Psalms 42:1-7

1 (41-1) <Unto the end, understanding for the sons of Core.> (41-2) As the hart panteth after the fountains of water; so my soul panteth after thee, O God.

2 (41-3) My soul hath thirsted after the strong living God; when shall I come and appear before the face of God?

3 (41-4) My tears have been my bread day and night, whilst it is said to me daily: Where is thy God?

4 (41-5) These things I remembered, and poured out my soul in me: for I shall go over into the place of the wonderful tabernacle, even to the house of God: With the voice of joy and praise; the noise of one feasting.

5 (41-6) Why art thou sad, O my soul? and why dost thou trouble me? Hope in God, for I will still give praise to him: the salvation of my countenance,

6 (41-7) And my God. My soul is troubled within my self: therefore will I remember thee from the land of Jordan and Hermon, from the little hill.

7 (41-8) Deep calleth on deep, at the noise of thy flood-gates. All thy heights and thy billows have passed over me.

Psalms 42:1-7 Meaning and Commentary

To the chief Musician, Maschil, for the sons of Korah. Of the word "Maschil," See Gill on "Ps 32:1," title. Korah was he who was at the head of a conspiracy against Moses and Aaron, for which sin the earth opened its mouth, and swallowed alive him and his company, and fire devoured two hundred and fifty more; the history of which is recorded in Numbers 16:1; yet all his posterity were not cut off, Numbers 26:11; some were in David's time porters, or keepers of the gates of the tabernacle, and some were singers; see 1 Chronicles 6:33; and to the chief musician was this psalm directed for them to sing, for they were not the authors of it, as some {b} have thought; but most probably David himself composed it; and it seems to have been written by him, not as representing the captives in Babylon, as Theodoret, but on his own account, when he was persecuted by Saul, and driven out by men from abiding in the Lord's inheritance, and was in a strange land among the Heathen, where he was reproached by them; and everything in this psalm agrees with his state and condition; or rather when he fled from his son Absalom, and was in those parts beyond Jordan, mentioned in this psalm; see 2 Samuel 17:24; so the Syriac inscription, the song which David sung in the time of his persecution, desiring to return to Jerusalem.

{b} So R. Moses in Muis, Gussetius, Ebr. Comment. p. 918, & others.