The people of God are not free from poverty, sickness, or outward affliction, but the Lord will
consider their case, and send due supplies. From his Lord's example the believer learns to consider
his poor and afflicted brethren. This branch of godliness is usually recompensed with temporal
blessings. But nothing is so distressing to the contrite believer, as a fear or sense of the Divine
displeasure, or of sin in his heart. Sin is the sickness of the soul; pardoning mercy heals it, renewing
grace heals it, and for this spiritual healing we should be more earnest than for bodily health.
Verses 5–13
We complain, and justly, of the want of sincerity, and that there is scarcely any true friendship
to be found among men; but the former days were no better. One particularly, in whom David had
reposed great confidence, took part with his enemies. And let us not think it strange, if we receive
evil from those we suppose to be friends. Have not we ourselves thus broken our words toward
God? We eat of his bread daily, yet lift up the heel against him. But though we may not take pleasure
in the fall of our enemies, we may take pleasure in the making vain their designs. When we can
discern the Lord's favour in any mercy, personal or public, that doubles it. If the grace of God did
not take constant care of us, we should not be upheld. But let us, while on earth, give heartfelt
assent to those praises which the redeemed on earth and in heaven render to their God and Saviour.
Chapter 42
The conflict in the soul of a believer.Verses 1–5
The psalmist looked to the Lord as his chief good, and set his heart upon him accordingly;
casting anchor thus at first, he rides out the storm. A gracious soul can take little satisfaction in
God's courts, if it do not meet with God himself there. Living souls never can take up their rest any
where short of a living God. To appear before the Lord is the desire of the upright, as it is the dread
of the hypocrite. Nothing is more grievous to a gracious soul, than what is intended to shake its
confidence in the Lord. It was not the remembrance of the pleasures of his court that afflicted David;
but the remembrance of the free access he formerly had to God's house, and his pleasure in attending
there. Those that commune much with their own hearts, will often have to chide them. See the cure
of sorrow. When the soul rests on itself, it sinks; if it catches hold on the power and promise of
God, the head is kept above the billows. And what is our support under present woes but this, that
we shall have comfort in Him. We have great cause to mourn for sin; but being cast down springs
from unbelief and a rebellious will; we should therefore strive and pray against it.
Verses 6–11
The way to forget our miseries, is to remember the God of our mercies. David saw troubles
coming from God's wrath, and that discouraged him. But if one trouble follow hard after another,