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Psalms 42:6-11

King James Version (KJV)

“In our prayers we talk to God, in our Bible study God talks to us, and we had better let God do most of the talking.”
— D.L. Moody

Scripture focus

6. 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. 7. Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me. 8. [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. 9. I will say unto God my rock, Why hast thou forgotten me? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy? 10. [As] with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me; while they say daily unto me, Where [is] thy God? 11. 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.

Psalms 42:6-11 — KJV

Commentary

Commentary on Psalms 42:6

Theological / Devotional

O my God. Verses 6–11 constitute the second stanza of the elegy. The poet resumes his expression of dejection, but in a somewhat more tranquil vein.

My soul is cast down. A frank acknowledgment of the depth of the psalmist’s depression (see the refrain of vs. 5, 11; Ps. 43:5).

Will I remember thee. Even in exile David pledges to remember God. Herein is his strength.

Hermonites. Literally, “Hermons,” perhaps designating the mountain range of which Mt. Hermon, with an elevation of 9,232 ft. (2,814 m.), is the principal peak. Some understand by “Hermonites” the inhabitants of Hermon.

The hill Mizar. Or, “Mt. Mizar,” “Mizar” designating literally, “a trifle,” “a few.” The identity of the peak is not known. The hill was probably one of the lesser peaks of the Hermon range, whence rose the waters of the Jordan.

By SdaBc