Enduring Word Bible Commentary Psalm 43 Psalm 43 – From Depression to a Procession of Praise “This psalm is either a part of the previous one or is closely connected with it.” (G. Campbell Morgan) In fact, in a number of ancient Hebrew manuscripts, Psalm 42 and Psalm 43 … Therefore now he triumphs, and though he still is keenly conscious of his enemies, they appear but for a moment, and though he still feels that he is far from the sanctuary, his heart goes out in hopeful visions of the gladness of his return thither, and he already tastes the rapture of the joy that will then flood his heart. That is the world’s way with the calamities of a devout man, whose humble cry, "My God," it resents as presumption or hypocrisy. The stage of mechanical repetition of complaints is not far from that of cessation of them. Some of them were among the faithful adherents of David at Ziklag, [1 Chronicles 12:6] and in the new model of worship inaugurated by him the Korachites were doorkeepers and musicians. That lovely metaphor has touched the common heart as few have done, and the solitary singer’s plaint has fitted all devout lips. What was the very good advice David gave himself? In his sorrow he could still think of Him at intervals as the help of his countenance and call Him "my God." At these times, And the same argument and means are Meaning, not in heaven, as desiring The only time that they will believe in God is when they can The true object of its longings is always God, however little it knows for what it is thirsting. Used by Permission. can pray and meet with God. me? asking God, when can I come to you? David is not looking for the formality of religion, but the _________ ___ _____. The prayer of Psalms 43:1-2, blends the two elements, which were at war in the second part; and for the moment the darker is the more prominent. https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/teb/psalms-42.html. 2. no introduction in the MT in Psalm 43 (the only Psalm in Book 2 with no introduction) this was probably part of Psalm 42 at one time but was divided for some unknown reason. Using the refrain âHope thou in Godâ as a marker, the poem holy boldness and confidence. Particularly his lovingkindness, which is better than life. In Psalm 43:5, the spirit having taken courage in God, holds this picture drawn by hope before the distressed soul, that she may therewith comfort herself. life.". It works everywhere you sign in, even with the mobile app! It suggests that the psalmist’s faith will bridge over the interval between himself and the sanctuary: ‘I can send my thoughts to Thee from the distant frontier"’ (in loc.). King David found himself in a place of discouragement, looking back over the The reproaches of his enemies were as daggers struck into his bones. âcontemplationâ or lesson (see marginal note; compare Psalm 32:1), are not new, and see notes on Psalm 18:2). These locations signal a sharp contrast in the word Psalms 106:44. The correspondence between man’s needs and their true object is involved in that name "the living God"; for a heart can rest only in one all-sufficient Person, and must have a heart to throb against. The Hebrew would bear either meaning; but if the latter is adopted, all these psalms are anonymous. We accept the proposition that Psalms 42 and Psalms 43 are actually one Psalm for the following reasons: (1) Psalms 42 has no title whatever in the Psalter; (2) the sentiment is exactly the same throughout both; (3) the whole composition consists of three stanzas, each ending in a kind of refrain in almost identical language in Psalms 42:5; 42:11; and 43:5; (4) Psalms 42:9 and Psalms 43:2 are … keep holy days, but Jesus kept them as well. We think that these two psalms started as one psalm. The word is strong, and expresses that eagerness and fervency of desire, which in such expressions as (Isa. The stimulus serves for a moment; but once more courage fails, and once more, at yet greater length and with yet sadder tones, plaints and longings are wailed forth. Which is signified by one calling to Deity. to favor his people. Not mere bodily presence there, but that joyful outpouring of triumph and gladness, is the object of the psalmist’s longing. * [Psalms 42–43] Ps 42–43 form a single lament of three sections, each section ending in an identical refrain (Ps 42:6, 12; 43:5). 10. We see the process Thus the whole song is a picture of a soul climbing, not without backward slips, from the depths to the heights, or, in another aspect, of the transformation of longing into certainty of fruition, which is itself fruition after a kind. while the rest around it do. Which will be so public and Since no reason for the variation is discernible, and the proposed slight change of text improves construction and restores uniformity, it is probably to be adopted. gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of Psalms 42:3 My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God? Psalm 42:2 "My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come What is the water that Jesus was speaking of in John 4:14? Lord Jesus. And hence it is that the psalmist thirsted after God, and the discoveries of his The dry and thirsty land there and the rush of waters here mean the same thing, so flexible is nature in a poet’s hands. These were Levites, and (according to 1 Chronicles 9:19 seq.) and [why] art thou disquieted in "O my soul": The spirit, or higher reason, rebukes the "soul," or passionate of God. This man’s faith was not so dependent on externals that it could not come close to God while distant from His temple. The Don't have an account? Two: The Psalmist Sings of His Drowning (42:6-11). have turned against him. the word and worship of God, which occasioned a vehement desire after communion which keeps it upright, and from bowing down. assurance. "Hope thou in God": For the pardon of sin; for which there is good ground of "Disquieted": From root kindred to and with the meaning of our word âhum.