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Overview
Overview
is often misunderstood. Because we memorize and sing about vs 1-2 we think that the context of this Psalm is about rainbows and puppies and everything going roses and daffodils.
But the context is nothing like this… The context is Spiritual Despondency & Discouragement emerging from External Trouble, Overwhelming Taunting, and Internal Turmoil
Notice that this is a Maskil of the Sons of Korah. The Sons of Korah were priests that were assigned the task of leading Worship through Singing in the Temple…they were the Worship Team. And a Maskil apparently was a Song that instructs.
So we see in this incredible Psalm are Holy Spirit guided ways to combat Spiritual Despondency and Discouragement. See if you don’t see these as we briefly read through the Psalm?
For the choir director. A Maskil of the sons of Korah.
As a deer longs for streams of water,
so I long for You, God.
I thirst for God, the living God.
When can I come and appear before God?
My tears have been my food day and night,
while all day long people say to me,
“Where is your God?”
I remember this as I pour out my heart:
how I walked with many,
leading the festive procession to the house of God,
with joyful and thankful shouts.
Why am I so depressed?
Why this turmoil within me?
Put your hope in God, for I will still praise Him,
my Savior and my God.
I am deeply depressed;
therefore I remember You from the land of Jordan
and the peaks of Hermon, from Mount Mizar.
Deep calls to deep in the roar of Your waterfalls;
all Your breakers and Your billows have swept over me.
The Lord will send His faithful love by day;
His song will be with me in the night—
a prayer to the God of my life.
I will say to God, my rock,
“Why have You forgotten me?
Why must I go about in sorrow
because of the enemy’s oppression?”
My adversaries taunt me,
as if crushing my bones,
while all day long they say to me,
“Where is your God?”
Why am I so depressed?
Why this turmoil within me?
Put your hope in God, for I will still praise Him,
my Savior and my God.
A Fierce Desire For God
A Fierce Desire For God
As a deer longs for streams of water,
so I long for You, God.
I thirst for God, the living God.
When can I come and appear before God?
The Hebrew verb that are translated “longs for” and “thirsts” are the same Word. The sense is that of intense longing, a desire born out of a desperation.
“Living God” is important. We think that the opposite of “Living God” is “Non-Living God.” That is not the sense of the meaning. The idea is “Active.” Don’t think that Living God as opposed to Dead God, but rather God who is Active and Involved in the Psalmists life as opposed to a God who is Passive and Disinterested in the Psalmist’s life.
So, the Psalmist has an Intense longing for connection, and intimacy with his Active and Vitally Interested and Involved God.
Why?
Spiritual Despondency & Discouragement
Spiritual Despondency & Discouragement
My tears have been my food day and night,
while all day long people say to me,
“Where is your God?”
Psalm 42:6
I am deeply depressed;
therefore I remember You from the land of Jordan
and the peaks of Hermon, from Mount Mizar.
Psalm 42:
I will say to God, my rock,
“Why have You forgotten me?
Why must I go about in sorrow
because of the enemy’s oppression?”
Psalm 42:11
Why am I so depressed?
Why this turmoil within me?
Put your hope in God, for I will still praise Him,
my Savior and my God.
Trouble & Trauma
Trouble & Trauma
Deep calls to deep in the roar of Your waterfalls;
all Your breakers and Your billows have swept over me.
Psalm 42;
This Despondency and Discouragement apparently is the result of horrible external circumstances. For whatever reason, bad and terrible things are happening. This Psalm seems like it could have been written by David during his flight from King Saul, or during Absalom’s rebellion. Or it could have been written by one of the Priests trying to make sense of the horrible persecution by one of Israel’s neighboring nations…this happened during several times in Israel’s history. Or it could have been written by any one of us… Cancer, having to bury a loved one, loss of employment, or the crushing of a dream...
Sin cursed bodies..... The Bible doesn’t state “IF” you encounter trouble, but “When” you encounter trouble.
