Here we begin Book 2 in the Psalms. The theme of this series, ending with Psalm 72, seems contentious among Western scholars. A common remark raises the issue that Book 1 used God’s personal name Yahweh more often, while Book 2 emphasizes the title Elohim. Perhaps it’s best to let the reader decide. We note in passing scholars do seem to agree that this and the next psalm were written as one, but separated at some point later for reasons unknown. However, it does seem to change the subject a bit, so it makes a kind of sense.
David is in exile. He mentions the vicinity of Mount Hermon, meaning that he would be at the northern reaches of his kingdom, around the City of Dan. We know of no particular event from the biblical record that placed him there. The flight from Absalom’s revolt seems to have halted at Mahanaim, a city on the Jabbok River only one-third as far from Jerusalem as Mount Hermon would be. It may have been a bit of Hebrew hyperbole or simply a poetic image. The point is that David is about as far as possible from where he prefers to worship.
More modern songs are taken from this psalm. Picture a deer in the high desert, panting for water. This is how David feels about missing the worship in Jerusalem at the Tent of Meeting over the Ark of Covenant. Whatever else is going wrong in his life to drive him way out here on the edge of his kingdom, it all pales in comparison to his longing for proper worship. He recalls the grand parade that brought the Ark into the city.
He tells himself to pull it together, because this time of trouble will pass. While he is forced to remain way up here in the north, he can still call on God. Nonetheless, it’s rather like one wave of depression after another washing over him. It’s as if they are calling to each other where to find him. But the difference between sorrow and deep penitence is just a small step in his soul, as David remarks that God grants him His Law of Love in daytime and songs in the night.
Still, his call to God does not hide his misery at the embarrassment of his enemies mocking him. “Where is your God?” Thus, it’s more an insult to Jehovah than to David, but he still feels it. Once more, he tells himself to get over it. God will do things on His own schedule and it always turned out well for David in the past. There is always hope for the future.