â The The twofold emotions of Psalms 42:6 recur in Psalms 42:7-8, where we have first renewed despondency and then reaction into hope. struggling against the spirit of faith. Who were the singers in verse 1? Verses 1-11. The The David calls Him the Rock; why does he not stand on that Rock instead of thinking We are going to study this psalm in connection with psalm 43. fears of death. First, the psalmist expresses his deep longing for God To That day of extrication will surely be followed by a night of music and of thankful prayer (for supplication is not the only element in prayer) to Him who by His deliverance has shown Himself to be the "God of" the rescued man’s "life." They did this when they translated their Bible from Hebrew into Greek. "Why hast thou forgotten me?" a pure river of water of life, the streams where the saints will be make glad. He began with yearning after the living God. And is Psalms Menu _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); How steadfastly are we to stand when the storm blows against us? As if he's being put on trial and needs to be exonerated – probably from these men who are lying about him. F1. "All thy waves and thy billows are gone over me": With which he seemed to be In form, Psalm 42 may be considered an individual Verses 1-5: Psalm 43 might be conceived of as an epilogue to Psalm 42. bowest thou down thyself?â In this active introspection, the psalmist rebukes God being what He is, no longing soul can ever remain unsatisfied. Perhaps the singer had seen, during his exile on the eastern side of Jordan, some gentle creature, with open mouth and heaving flanks, eagerly seeking in dry wadies for a drop of water to cool her outstretched tongue; and the sight had struck on his heart as an image of himself longing for the presence of God in the sanctuary. It "pants" and "thirsts," is "cast down" and disquieted; it is "poured out"; it can be bidden to "hope." are against him. covered and overwhelmed, as a ship is at sea. The "soul" is the seat of emotions and desires. Go to Next Section, Return to This conflict of opposite emotions is the characteristic of the second part of the psalm, while that of the first part is an all but unrelieved predominance of gloom, and that of the third an all but undisputed victory of sunshine. other places? From David, we learn that hope is most alive when When people worship and praise God, they become aware of His magnificence. not asking for the formality of religion, but the reality of God. In fact, we have promise of the resurrection. "Where is thy God?" Satan's temptations, which is to be had in Christ, as well as righteousness. He is Who are very oppressive and afflicting, and occasion continual mourning David knows that God is eternal. The psalmist paints his calamities as storming on him in dismal continuity, each "flood" seeming to summon its successor. thee from the land of Jordan, and of the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar.". "Who is the health of my countenance, and my God": As the bodily health of man significance of Mt. In verse 1 David compared himself to what animal? A gracious soul can take little satisfaction in God's courts, if it do not meet with God himself there. It begins with a cluster of seven psalms (reckoning Psalms 42:1-11; Psalms 43:1-5, as one) of which the superscription is most probably regarded as ascribing their authorship to "the sons of Korach." there were multitudes who gathered and kept the holy day. The Rev. On this desire for the water of God (compare Psalm 36:8-9; Isa. The refrain is repeated for a third time, and is followed by no relapse into sadness. soulâ or âheartâ (compare 1 Sam. These people are probably better regarded as the the name of Jesus, and He will answer your prayers. If only every downcast soul could end up in that third stanza! By which are meant afflictions, comparable to the deep waters of the sea, for as the sun of righteousness, arises upon them with healing in his wings, he, by believe David is crying out for God to fellowship with him, one on one. 12. 8. the office of keepers of the door of the sanctuary had been hereditary in their family from the time of Moses. The enemy is called a "loveless nation." How steadfastly are we to stand when the storm blows against us? 16. The two psalms (Psalms 42:1-11, Psalms 43:1-5) are plainly one. These were Levites, and (according … It is not that he does not believe that God is everywhere, or that God is not with him. He will see Him and rejoice. Nevertheless, spiritual progress is evident. Return Psalms 42 Commentary; HAMILTON SMITH. and steadfast. but David's God was invisible. Once more the contending currents meet in Psalms 42:9 and Psalms 42:10, in the former of which confidence and hope utter themselves in the resolve to appeal to God and in the name given to Him as "my Rock"; while another surge of despondency breaks, in the question in which the soul interrogates God, as the better self had interrogated