Psalm 42
Read Psalm 42
We don’t know the exact context in which this is written. We also don’t know exactly who wrote it, but we do know that it was written for the Sons of Korah. The Sons of Korah were the group responsible for the ministry of music in the tabernacle. They have an interesting history, which we won’t get into this morning, but we see in 2 Chronicles 20 evidence of their ministry.
Even though we don’t have a name attributed to this particular psalm, it is widely believed that the author is King David. We also know that it is written from a land that is far from Jerusalem, as we see the psalmist longing to be back with his people worshiping the Lord.
One more note before we walk through this together. This psalm specifically addresses a spiritual dryness, a season of spiritual drought in which discouragement is plaguing the writer, but his hope in God provides the ammunition against discouragement.
Let’s paint a picture first of where this writer finds himself spiritually:
Desperation for the Lord (Vs. 1-2)
The Hebrew word for “pant” has an intense implication behind it. The deer is not just thirsty. We’ve all felt thirsty before, but this is a deep need for water. Not a simple desire, but a vital need to survive. “My soul thirsts for God.” I NEED God. The only thing that will satisfy my spiritual thirst is the Lord.
Jade and I do a fair bit of dog-sitting through Rover, and one of the great things about a fenced in back yard is being able to get out there and run the dogs around, playing fetch and chasing them around. When we get back inside, the dogs are often intensely panting for water. Tongue hanging out, quick breaths, the body’s way of saying I NEED water. The writer of the psalm is exhausted and NEEDS to drink of the goodness of God. He is desperate.
Distance from the Lord (Vs. 2, 6, 9)
This is an interesting statement in verse 2. It seems that the writer is being very specific in his desire to be in the presence of God. We see in this psalm that he claims the presence of God, “day and night,” so he believes that God is there. But, as can happen in discouraging seasons, the writer doesn’t FEEL as though the Lord is there. Have you guys ever experienced that before? Like, your theology tells you that God is present, always, but sometimes we can feel a distance between us.
This is confirmed in verse 6. “I remember you. I remember your works; what you did in Jordan, and Hermon, and on Mt. Mizar.” He is looking back on what the Lord did, remembering when God felt present. And he is longing for that again.
There is also an aspect of this, as we’ll see in a few minutes, in which the writer is longing to essentially be back in church. He talks about leading the procession into the house of God, shouting and praising Him. He longs for the religious and traditional celebrations that he grew up experiencing.
He also says, in verse 9, “Why have you forgotten me?” In other words, “where are you God?!” I’m right here, struggling. Do you even care? Am I just supposed to go through this alone? Why have you forgotten me?! So in multiple ways he is feeling a distance between him and the Lord.
Sorrow / Mockery from “Enemies” (Vs. 3, 10)
We also see that those that he was with were mocking him. They see his distress. Perhaps he is on the run and hasn’t been rescued. Perhaps he is hiding somewhere and people perceive his sorrow. And so they mock him “all the day long,” “where is your God? Twice he says this. And what does it cause? It causes great weeping. “My tears are my food day and night.” In verse 10 he talks about how it feels like a “deadly wound in his bones.”
So not only does he feel that God is distant, but those who are with him are mocking him because of it! I hope that none of us in this room has experienced this before! This is why he calls them his adversaries. Those are not friends!
Depth of Turmoil (Vs. 7)
If we turn our attention to verse 7, we see this description of the depth and intensity of the discouragement. Perhaps the writer is looking at a waterfall, or maybe just considering it’s power. Whatever the case, he seems to be drawing a parallel between two depths. “Deep calls to deep.” One commentator said that “Whatever depths there are in God, they appeal to corresponding depths in us. And whatever the depths of our sorrow, desire, or necessity, there are correspondences in God from which full supplies may be obtained.”
And the depth of discouragement that he is experiencing feels like breakers and waves just crashing down on him. I got to see Niagara Falls for the first time last year, and the size of the falls was not the most overwhelming thing. It was the power that was heard in the rushing water, in the crashing waves below. I mean just imagine getting stuck at the bottom, feeling helpless as you were forced under water over and over again. The strength and intensity just pounding you.
He’s in a pretty desperate place in his life. Nothing seems to be going right. He is most likely on the run. Whoever those are who are presently with him are causing him to question God. He is constantly and deeply sorrowful, longing to be back in a physical place of worship and connection with other believers. And in the midst of this, he begins to preach to himself. And this is such an important lesson for all of us this morning, no matter where you find yourself. We must get into the habit of daily preaching the gospel to ourselves.
