My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?
David wrote this himself, not the sons of Korah; he was the Church's teacher, abundantly gifted with the Spirit of prophecy. Why would he borrow their help in composing when he was far better able than they? The sons of Korah kept the psalm as a precious treasure entrusted to their care.
AI summary
Commenting on Psalm 42:1-11
My soul. All my nature, my inmost self. Thirsteth. Which is more than hungering; hunger you can palliate, but thirst is awful, insatiable, clamorous, deadly. O to have the most intense craving after the highest good! this is no questionable mark of grace. For God. Not merely for the temple and the ordinances, but for fellowship with God himself. None but spiritual men can sympathise with this thirst.
Holy love to God is the very life and soul of religion; without it all external worship is mere shell and carcase. God often teaches us the worth of mercies by cutting us short in them: we loathe the manna when plenty, but pine for it in scarcity. Even lamenting after God proves we love Him when joy is withheld.
AI summary
Commenting on Psalm 42:1-5