Psalms 42:5

5. The apostrophic address of this verse shows the highly impassioned state of the author.

Cast down Calvin says, “David here presents himself divided into two parts.” “It is the struggle,” says Perowne, “between the spirit of faith and the spirit of dejection between the higher nature and the lower.” “It is the spirit, mighty in God, which here meets the trembling soul.” Hengstenberg.

For the help of his countenance Hebrew, The deliverance, or salvation, of his face; that is, the deliverance which is assured by the turning of his face to me, or looking upon me, according to the Oriental custom of looking upon the suppliant as a sign of granting his request, or turning away the face as a token of denial. See note on Psalms 42:11