Clarke's Bible Commentary - Psalms 41:4
Verse 4. When I remember these things ] Or, these things I shall remember. They often occur to me, and sharpen my distressful feelings. My soul is dissolved, becomes weak as water, when I reflect on what I have had, and on what I have lost. Or, I pour out my soul to myself in deep regrets and complaints, when reflecting on these things. I once enjoyed all the ordinances of God, and now I have none. I once had the joyous communion of saints in God's ordinances; but that communion no longer exists, for there are no ordinances to support it. There was a multitude to worship God in public; with these I often went: but alas, this is no more; now there are found only a few solitary individuals who sigh for the desolations of Zion. There we had our holy days, our appointed feasts, to commemorate the wonderful works of the Lord; now there are no processions, no festivals, no joyous assemblies; all is desolation in Zion, and all is mourning in our captivity. I have endeavoured to give a general sense to this verse, but there are several difficulties in it; and different commentators and critics have given it a great variety of translations, and as many different meanings. My plan will not permit me to follow them. Much may be seen in Dr. Horsley's work on this verse.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-5 - The psalmist looked to the Lord as his chief good, and set his hear upon him accordingly; casting anchor thus at first, he rides out the storm. A gracious soul can take little satisfaction in God's courts, i it do not meet with God himself there. Living souls never can take u their rest any where short of a living God. To appear before the Lor 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 i attending there. Those that commune much with their own hearts, wil often have to chide them. See the cure of sorrow. When the soul rest 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 unde present woes but this, that we shall have comfort in Him. We have grea cause to mourn for sin; but being cast down springs from unbelief and rebellious will; we should therefore strive and pray against it.
Original Hebrew
אלה 428 אזכרה 2142 ואשׁפכה 8210 עלי 5921 נפשׁי 5315 כי 3588 אעבר 5674 בסך 5519 אדדם 1718 עד 5704 בית 1004 אלהים 430 בקול 6963 רנה 7440 ותודה 8426 המון 1995 חוגג׃ 2287