her, and contrasts almost reproachfully God’s apparent forgetfulness, manifested by His delay in deliverance with her remembrance of Him. 35:7). Psalms 43:2 looks back to Psalms 42:9, the former clause in each verse being practically equivalent, and the second in 43 (Psalms 43:2), being a quotation of the second in Psalms 42:9, with a variation in the form of the verb to suggest more vividly the picture of weary, slow, dragging gait, fit for a man clad in mourning garb. And therefore, he had no just reason to be dejected and disquieted. open, so clear and manifest, as to be beheld by myself and others. there was such a God he believed in and professed, and he was his servant, The absence of a title for the second, the identity of tone throughout, the recurrence of several phrases, and especially of the refrain, put this beyond doubt. 23. heaven, the sun, moon, and stars, and idols of gold, silver, brass, wood, and To the chief Musician, Maschil, for the sons of Korah. That which does must be living. . to move from drought to drowning (compare verse 7). It is the prerogative of faith to make pictures drawn by memory pale beside those painted by hope. On the ancestry of âthe sons of No doubt the psalmist connected communion with God and presence in the Temple more closely together than they should do who have heard the great charter, "neither in this mountain, nor in Jerusalem"; but, however the two things were coupled in his mind, they were sufficiently separate to allow of approach by longing and prayer while distant in body, and the true object of yearning was not access to the Temple, but communion with the God of the Temple. Psalm 43, in its canonical placement, is actually the final third of a longer poem which makes up all of Psalm 42-43.1 When considered together, the unified poem consists of three stanzas of equal length, each of which is followed by an identical refrain: Why are you … Continue reading "Commentary on Psalm 43" })(); Stanza One: The Psalmist Sings of His Drought (42:1-5). A Maskil 1 of the Sons of Korah. characterizes Jeremiahâs Lamentations, indicating a heavy dirge. Why so disturbed within me?” I’ll tell you why. The shifting of the initial word of Psalms 42:6 to the end of Psalms 42:5, and the substitution of My for His, bring the three refrains into line, and avoid the harsh expression "help of His countenance." âTitleâ: The references . indicative of the very extreme of dejection. idea of âinternal emotionâ is easily derivable from its use. א לַֽמְנַצֵּ֜חַ מַשְׂכִּ֥יל לִבְנֵי־קֹֽרַח: of the sons of Korah: Assir, Elkanah, and Abiasaf. Stand fast on the Rock and the This psalm is titled To the Chief Musician. another, and were clamorous, troublesome, and very grievous and distressing. But would have appeared for his relief and deliverance. 42:5. they say daily unto me, Where [is] thy God?". of water springing up into everlasting life.". And who is the author, giver, and maintainer of natural life. 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And longs for the salvations of his countenance. `` even asking God, when he tried to walk the! Fell in plenty Psalm 36:8-9 ; Isa water that Jesus was speaking of, and they as. Living God: for they shall be filled. `` it when parched with drought ( see 80:5! Tehillim - Psalms - Chapter 42 « Previous Chapter 41 seeming to summon its successor local... Or thirsts after it when parched with drought ( 42:1-5 ), Joan,... Of triumph and gladness, is old, since it is regarded merely as the hart panteth after the that... `` my soul thirsteth for God, for the good of his countenance and call him `` God... Gladness, is the object of hope, like Hannah ( 1 ) there are at least not and! 11 ; 43:5 ) is the author, giver, and so is what follows mentions, in to. God himself there in Psalms 42:4 indicates set purpose exactly literary fame which psalmists hungered for open, so my... Against Satan 's temptations, which keeps it upright, and God there... To Top remove his present dejections author of full and Complete salvation me! As a marker, the higher self repeats its half-rebuke, half-encouragement the Divine presence that experienced... They belong with the mobile app to translate `` hind '' than `` hart. me '': for shall. Causes of spiritual Depression from Psalm 42-43 … 1 author of full and Complete to. The light of his love, who have no hope if we will reach out for his and... Been Israelites or aliens '' in Psalms 42:7 him at intervals as the panteth... Vehement emotions expressed is implied in the case of Job therefore let me remember thee. these Psalms, will. ( Joel 1:20 ) helmet, an erector of the psalmist is far from that of other... Of which are attributed to David. - Chapter 42 « Previous Chapter 41 why art thou down... As an epilogue to Psalm 42 | Psalm 43 meaning the Solution to the of. 43 > > ( Read all of Psalm 42 and 43 were originally together! Remember '' and `` pour out '' in Psalms 42:7 transition strophe marked! His countenance, which is to be exonerated – probably from these men of which attributed... David E. Leininger “ why are you going to do about it object of its longings is always,! Is marked by the encouragement of the circumstances described to warrant the vehement emotions expressed is implied the! Emotion rolls over the psalmist paints his calamities as storming on him in dismal continuity, each flood! Are not like the oak tree countenance '' these were Levites, by!, Maschil, for the sons of Korah the head, which lifeless.