Psalm 42 An Individual Complaint (HBH) The exact nature of the psalmist's distress is not given, but it brought him to a state of deep depression (42:3,5,9-11). Yet he focused not on his trouble but on GOD and thirsted for GOD as for water (42:1; Matt. 5:6).

Psalm 42 Maschil: The KJV term used in the titles of 13 psalms (32, 42, 44, 45, 52, 53, 54, 55, 74, 78, 88, 89, 142; Maskil, RSV). Maschil may have been a term referring to a psalm sung at an annual festival, and accompanied by a special kind of music. (Illustrated Dictionary of the Bible).

Psalm 42:1-11 Many think that Psalms 42 and 43 are one song, because 42:5,11 are identical to 43:5, and Psalm 43 has no title. These two psalms must have messianic character because Christ was also "exiled" in Perea (v.6; Mark 10:1), and was handed over to the Gentiles (43:1; Mark 10:32-34).

Psalm 42:1,2 See section 2 of "TRUTH IN ACTION" at the end of book 2 of Psalms.

Psalm 42:2 That is, when will I present myself in person in the temple to worship again?

Psalm 42:4 If worship and collective companionship were an occasion for such joy and praise in Old Testament times, how much happier would they feel with the coming of Christ and his glorious gospel (Phil. 4:4).

Psalm 42:5 The spirit of faith now speaks to the depressed soul, taking his sight off the circumstances and directing it toward the face of GOD.

Psalm 42:6 The land of Jordan: A mountain range that extended to the east of the Jordan River, called Perea in the New Testament, and where Jesus took refuge when the religious leaders of Jerusalem wanted to kill him.

Psalm 42:9 Forgotten: Feelings of anguish battle with the facts of faith, and are strengthened with the embarrassing questions of the enemies.

Psalm 42:11 The final course of action in the face of any conflict is to expect it to end, no matter how devastating it can be.

Psalm 43 An Individual Complaint (HBH) Psalms 42 and 43 may have originally been a single psalm. The thought and language of the two are very similar (compare 43:5 to 42:5,11), and the Hebrew meter is the same. Also Psalm 43 has no superscript.

Psalm 43:1-5 Some ancient manuscripts unite Psalms 42 and 43, although the Greek Septuagint presents them as two separate psalms, in spite of the fact that it's the only psalm in the "second Book", that lacks a title. In some church traditions, Psalm 43:1 is sung on Palm Sunday in remembrance of Jesus' final journey to Jerusalem to be judged.

Psalm 43:2 Why is repeated as in 42:9 (KJV-for/why).

Psalm 43:3,4 Your dwellings (KJV-tabernacles): The return to worship united in the sanctuary before the presence of GOD constitutes the greatest desire of all true believers of all ages.

Psalm 43:3 See section 4 of "TRUTH IN ACTION" at the end of book 2 of Psalms.

Psalm 43:5 These words describe the agony of Jesus' soul in the garden of betrayal ([Garden of Gethsemane] Matt.26:38).

Psalm 44 A Community Complaint (HBH) GOD's present abandonment of the nation (44:9-24) contrasts with His former mighty presence among them (44:1-3). With remarkable boldness (44:17-19) the people call on GOD to fight for them again.

Psalm 44:1-26 We have heard: This lament expresses consternation for those who have been defeated at the hands of evil people for no apparent reason. To find the New Testament answer to a dilemma like this, see Hebrews 11:32-40.

Psalm 44:3-8 See section 3 of "TRUTH IN ACTION" at the end of book 2 of Psalms.

Psalm 44:3 Neither their arm: When they conquered the Promised Land, the Israelites were outnumbered (Deut. 4:38), they were poorly armed (Deut. 20:1) and lacked protective walls (Deut. 9:1).

Psalm 44:17-21 Lacking in your covenant (KJV-dealt falsely in): The psalmist doesn't suffer for any sin that he has committed; he has a clean conscience.

Psalm 44:22 See section 2 of "TRUTH IN ACTION" at the end of book 2 of Psalms.

Psalm 44:22 From the New Testamental perspective, the apostle Paul comforts the believers with the truth that, even though many suffer death, no one is separated from GOD and his love (Rom. 8:36-39).

Psalm 44:23-26 Awake: Stresses the psalmist's urgency. These verses find an echo in the cry of the martyrs of Revelation 6:9-11.

Psalm 44:24 To forget for the Hebrews was to remain "inactive", just as remembering is "to recognize a situation and respond adequately" (see Eccl. 12:1). According to the revelation of the New Testament, justice that is delayed isn't justice denied (II Tim. 2:12).

Psalm 45 A Royal Wedding Song (HBH) The composition celebrates the wedding of a king of the house of David. Psalm 45:1-9 praises the king, and 45:10-17 instructs and praises the princess-bride. Christians have long seen here an image of Christ and the church (compare 45:6-7 to Heb. 1:8).

Psalm 45:1-17 This moving wedding song prophetically prefigures the relationship of Christ with the Church (Eph. 5:32). Ancient rabbis applied it to the Messiah and his majesty.

Psalm 45:6,7 The author of Hebrews applies these verses to Jesus, the Son of GOD (Heb. 1:8,9). "Messiah" is the Hebrew word that designates the one whom GOD anointed.

Psalm 45:9 That is, thus she will soon be queen.

Psalm 45:10 Forget Means more than leaving the parents behind, as in Genesis 2:24. The wife of a king often came from another nation, and by marrying she would have to break with the customs of her people of origin, in the same way that Christians today must reject "marriage with the things of the world" to be a part of the body of Christ.

Psalm 45:12 The daughters of Tyre (KJV has the singular): Represented the inhabitants of the richest commercial city of Old Testament times. Those who become part of the body of Christ also receive gifts (Mark 10:29,30).