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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 42:1-5

Holy love to God as the chief good and our felicity is the power of godliness, the very life and soul of religion, without which all external professions and performances are but a shell and carcase: now here we have some of the expressions of that love. Here is, I. Holy love thirsting, love upon the wing, soaring upwards in holy desires towards the Lord and towards the remembrance of his name (Ps. 42:1, 2): ?My soul panteth, thirsteth, for God, for nothing more than God, but still for more... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 42:3

My tears have been my meat day and night ,.... That is, he could not eat for sorrow, like Hannah, 1Sa 1:7,8 ; or while he was eating tears fell in plenty, and they were as common, day and night, as his food, and mixed with it F6 "--lachrymaeque alimenta fuere", Ovid. Metamorph. l. 10. Fab. 1. v. 75. ; see Psalm 80:5 ; while they continually say unto me , his enemies the Philistines, where is thy God ? theirs were to be seen and pointed at, as the host of heaven, the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 42:3

My tears have been my meat day and night - My longing has been so intense after spiritual blessings, that I have forgotten to take my necessary food; and my sorrow has been so great, that I have had no appetite for any. I feel more for the honor of my God and his truth than for myself, when the idolaters, who have thy people in captivity, insultingly cry, Where is thy God? read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 42:3

Verse 3 3.My tears have been my bread Here the Psalmist mentions another sharp piercing shaft with which the wicked and malevolent grievously wounded his heart. There can be no doubt that Satan made use of such means as these to fan the flame that consumed him with grief. “What,” we may suppose that adversary to say, “wouldst thou have? Seest thou not that God hath cast thee off? For certainly he desires to be worshipped in the tabernacle, to which you have now no opportunity of access, and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 42:1-11

There is an intimate union between this psalm and the next, which is a sort of additional stanza, terminating in the same refrain (comp. Psalms 43:5 with Psalms 42:5 and Psalms 42:11 ). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 42:1-11

A thirst for God. This is one of the most touching, pathetic, and beautiful of the Psalms. It is not possible to decide either its author or the time of its composition. Its tones are very much like the plaintive sounds from David's harp, whether or no he was its writer (but see homily on Psalms 43:1-5 .). Leaving untouched, owing to want of space, the historical and geographical matters suggested in the psalm, £ we shall devote ourselves entirely to the opening up of its deep pathos... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 42:1-11

Spiritual depression. 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 Hebrew exile, straining his eyes to catch a glimpse of the dear laud 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... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 42:3

My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God? (comp. Psalms 80:9 , "Thou feedest them with the bread of tears ;" and Ovid, 'Metaph.,' 10:288, "Cure dolorque animi, lachrymaeque, alimenta fuere"—"They who grieve deeply do not eat; they only weep;" yet they live on, so that their tears appear to be their aliment). David's grief at being shut out from God's presence is intensified by the reproaches of his enemies, "Where is thy God?" ... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 42:3

My tears have been my meat - The word rendered tears in this place is in the singular number, and means literally weeping. Compare Psalms 39:12. The word meat here means literally bread, and is used in the general signification of food, as the word meat is always used in the English version of the Bible. The English word meat, which originally signified food, has been changed gradually in its signification, until it now denotes in common usage animal food, or flesh. The idea here is, that... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Psalms 42:3-4

Psalms 42:3-4. My tears have been my meat, &c. That is, I am wholly given over to grief and sorrow while I hear the continual reproaches of my enemies, saying unto me, Where is thy God? Of whom thou hast so often boasted, as of one so able and ready to help all that trust in him, and call upon him? and particularly as one engaged to thee by many great and special promises? He is departed from thee, and nowhere to be found of thee. He is either unable or unwilling to help thee, or... read more

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