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Expanded Comments |
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| 1 [[A Melody of David. When he was in the Wilderness of Judah.]] O God, my GOD, thou art, Earnestly do I desire thee,–My soul thirsteth for thee, My flesh fainteth for thee, In a land–dry, and weary for want of water,– |
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| 2 In like manner as, in the sanctuary, I have had vision of thee, To behold thy power and thy glory. |
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| 3 Because better is thy lovingkindness than life, My lips, aloud shall praise thee! |
Because – And not for money or reputation. R2853:4
Thy lovingkindness – Divine favor. R2850:3, R5435:3, R5475:3
In a sense to all creatures, but especially to those who have lovable qualities of heart. R5440:3
Seen through the divine plan of the ages--the salvation planned from before the foundation of the world. R5441:3; CR480:4
Here the Psalmist represents The Christ. R5436:1, R5441:1,3
The more a reality to us, the more we lay down our lives in his service. R5441:1,4,5
Not merely favor as respects future prospects and hopes, but it extends down to the present life. R2852:2, R5441:4
But God does not love the wilful sinner. R5440:3
Is better than life – In view of God's provisions for the future, we count what remains of the present life as a trifling thing and are glad to lay down our human lives in doing the things that are pleasing to God. CR481:2; R5436:1, R2852:1
"I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord." (Phil. 3:8) R2851:6
None but those who walk and talk with God can say this. R5441:3, R2850:3
Jesus, in appreciation of God's lovingkindness, laid down his life. It is the same with those who walk in his footsteps. CR481:2; CR489:4
More esteemed by us than all of earthly life and its good things. R2853:4
David would rather die than live without divine favor. The same is true, prophetically, of The Christ. R5436:1, R5475:3
My lips – The Church's lips. CR481:1; R5436:1, R5441:3, R2850:3
Shall praise thee – Not from a sense of duty or love of money or worldly position, but because the message is too good to keep. R2852:4
"He hath put a new song in my mouth, even the lovingkindness of our God." (Psa. 40:3) R2852:4
Showing forth the glorious character and loving kindness of our God. R5436:4, R5476:1, R5440:6; CR481:3
Costing trouble, money, misunderstandings, persecution, and perhaps breaking of home ties. R5441:2
By telling the wonders of the divine plan. R5436:4, R5476:4
Not only as a witness to the world. The witnessing also has a good effect on us. R5436:4, R5476:1
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| 4 Thus, will I bless thee while I live, In thy Name, will I lift up mine outspread hands: |
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| 5 As with fatness and richness, shall my soul be satisfied, And, with joyfully shouting lips, shall my mouth utter praise. |
Shall be satisfied – David referred to God's favor, raising him from shepherd boy to king. R5785:2
The Ancient Worthies will not envy the Church, but will be satisfied when they awake with God's likeness as Adam had it. R613:2
Shall praise thee – The Psalms contain many beautiful expressions of praise and thanksgiving to the Almighty. R5785:2
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| 6 Should I call thee to mind upon my couch, In the watches of the night, would I breathe soft speech of thee. |
When I remember thee – The spirit of praise is cultivated by calling to mind and recounting what the Lord has done. R2031:3
So must the Christian continually call to mind the works of the Lord, especially in his own individual experiences. R2031:3
Meditate on thee – Not thinking foolish thoughts, nor planning foolish things. R5785:2
In the night watches – If there is a prophetic thought here, it is that all through the Dark Ages, all through the nighttime of this age, God's faithful people have been praising him. R5785:5
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| 7 For thou hast become a help unto me,–And, in the shadow of thy wings, will I shout for joy. |
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| 8 My soul hath run clinging to thee, On me, hath thy right hand laid hold. |
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| 9 When, they, to crush it, would seek my life, They shall go into the lower parts of the earth: |
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| 10 Every one shall be given up into the power of the sword, The portion of jackals, shall they become. |
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| 11 But, the king, shall rejoice in God,–Every one shall glory who sweareth by him, For the mouth of them who speak falsehood, shall be stopped. |
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