The writer takes a deep, introspective look at his situation, and begins this conversation with himself. And in the midst of the conversation, he is pointing himself to the goodness of God. In fact, it’s an interesting question that he begins with in verse 5: “Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you in turmoil within me?” He isn’t asking these questions because he doesn’t know the answer. He clearly knows why he is feeling this way. He asks the question because it does not make SENSE why he feels this way. He looks at his situation, then he reflects on the goodness and glory of God, and there is no comparison. The character and nature and work of God in his life far outweighs his situational discouragement. And so he preaches to himself, hope.
Hope in God
Hope can be defined as a “confident expectation of receiving what God has promised us.” He is looking at what is presently happening in his life, and resting in the promises of God. So what does the psalmist KNOW to be true?
Praise is Coming (in community) (Vs. 5)
I can’t stress to you enough the importance of Christian community. He can’t wait to be back with fellow believers. I mean think about who he is presently with. Enemies, people mocking him for his faith in God. One of the ways that he finds hope in the moment is by looking forward to being with fellow worshippers. I don’t know about you, but I look forward to Sunday every week. There are a lot of reasons why, but one of them is because of the fellowship that I experience with fellow believers. Worshiping together. Opening the Word together. Remembering Jesus through communion together. It’s so energizing for me. It’s such an encouragement to my soul.
Salvation is Here (Vs. 5)
If we go with the common belief that the writer is David, then we would know that when he calls God his salvation, it’s because several times over the Lord saved his life. If not David, we can know that whoever is writing it has surely been saved as well. Whether it is a spiritual salvation, or a physical saving, in the midst of the sorrow and difficulty the writer is believing God for salvation. In fact, he is claiming that that is who God is. He is salvation. Being saved to something also implies being saved from something. He is believing that the Lord will deliver him from his current situation. He is believing that He will deliver him eventually eternally. There is hope in the present because we have a God who is in the business of saving.
God Commands Steadfast Love (vs. 8)
I love the wording here. He doesn’t say that God IS steadfast love. He doesn’t say that God will give steadfast love. He says that God commands steadfast love. It is sure. It is certain. When God decides to express it love, it will happen. This is what the writer is experiencing, all day, every day. There is an overwhelming sense of love that is felt. And this, again, shows a deep internal struggle. There is a wrestling with circumstance but an admittance of the felt presence of God. It’s so personal and so real. But it’s not just felt in the daytime. When the sun goes down and darkness takes over, this is when discouragement can often become worse. When that happens, don’t lose heart!
God Comforts in the Night (Vs. 8)
His song is with me. Praise is on the writer’s mind. He recounts the goodness of God. He sings worship songs. I love this. I’ve practiced this myself during anxious and sleepless nights. Just the simplest choruses are so meaningful, so powerful. Just filling my mind with theology, with truth. Directing my thoughts away from what is making me anxious, and to the One who is in complete control. The One who promised to be my refuge. The One who promised to take all of my anxiety on Himself.
God is a Rock (Vs. 9)
We also see the writer find hope in the truth that God is a Rock. God is immovable. God is constant. God is sure. God is strength. God is my foundation. Solid footing. When life around me is shaky, and wavering, and uncertain. When people fail me, job crumbles, health issues rise…we cling to the immovable, unshakable Creator and Sustainer.
Application
Now, this psalm is so relevant for us. Let’s consider again what the psalmist is currently going through:
Desperation for the Lord
Distance from the Lord
Sorrowful
Mockery from his enemies
Depth of his turmoil
But even in the midst of all of that, he is able to find hope because of who God is and what He has done.
Experienced encouragement in Christian community
Received salvation
Commands steadfast love
Comforts in the night
God is a rock
I cannot stress enough the importance of preaching to ourselves every day. Whether we are sorrowful, downcast, discouraged, lonely, distant…or we are joyous, encouraged, connected, spiritually healthy…we wake up and preach the gospel to ourselves. We remind ourselves of who God is. We remind ourselves of what God has done. We plead with Him to overwhelm us with His love. We pray before we go to bed that He would fill our minds with songs of praise. We hold on tightly to hope.
Hope in the promises of God. Promises for rescue. Promises for strength. Promises for wisdom. Promises for eternity. Salvation into paradise. Salvation into an eternity in the presence of God. The truth behind the character and nature of God provide hope that far outweighs any spiritual discouragement, any season of drought.