Taunting
Taunting
The Trouble and Trauma seem to be intensified because of people throwing God in the Psalmist’s face!
My tears have been my food day and night,
while all day long people say to me,
“Where is your God?”
My tears have been my food day and night,
while all day long people say to me,
“Where is your God?”
I will say to God, my rock,
“Why have You forgotten me?
Why must I go about in sorrow
because of the enemy’s oppression?”
Psalm 42:9-10
I will say to God, my rock,
“Why have You forgotten me?
Why must I go about in sorrow
because of the enemy’s oppression?”
My adversaries taunt me,
as if crushing my bones,
while all day long they say to me,
“Where is your God?”
Turmoil
Turmoil
Psalm 42:
Why am I so depressed?
Why this turmoil within me?
Put your hope in God, for I will still praise Him,
my Savior and my God.
Psalm 42:
Why am I so depressed?
Why this turmoil within me?
Put your hope in God, for I will still praise Him,
my Savior and my God.
And so we see that the Psalmist has an Intense Longing to connect with and have intimacy with God who he knows is a Living God....Active and Involved in the Psalmist’s life. There seems to be a Fierce devotion in the face Dire Circumstances....he is hanging on to God for his LIFE!
But this is a Maskil…a Song with Instruction....
1. Honestly Question God
1. Honestly Question God
The Psalmist asks Why?
I will say to God, my rock,
“Why have You forgotten me?
Why must I go about in sorrow
because of the enemy’s oppression?”
The Psalmist knows God has not forsaken him (vs 8) but it FEELS like it in the now. God gives us permission to Question God in the midst of Pain. Job did, and he was the most righteous man of his age. But notice the Question is supported by Hope in God.... He is not being rude or cynical but is Honestly opening up with God and inquiring. It is a Healthy and Holy questioning leading to Hope....not a disrespectful questioning that leads to rebellion.
God, I don’t understand, I feel like you have forgotten me, but I will trust you.
Job said, Tho you slay me, yet I will trust You!
The first step to Healing might be to Honestly, with Holy reverence, let God know what you feel and what you are going through. Process your Pain depending on God’s Spirit. You may not get immediate understanding, but you will obtain Strength and Comfort from God.
2. Set Your Anchor On God’s Love
2. Set Your Anchor On God’s Love
Psalm 42:8
The Lord will send His faithful love by day;
His song will be with me in the night—
a prayer to the God of my life.
Verse 7 affirms that life’s circumstances are crashing over him...
Deep calls to deep in the roar of Your waterfalls;
all Your breakers and Your billows have swept over me.
And yet the Psalmist anchors his life in the MIDST of these overwhelming circumstances on the Rock of God’s Love.
3. Determine to Worship and Sing
3. Determine to Worship and Sing
Psalm 42:8
The Lord will send His faithful love by day;
His song will be with me in the night—
a prayer to the God of my life.
John Piper says, “This is NOT a song of Jubilant Hope. He doesn’t Feel jubilant hope....He is seeking Jubilant Hope.”
Illustr of Louis Giglio in his book The Comeback
4. Truth Talk
4. Truth Talk
Psalm 42:5
Why am I so depressed?
Why this turmoil within me?
Put your hope in God, for I will still praise Him,
my Savior and my God.
Martyn Lloyd-Jones points out: “Have you realized that most of the unhappiness in life is due to the fact that you are listening to yourself instead of talking to yourself.”
Illustr of Paul ....
5. Remember, Remember, Remember!
5. Remember, Remember, Remember!
I remember this as I pour out my heart:
how I walked with many,
leading the festive procession to the house of God,
with joyful and thankful shouts.
6. Purposefully Engage in Corporate Worship
6. Purposefully Engage in Corporate Worship
I remember this as I pour out my heart:
how I walked with many,
leading the festive procession to the house of God,
with joyful and thankful shouts.
Verse 4 reminds us to not Isolate, but engage with fellow believers…worship God with them, receive the support and encouragement they offer.