David, in this psalm, as in many others, begins with a sad heart, but concludes with an air of pleasantness—begins with prayers and tears, but ends with songs of praise. Thus the soul, by being lifted up to God, returns to the enjoyment of itself.

Crying to God in Distress. To the chief musician upon Neginah. A psalm of David. 1 Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer. 2 From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

In these verses we may observe, I. With what pleasure David looks back upon what God had done for him formerly : Thou, O God! hast heard my vows, that is, 1.