Hints to Preachers

Verse 1.—The longing heart and the panting hart compared.

Verses 1, 2.—Those who have enjoyed the presence of God in the public ordinances of religion will greatly desire, if deprived of them, to be favoured with them again.... Prevention from attending the public ordinances of God’s house may be made the means of great benefit to the soul. I. By renewing our relish for the provisions of the Lord’s house, which so soon and so often palls. II. By making us to prize the means of grace more highly. There is, through human degeneracy, a proneness to value things less, however excellent in themselves, because of their being common, or plentiful, or of easy attainment. III. By driving us more directly from God.—H. March.

Verses 1-3.—The home-sickness of the soul. What awakens it in the soul? To what is it directed, or does it point or tend? Wherewith can it be satisfied? By the bitter, but ofttimes wholesome food of tears.—J. P. Lange.

Verse 2.—I. What thirsts? “my soul.” II. For what? “for God.” III. In what way? “when shall I come.” Or, the cause, incentives, excellences, and privileges of spiritual thirst.

Verse 2 (last clause).—The true view of public worship.

Verse 2 (last clause).—Appearance before God here and hereafter.—Isaac Watts, D.D., Two Sermons.

Verse 3.—The believer’s Lent, and its salt meats. I. What causes the sorrow? II. What will remove it? III. What benefit will come of it?

Verses 3, 10.—The carriage of David’s enemies. I. The nature of it, and that was “reproach.” II. The expression of it, “They say unto me.” III. The constancy of it: “daily” or, all the day long. IV. The specification of it, in a scornful and opprobrious question: “Where is (now) thy God?”—Thomas Horton.

Verse 4.—I. It is common for the mind, in seasons of sorrow, to seek relief from the present in recollections of the past. II. In recollections of past enjoyments, those that relate to social worship will be peculiarly dear to the servant of God. III. Man is a social being, hence he derives help from united worship.—H. March.

Verse 4.—“I pour out my soul in me.” The uselessness of mistrustful introspection.

Verse 4.—“I had gone with the multitude,” etc. Company, if it be that which is good, is a very blessed and comfortable accommodation in sundry respects. I. It is an exercise of men’s faculties, and the powers and abilities of the mind. II. It is a fence against danger, and a preservative against sadness and various temptations. III. An opportunity of doing more good.—Thomas Horton.

Verse 4.—“I had gone,” etc. Sunny memories, their lessons of gratitude and hope.

Verse 4 (last clause).—Not Chaucer’s tales of the Canterbury pilgrims, but David’s tales of the Jerusalem pilgrims.

Verse 4.—“With the voice,” etc. Congregational singing defended, extolled, discriminated, and urged.

Verse 5.—Sorrow put to the question, or the Consolatory Catechism.

Verse 5.—The sweetness, safety, and rightness of hope in God. Good grip for the anchor.

Verse 5.—The music of the future, “I shall yet praise him.”

Verse 5.—“The help of his countenance,” or the sustaining power of God’s presence.

Verse 5.—“Why art thou cast down?” I. The mind, even of a holy man may be unduly cast down and disquieted. II. In cases of undue dejection and disquietude the proper remedy is to expostulate with the soul, and to direct it to the only true source of relief. III. Expostulation with the soul in times of distress, is then productive of its proper end, when it leads to an immediate application to God.—H. March.

Verse 5.—An emphasis of enquiry or examination; David calls himself to account for his present passion and trouble of mind. An emphasis of reproof or objurgation; David chides and rebukes himself for his present distemper. “Why art thou thus?”—Thomas Horton.

Verses 5 with 11, or help and health.

Verse 6.—“Remember thee.” The consolation derivable from thoughts of God.

Verse 6.—“Therefore will I remember thee.” There are two ways of understanding this; each of them instructive and profitable.... I. It may be considered as an expression of determined remembrance of God should he ever be found in such places and conditions. Believers can suppose the worst, and yet hope for the best. II. The language may be considered as an expression of encouragement derived from reflection. He had been in these situations and circumstances, and had experienced in them displays of divine providence and grace.—W. Jay.

Verse 6.—Ebenezers many, varied, remembered, helpful.

Verse 7.—“Deep calleth unto deep.” See Spurgeon’s Sermons, No. 865.

Verse 7.—“Deep calleth unto deep.” One evil inviting another. I. The variety of evils—one evil to another. II. The conjunction of evils—one evil with another. III. The connexion of evils, or dependence and mutual reference—one evil upon another.—T. Horton.

Verse 7.—The threefold depth which the saints and servants of God are subject to here in this life. I. The depth of temptation. II. The depth of desertion. III. The depth of affliction and human calamities.—T. Horton.

Verses 7, 8.—In seasons of affliction the servants of God will be distinguished from others by their ready perception and acknowledgment of the hand of God in their trials.—H. March.

Verse 8.—Daily mercy and nightly song; the mercies of sunshine and shade.

Verse 8 (last clause).—The blessed alternation between praise and prayer.

Verse 8.—“God of my life.” Author, sustainer, comforter, object, crown, consummation.

Verse 8.—“The God of my life.” There is a threefold life whereof we partake, and God is the God of each unto us. First, the life of nature; secondly, the life of grace; thirdly, the life of glory.—T. Horton.

Verse 9.—“God my rock.” Appellations of God, suited to circumstances.—H. March.

Verse 9.—“My rock.” See Keach in his metaphors.

Verse 9.—I. Why thou? II. Why I? III. Why he? It is a why to all three, To God, “Why hast thou forgotten me?” To David himself, “Why do I go mourning?” To David’s adversary, whoever he was, “Why does the enemy oppress me?”—T. Horton.

Verse 10.—The most grievous of taunts.

Verse 11.—“My God.” I. It’s a word of interest—“My God,” as in covenant with him. II. A word of compliance—“My God,” as submitting to him. III. A word of affection—“My God,” as taking delight and rejoicing in him.—T. Horton.

Verse 11.—A catechism, a consolation, a commendation.

Verse 11.—I. David’s experience of God. “He is the health, or help of my countenance.” II. His relation to God, and interest in him—“And my God.”—T. Horton.