Psalm 42

What a great Psalm to speak to the heart of anyone who is in turmoil, to any who are discouraged, agitated, or worried!

But before we get into the message of Psalm 42 let me explain something that some of us may never have noticed before.  Do you see Book Two written above the inscription of this Psalm?

Did you know that the book of Psalms is divided into 5 books, each of which concludes with a doxology?  Psalm 150 is a concluding doxology for the whole book.  At our former church we studied the Bible in a course designed for pastors in other countries.  It was called Bible Training Center for Pastors.  Here is how the course designated the five books of the Psalms:

Book One – Psalms 1-41 – Worship God as Creator

Book Two – Psalms 42-72 – Worship God as Deliverer

Book Three – Psalms 73-89 – Worship God in His Sanctuary

Book Four – Psalms 90-106 – Worship God in the Wanderings of Life

Book Five – Psalms 107-150 – Worship God by Obeying His Law

For those in the middle of worrisome happenings, this is a great time to worship God as our Deliverer.  Psalms 42 & 43 belong together.  They are one prayer for deliverance. These are Psalms of depression. 

Four times the Psalmist mentioned being cast down – 42:5, 6, 11; 43:5.Three times he questioned why his soul was in turmoil within him – 42:5, 11; 43:5.

Why was he so downcast and disturbed?  What did he do about it?  When we are downcast and disturbed, what should we do about it?

The Psalmist seemed to be in a bad way, because he was away from the temple (vv. 1-4).  He desperately wanted to be at the temple to worship God.  He wanted to with the throng and share glad shouts and songs of praise with the multitude keeping festival.  That seems to be at the heart of his depression.  We can understand some of what he was going through.  It has been difficult not being at church with our brothers and sisters in Christ.  Sunday was a breath of fresh air to be together again.  We are thankful for our leaders creatively bringing us together.

The Psalmist’s discouragement was compounded when to him God seemed distant.  In fact he thought God had forgotten him?  On top of that he had some enemies that were oppressing and taunting him. 

Can you relate?  Things haven’t gone as you planned.  You haven’t enjoyed being confined to your home and on edge about you or your loved ones succumbing to a pandemic virus.  You lost the job, were bypassed for the promotion, didn’t receive the good news you hoped for, suffered pain, lost your dear one, had your boyfriend stolen (she’s not half as pretty as you are), or in some way were slapped in the face by life.  Maybe a question haunts you – the question the Psalmist’s antagonists asked, “Where is your God?”  Maybe nobody says those exact words, but that’s being communicated to you.  Maybe you’re the one who is asking the question.

What were some ingredients in the recipe the Psalmist used to combat his fear and depression - ingredients we can still mix today? 

He started out by having a good talk with himself, acknowledging a great need and desire for God – like a deer pants for flowing streams. Picture the deer.  Why is she panting?  Not because she has been out jogging – she’s had to flee danger.  A predator, a sudden noise, an unfamiliar smell has caused the flight of panic.  She’s out of breath and thirsty.  The Psalmist is desperate for God, like the panicked deer.  That’s a great way to start.

Three times he repeats these nutritious words to be added to the recipe – “Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.”  We don’t want to look down or around, but up.

Be sure to read Psalm 43 tomorrow to see the other ingredients the Psalmist has in his recipe – in short to ask for God’s help.  The story has a happy ending.  I pray yours does too.
Paul Thompson