Second BOOK
(Psalms 42—72)
To the chief musician, a maskil for the sons of Korah
42:Title The sons of Korah (see Num 16:32) were a band of singers in the worship of God (1 Chron 6:1, 16, 22; 9:19; 26:1). The Hebrew word translated “for” here can also mean “of”. Usually in the titles to the Psalms it seems to mean “of” or “by”, but here it could mean “for” the sons of Korah – in other words, written for them to sing, or set it to music. It is unlikely that a group of people would write a psalm as personal as this, and use the singular pronoun. However, since it is possible that an individual among them did so, “of” may indicate “one of” the sons of Korah. The matter is doubtful. The language of this psalm sounds very much like David’s language in other places. Maskil was probably a literary or musical term.⚜
42
📚As the deer pantsfor the water brooks,
so pants my soul for you, O God.
42:1 Perhaps a good name for this psalm is “Spiritual depression, its causes and cure”. See also Psalms 13 and 77, which have a similar theme. Here the writer speaks of five causes of his depression. \fp He sought God but did not seem to be able to enter into a fresh experience of His presence (vs 1,2). \fp His enemies taunted him because it seemed he was deserted by God (v 3). \fp He compared his present condition with happier, better times and grieved at the comparison (v 4). \fp He thinks he is submerged in troubles and sorrows sent by God (v 7). \fp And he feels that God has forgotten him for the time (v 9). \fp These are reasons enough for continual depression if one neglects the cure. He gives the cure in vs 5,6, and 11. In the word “why” (vs 5,9,11) he shows that he sees his depression is not proper, and not in accordance with a spiritual mind. In spite of very difficult circumstances he realizes that since God is his Saviour and his God, he should not be depressed. He decides to meditate on God (v 6). And he encourages himself to put his hope and trust in God. This is still the cure for troubled minds and depressed hearts. Giving in to gloomy feelings, unbelief, and despair is the opposite of what we should be doing, and we must fight against it and use God’s way to overcome all such things (Eph 6:10-18 is not without relevance here. One of the weapons Satan and his hordes use to try to defeat us in our spiritual life is discouragement or depression).⚜
2 📚My soul thirsts for God,
for the living God.
When will I come and appear
before God?
42:1-2 In times of depression (indeed at all times) he shows us what we should seek – not merely rescue from unhappy circumstances, or what God can do for us or give us, but God Himself. Personal experience with the great Creator of the universe is of greater value than the whole world and anything else that can be gained. Knowing Him is eternal life (John 17:3), and knowing Him better and experiencing His fellowship more deeply must be the chief concern of those who have eternal life (Eph 1:17; 3:18-19; Phil 3:8, 10). And it is surely the way to overcome discouragement and temptations to despair. From David’s experience recorded here (if indeed David wrote this) we can see that at times God seems at a distance and must be sought (Jer 29:13).⚜
3 📚My tears have been my food day
and night,
while they continually say to me,
“Where is your God?”
4 📚When I remember these things,
I pour out my soul in me.
For I used to go 📖 with the multitude;
I went with them to the house
of God,
with the sound of joy and praise,
with a multitude keeping
a pilgrim festival.
42:4 Remembrance of things past can add to depression, but may also be a step toward relief from it (see note on remembering at Deut 8:1). Remembrance of God’s nearness and goodness in the past can give hope that He will draw near and show His goodness again.⚜
5 📚Why are you cast down,
O my soul?
And why are you restless
in me?
Hope in God, for I will yet
praise him 📖 for the help
of his presence.
42:5 Hope for the future rises in his heart because of his faith in God, and his confidence that God has not forsaken him completely. Seeking God and renewing our trust in Him can conquer depression when nothing else can.⚜
6 📚O my God, my soul is cast down
within me.
Therefore I will remember you
from the land of Jordan and
from the heights of Hermon 📖,
from the hill Mizar.
7 📚Deep calls to deep at the noise
of your waterspouts.
All your waves and your billows
have gone over me.
42:7 It sometimes seems to believers that they are drowning in a great sea of troubles (Ps 18:16; 69:1-2; 88:7). Notice that the writer says that it is God’s waves and breakers which have swept over him. Compare Job 1:21; 2:10; Gen 45:8; 50:20. What God causes to sweep over us He can cause to pass on beyond us, and give us peace even when we are hit by the waves. No matter what conditions are like now, there is still a good future ahead for those who hope in God.⚜
8 📚Yet the LORD will command
his loving kindness in the daytime,
and in the night his song 📖
will be with me,
and my prayer to the God
of my life 📖.
42:8 Even in the deepest trouble and depression he did not give up his confidence in God. Compare Ps 13:5-6. God is with His people in all circumstances (Isa 43:2; 50:10). And we should be confident that He can make them victorious in everything – compare Rom 8:37; 2 Tim 4:18.⚜
9 📚I will say to God my rock 📖,
“Why have you forgotten me?
Why do I go about mourning
because of the oppression
of the enemy?”
10 📚As with a sword
in my bones,
my enemies taunt me,
while daily they say to me,
“Where is your God?”
42:10 Verse 3.⚜
11 📚Why are you cast down,
O my soul?
And why are you restless
within me?
Hope in God, for I will yet
praise him,
who is the health
of my countenance,
and my God.
42:11 We too may speak, and should speak, to ourselves and encourage ourselves to hope and believe that God will give us victory and peace in depressing circumstances.⚜