O my soul! Why are you downcast? And why are you groaning within
me? Hope in God: for I shall yet praise Him, the salvations of my face and my God.
As I study Psalm 43:5 I enjoy the advantage that Psalm 42:5 and 11 and essentially identical. So when one goes to read the thoughts of all my old buddies, I can go to three different places to see what they said. I am enjoying feasting at such a sumptuously set table! One commentator who very often speaks directly to my heart is John Calvin. His comments on these words as they're found in Psalm 42:5 are so thought-provoking, I would like to record them in their entirety here. If you find yourself discouraged and your soul groaning within you, if the troubles of this life seem currently to be robbing you of joy, read slowly and thoughtfully what Calvin has to say. Every single line is another pearl on a string of help and hope:
"O my soul! why art thou cast down? From this it appears that
David contended strongly against his sorrow, lest he should yield to
temptation: but what we ought chiefly to observe is, that he had
experienced a strong and bitter contest before he obtained the victory
over it; or we might rather say, that he was not delivered from it
after one alarming assault, but was often called upon to enter into new
scenes of conflict. It need not excite our wonder that he was so much
disquieted and cast down, since he could not discern any sign of the
divine favor towards him. But David here represents himself as if he
formed two opposing parties. In so far as in the exercise of faith he
relied upon the promises of God, being armed with the Spirit of
invincible fortitude, he set himself, in opposition to the
affections of his flesh, to restrain and subdue them; and, at the same
time, he rebuked his own cowardice and imbecility of heart. Moreover,
although he carried on war against the devil and the world, yet he does
not enter into open and direct conflict with them, but rather regards
himself as the enemy against whom he desires chiefly to contend. And
doubtless the best way to overcome Satan is, not to go out of ourselves,
but to maintain an internal conflict against the desires of our own
hearts. It ought, however, to be observed, that David confesses that his
soul was cast down within him: for when our infirmities rise up in vast
array, and, like the waves of the sea, are ready to overwhelm us, our
faith seems to us to fail, and, in consequence we are so overcome by
mere fear, that we lack courage, and are afraid to enter into the
conflict. Whenever, therefore, such a state of indifference and
faint-heartedness shall seize upon us, let us remember, that to
govern and subdue the desires of their hearts, and especially to contend
against the feelings of distrust which are natural to all, is a
conflict to which the godly are not unfrequently called. But here there
are two evils specified, which, however apparently different, yet assail
our hearts at the same time; the one is discouragement, and the other disquietude
When we are quite downcast, we are not free of a feeling of
disquietude, which leads us to murmur and complain. The remedy to both
of them is here added, hope in God, which alone inspires our
minds, in the first place, with confidence in the midst of the greatest
troubles; and, secondly, by the exercise of patience, preserves them in
peace. In what follows, David very well expresses the power and nature
of hope by these words, I shall yet praise him; for it has
the effect of elevating our thoughts to the contemplation of the grace
of God, when it is hidden from our view. By the term yet, he
confesses that for the present, and in so far as the praises of God are
concerned, his mouth is stopped, seeing he is oppressed and shut up
on all sides. This, however, does not prevent him from extending his
hope to some future distant period; and, in order to escape from his
present sorrow, and, as it were, get beyond its reach, he promises
himself what as yet there was no appearance of obtaining. Nor is this an
imaginary expectation produced by a fanciful mind; but, relying upon
the promises of God, he not only encourages himself to cherish good
hope, but also promises himself certain deliverance. We can only be
competent witnesses to our brethren of the grace of God when, in the
first place, we have borne testimony to it to our own hearts. What
follows, The helps of his countenance, may be differently expounded. Commentators, for the most part, supply the word for: so that, according to this view, David here expresses the matter or cause of thanksgiving — that yet he would give praise or thanks to God for the help of his countenance
This interpretation I readily admit. At the same time, the sense will
not be inappropriate if we read the terms separately, thus: helps or salvations are from the countenance of God; for as soon as he is pleased to look upon his people he sets them in safety. The countenance of God is
taken for the manifestation of his favor. His countenance then appears
serene and gracious to us; as, on the contrary, adversity, like the
intervening clouds, darkens or obscures its benign aspect."
May we all today find His countenance serene and gracious and may the joy of the Lord truly be our strength!
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