief.
3. Expostulation with the soul in times of distress, is then productive of its proper end, when it leads to an immediate application to God. H. March.
Verse 5. An emphasis of enquiry or examination; David calls himself to account for his present passion and trouble of mind. An emphasis of reproof or objurgation; David chides and rebukes himself for his present distemper. "Why art thou thus?" Thomas Horton.
Verses 5, 11. or help and health.
Verse 6. Remember thee. The consolation derivable from thoughts of God.
Verse 6. Therefore will I remember thee. There are two ways of understanding this; each of them instructive and profitable...
1. It may be considered as an expression of determined remembrance of God should he ever be found in such places and conditions. Believers can suppose the worst, and yet hope for the best.
2. The language may be considered as an expression of encouragement derived from reflection. He had been in these situations and circumstances, and had experienced in them displays of divine providence and grace. W. Jay.
Verse 6. Ebenezers, many, varied, remembered, helpful.
Verse 7. Deep calleth unto deep. See Spurgeon's Sermons, No. 865.
Verse 7. Deep calleth unto deep. One evil inviting another.
1. The variety of evils—one evil to another.
2. The conjunction of evils—one evil with another.
3. The connexion of evils, or dependence and mutual reference—one evil upon another. T. Horton.
Verse 7. The threefold depth which the saints and servants of God are subject to here in this life.
1. The depth of temptation.
2. The depth of desertion.
3. The depth of affliction and human calamities. T. Horton.
Verses 7, 8. In seasons of affliction the servants of God will be distinguished from others by their ready perception and acknowledgment of the hand of God in their trials. H. March.
Verse 8. Daily mercy and nightly song; the mercies of sunshine and shade.
Verse 8. (last clause) . The blessed alternation between praise and prayer.
Verse 8. God of my life. Author, sustainer, comforter, object, crown, consummation.
Verse 8. The God of my life. There is a threefold life whereof we partake, and God is the God of each unto us. First, the life of nature; secondly, the life of grace; thirdly, the life of glory. T. Horton.
Verse 9. God my rock. Appellations of God, suited to circumstances.
Verse 9. My rock. See Keach in his metaphors.
Verse 9.
1. Why thou?
2. Why I?
3. Why he? It is a why to all three. To God, Why has thou forgotten me? To David himself, Why do I go mourning? To David's adversary , whoever he was, Why does the enemy oppress me? — T. Horton.
Verse 10. The most grievous of taunts.
Verse 11. My God.
1. It's a word of interest— My God , as in covenant with him.
2. A word of compliance— My God , as submitting to him.
3. A word of affection— My God, as taking delight, and rejoicing in him. T. Horton.
Verse 11. A catechism, a consolation, a commendation.
Verse 11.
1. David's experience of God. He is the health , or help of my countenance .
2. His relation to God, and interest in him— And my God. T. Horton.
WORKS UPON THE FORTY-SECOND PSALM
A Practical Exposition of the Forty-second Psalm, in ten Sermons, in Choice and Practical Expositions on four select Psalms. Psalms 4, 42, 51, 63. By THOMAS HORTON, D.D. 1675. Folio.
Sabbaths at Home: or, a help to their right improvement; founded on the Forty-second and Forty-third Psalms. Intended for the use of pious persons when prevented from attending the public worship of God. By HENRY MARCH. London: 1823.
On the eleventh verse of this Psalm there are the following works:—Twelve Sermons, in "A Cordial for a Fainting Soule." By JOHN COLLINGS. 1652. Part 2, pp. 133-206.
Thirteen Sermons in the works of WILLIAM BRIDGE (1600-1670), entitled, "A Lifting Up for the Downcast." Volume 2, of the edition of 1845.
Comfort and Counsel for Dejected Souls. By JOHN DURANT. 8vo. 1651.
The Soul's Conflict with Itself. By RICHARD SIBBES. (Numerous old editions). In Sibbes' Works, Nichol's Puritan Series, vol. I.