The Pulpit Commentary
As the hart panteth after the water-brooks. Stags and hinds need abundant water, especially in hot countries, and, in time of drought, may be said, with a slight poetical licence, to "pant," or "cry" (Joe_1:20) for it. They are still found in Palestine, though rather scarce. So panteth my soul after thee, O God. The "panting" of the soul does not mean any physical action, but a longing desire for a Messing that is, at any fate for a time, withheld.

The Pulpit Commentary
My soul thirsteth for God (comp. Psa_63:1; Psa_143:6; Isa_55:1). The devout soul is always athirst for God. David felt his severance from the tabernacle and its services as a sort of severance from God himself, whom he was accustomed to approach through the services of the sanctuary (see 2Sa_15:25, 2Sa_15:26). For the living God. This title of God occurs only in one other psalm (Psa_84:2); but it was a title familiar to David (1Sa_17:27). It is first used in Deu_5:26; and, later, in Jos_3:10; 2Ki_19:4, 2Ki_19:16; Isa_37:4, Isa_37:17; Jer_10:10; Jer_23:36; Dan_6:26; Hos_1:10. It expresses that essential attribute of God that he is "the eternal Life" (1Jn_5:20), the Source and Origin of all life, whether angelic, human, or animal. When shall I come and appear before God? Appearance in the tabernacle must here be specially meant, but with this David connects his return to God's favour and to the light of his countenance (2Sa_15:25).

The Pulpit Commentary
My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God? (comp. Psa_80:9, "Thou feedest them with the bread of tears;" and Ovid, 'Metaph.,' 10:288, "Cure dolorque animi, lachrymaeque, alimenta fuere"—"They who grieve deeply do not eat; they only weep;" yet they live on, so that their tears appear to be their aliment). David's grief at being shut out from God's presence is intensified by the reproaches of his enemies, "Where is thy God?" i.e. "Is he not wholly gone from thee? Has he not utterly cast thee off?".

The Pulpit Commentary
When I remember these things; rather, these things I remember—the things remembered being those touched on in the rest of the verse—his former free access to the house of God, and habit of frequenting it, especially on festival occasions, when the multitude "kept holy day." "Deep sorrow," as Hengstenberg remarks, "tries to lose itself in the recollection of the happier past." I pour out my soul in me. "The heart pours itself out, or melts in any one, who is in a manner dissolved by grief and pain." David does not alleviate his sorrow, but aggravates it, by thinking of the happy past. "Nessun muggier dolore che ricordarsi di tempo felice nella miseria" (Dante). For I had gone (rather, how I went) with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holy day.

The Pulpit Commentary
Why art thou cast down? or, Why art thou bowed down? i.e. brought low—a term indicative of the very extreme of dejection. O my soul. The spirit, or higher reason, rebukes the "soul," or passionate nature, for allowing itself to be so depressed, and seeks to encourage and upraise it. And why art thou so disquieted in me? rather, Why dost thou make thy moan over me? literally, make a roaring noise like the sea (comp. Psa_46:3; Jer_4:19; Jer_5:22). Hope thou in God (comp. Psa_33:22; Psa_39:7, etc.). For I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance. Another reading assimilates the refrain here to the form which it takes in Psa_42:11 and in Psa_43:5. But, as Hengstenberg observes, Hebrew poets, and indeed poets generally, avoid an absolute identity of phrase, even in refrains (see Psa_24:8, Psa_24:10; Psa_49:12, Psa_49:20; Psa_56:4, Psa_56:11, etc.).

The Pulpit Commentary
O my God, my soul is cast down within me; or, bowed down, as in the first clause of Psa_42:5. Therefore will I remember thee. As a remedy for my depression, I will call thee to mind, and cast myself on thee. From the land of Jordan. From the place of my present abode—the Trans-Jordanic region—to which, on the revolt of Absalom, David had fled (2Sa_17:24). And of the Hormonites; rather, and of the Hermons. This expression is not elsewhere used, and can only be explained conjecturally. It probably means the mountain ranges which, starting from Hermon in the north, extend in a southerly direction down the entire Trans-Jordanic territory. From the hill Mizar. This name occurs nowhere else; and can be assigned to no special locality.

The Pulpit Commentary
Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts. Blow follows blow. Misfortunes "come not in single file, but in battalions." The imagery may be taken from the local storms that visit the Trans-Jordanic territory. All thy waves and thy billows are gone over me (comp. Psa_69:1, Psa_69:2; Psa_88:7, Psa_88:17; Psa_144:7).

The Pulpit Commentary
Yet the Lord will command his loving-kindness in the daytime. Notwithstanding all these present woes, God wilt at some time "command" his loving-kindness to make itself apparent (comp. Psa_44:4; Psa_68:28), and both "in the daytime" and in the night will so comfort me that his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life; i.e. I shall offer him both praise and prayer continually both day and night (Psa_92:2) for his great mercies.

The Pulpit Commentary
I will say unto God my Rock (comp. Psa_18:1; Psa_31:3). Why hast thou forgotten me? (see the comment on Psa_13:1). God does not forget even when he most seems to forget (comp. Psa_9:12; Psa_37:28). As the event showed, he had not now forgotten David (see 2Sa_19:9-40). Why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy? Why am. I allowed to remain so long an exile, sorrowing and oppressed (comp. Psa_43:2)? Even to repentant sinners God's judgments are apt to seem too severe, too much prolonged, too grievous.

The Pulpit Commentary
As with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me. The reproaches of his enemies were as daggers struck into his bones; or, according to others, as blows that crushed his bones (LXX.). So keenly did he feel them. The worst of all was that they could say daily unto him, Where is thy God? What has become of him? Has he wholly forsaken thee (see above, Psa_42:3)?

The Pulpit Commentary
Why art thou cast down (or, bowed down), O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me! hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him. Thus far is identical with Psa_42:5; but what follows is slightly different: who is the health of my countenance, and my God, instead of "for the help (health?) of his countenance." Most commentators assimilate the text in Psa_42:5 to that of the present verse, which can be effected by a mere alteration of the pointing; but Hengstenberg, Kay, Professor Alexander, and others regard the variant forms as preferable.