In this stanza the writer focused on his enemies rather than on God. However, he came back to the same expression of confidence with which he ended the first stanza.
42:6 The psalmist was far from Jerusalem and the central sanctuary. Evidently he was near the Hermon range of mountains that was to the northeast of the Sea of Chinnereth (Galilee). The Jordan Valley is quite wide north of this sea and the mountains of Hermon rise up to the east from it. Mount Mizar is one of the hills in that area. It was a long way from Mount Zion where the ark dwelt in David's day.
42:7 The writer viewed his troubles like waves cascading down on him as if he were standing under a waterfall. He compared the noise of the waves with his troubles that he personified calling to one another to come overwhelm him.
42:8 Nevertheless he believed God would remain loyal to him. In the daytime the Lord would pour out His love to the psalmist, and in the night he would respond by praising God.
42:9-10 In his prayer he would also ask God the reason for his continuing physical and emotional distress. The repeated taunt of his enemies would hopefully move God to deliver him (cf. v. 3).
42:11 Again the psalmist encouraged himself with the rhetorical refrain (cf. v. 5).
When we are spiritually dry, believers should remind ourselves that God is sufficient for all our needs. This remembrance will encourage us to continue to trust Him while we go through temporarily distressing periods.95
