Verse 1

"To the chief Musician, to Jeduthun, A Psalm of Asaph." I cried unto God with my a voice, [even] unto God with my voice; and he gave ear unto me.

(a) The prophet teaches us by his example to flee to God for help in our necessities.

Verse 3

I remembered God, and was b troubled: I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. Selah.

(b) He shows that we must patiently abide though God does not deliver us from our troubles at the first cry.

Verse 4

Thou holdest mine eyes c waking: I am so troubled that I cannot speak.

(c) Meaning that his sorrows were as watchmen that kept his eyes from sleeping.

Verse 6

I call to remembrance my d song in the night: I commune with mine own heart: and my spirit made e diligent search.

(d) Of thanksgiving, which I was accustomed to sing in my prosperity.

(e) Both the reasons why I was chastened, and when my sorrows would end.

Verse 8

Is his f mercy clean gone for ever? doth [his] promise fail for evermore?

(f) As if he would say, It is impossible: by which he exhorts himself to patience.

Verse 10

And I said, This [is] my g infirmity: [but I will remember] the years of the right hand of the most High.

(g) Though I first doubted of my life, yet considering that God had his years, that is, change of times, and was accustomed also to lift up them whom he had beaten, I took heart again.

Verse 13

Thy way, O God, [is] h in the sanctuary: who [is so] great a i God as [our] God?

(h) That is in heaven, to which we must ascend by faith, if we will know the ways of God.

(i) He condemns all who worship anything save the only true God, whose glory appears through the world.

Verse 16

The k waters saw thee, O God, the waters saw thee; they were afraid: the depths also were troubled.

(k) He declares how the power of God was declared when he delivered the Israelites through the Red Sea.

Verse 17

The clouds poured out water: the skies sent out a l sound: thine arrows also went abroad.

(l) That is, thundered and lightninged.

Verse 19

Thy way [is] in the sea, and thy path in the great waters, and thy footsteps are not m known.

(m) For when you had brought over your people, the water returned to her course, and the enemies who thought to have followed them, could not pass through, (Exodus 14:28-29).