Charles H. Spurgeon on Psalms 142:3
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Psalms142:3
When my spirit was overwhelmed within me. "When even my spirit (the higher faculty) is wrapped in darkness upon me" that is, when even my spirit (ruach), which ought to elevate my soul (nephesh) falls heavily upon me, as in a swoon.
"When heavy, like a veil of woe,
My spirit on me lay."
What is here said of the spirit, is oftener predicted of the soul, the seat of the passions. See Ps 42:6 43:5 131:2. The dejection of the spirit represents a still more sorrowful and downcast condition, than the fainting of the soul. See Ps 143:3-4, and compare our Lord's words, "My soul is troubled" (Joh 12:27) with the Evangelist's statement, "Jesus was troubled in spirit" (Joh 13:21 11:33). —Christopher Wordsworth.
Charles H. Spurgeon, The Treasury of David, Psalms 142:3. Public domain.
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