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enemies, though he longed to see their wicked devices overthrown.

With full confidence he adds, "As for me, thou upholdest me in mine integrity, and settest me before thy face for ever. Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlasting, and to everlasting." He is thankful, even in the midst of his complaint. Praise bursts forth even in the midst of his sorrow. He thanks God, for he already sees with the eye of faith his desire acomplished. And one source of his comfort is that God knows well the uprightness of his cause, and ever looks upon him with an eye of mercy.

The two Amens are supposed to be a kind of Doxology, or expression of thankfulness, closing this first division of the Psalms.

PSALM XLII. 1-5.

As the hart panteth after the water-brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God? My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God? When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday. Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope in God; for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.

F this Psalm was not actually penned by David, it must have been written by one of his confidential followers.

The writer expresses in it his love for God's House, and his misery at being absent from it, and thus cut off from the enjoyment of public worship. He compares his earnest desire for communion with God in His Temple to the thirsty longing of the hart, or stag, for the water-brooks on a sultry day.

Oh that we may all feel this desire, and hasten to the well of life, that we may be satisfied: "Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after

righteousness (says our Lord), for they shall be filled." If we have experienced happy moments in communion with God, we shall yearn for a repetition of them in the sanctuary.

There had been a sorrow upon the Psalmist's mind, so that "tears had been his meat day and night." He had lost his appetite, and could only weep. And his sorrow was aggravated by the cruel taunts of his enemies, who were continually exclaiming, 'Where is thy God?" As much as to say, 'Thou hast spoken often of thy trust in God. Thou hast professed that He is thy Friend. But thou art now forsaken, and God seems to be far from thee, and to have no concern about thy welfare.'

But when thus distressed, brighter thoughts connected with God's House, and the happiness of meeting Him there, come into his mind; "When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday." God's worship was a true feast to David. Never was he so truly happy as when he joined the multitude in those courts.

He was now shut out from religious privileges; but past enjoyment in them fills his heart, and the bright anticipation of a renewal of them on his return to Jerusalem comforts him. He hopes again

to join the happy throng of worshippers on some future feast day.

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"Why, then (he asks), art thou so cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me?" He reproaches himself for his momentary distrust,` and summons up all his faith, saying to his soul, "Hope thou in God; for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance." There is now a cloud, as it were, resting upon me, but ere long it will be dispersed, and the light will again shine upon me from Heaven.

PSALM XLII. 6-11.

O my God, my soul is cast down within me; therefore will I remember thee from the land of Jordan, and of the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar. Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts : all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me. Yet the Lord will command his lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life. I will say unto God my rock, Why hast thou forgotten me? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy? As with a sword in my bones mine enemies reproach me, while they say daily unto me, Where is thy God? Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.

CAST down, as the Psalmist was, and removed

for a time far away from the sanctuary of God, he still thinks of Him, and turns towards Him as the only sure source of comfort; "O my God, my soul is cast down within me; therefore will I remember thee from the land of Jordan, and of the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar." This was probably some spot where he passed a portion of his exile; and whilst there, he often turned in thought towards his beloved Zion, and the delights of public worship.

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