Psalm 42—43: Hoping in the Lord
THE AUTHOR OF Psalm 42 was a musician who used to lead the procession of worshipers to the temple in Jerusalem. But now the holy temple of God lay in ruins; the fields and vineyards were burned, and this former spiritual leader sat six hundred miles away—an exile in Babylon.
The psalmist grieved over his circumstances. Like the other holy people of his era, he had linked drawing near to God with going up to God's temple. How could he worship God now? And, as his taunters reminded him, where was God anyway?
Warming Up to God
When is it hard for you to worship God? Talk honestly with God about your struggles.
Read Psalm 42-43. »
Discovering the Word
- 42:5 and 11 and 43:5 form a refrain for this psalm. What do you find in this refrain that makes it important enough to repeat?
- The psalmist speaks honestly and openly to God. What words does he use to tell how he is feeling?
- Why might the psalmist's honest words with God about his past and his present help to strengthen his faith?
- Not all of what the psalmist says is about himself and his past. He also focuses on God. What aspects of God's character does he acknowledge (42:5, 8-9; 43:2, 3)?
- How might a firm belief in a God of this character bring hope—even to an ancient Hebrew in exile?
Applying the Word
- What kinds of things are likely to throw you into depression?
- What do you talk about with God and with others when you are depressed?
- Based on this psalm, when depression comes, what measures can you take to begin to cope with it?
Responding in Prayer
Ask God to help you understand your own feelings of depression. Ask him to help you focus on him and to more readily turn to him, both with your own depression and with that of a troubled friend.
For Further Study
Why Do Christians Shoot Their Wounded by Dwight L. Carson