A Cast Down Soul
[ READ ] Psalm 42
Why Are You Cast Down, O My Soul?
To the choirmaster. A Maskil of the Sons of Korah.
1 As a deer pants for flowing streams,
so pants my soul for you, O God.
2 My soul thirsts for God,
for the living God.
When shall I come and appear before God?
3 My tears have been my food
day and night,
while they say to me all the day long,
“Where is your God?”
4 These things I remember,
as I pour out my soul:
how I would go with the throng
and lead them in procession to the house of God
with glad shouts and songs of praise,
a multitude keeping festival.
5 Why are you cast down, O my soul,
and why are you in turmoil within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
my salvation 6 and my God.
My soul is cast down within me;
therefore I remember you
from the land of Jordan and of Hermon,
from Mount Mizar.
7 Deep calls to deep
at the roar of your waterfalls;
all your breakers and your waves
have gone over me.
8 By day the Lord commands his steadfast love,
and at night his song is with me,
a prayer to the God of my life.
9 I say to God, my rock:
“Why have you forgotten me?
Why do I go mourning
because of the oppression of the enemy?”
10 As with a deadly wound in my bones,
my adversaries taunt me,
while they say to me all the day long,
“Where is your God?”
11 Why are you cast down, O my soul,
and why are you in turmoil within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
my salvation and my God.
To the choirmaster. A Maskil of the Sons of Korah.
1 As a deer pants for flowing streams,
so pants my soul for you, O God.
2 My soul thirsts for God,
for the living God.
When shall I come and appear before God?
3 My tears have been my food
day and night,
while they say to me all the day long,
“Where is your God?”
4 These things I remember,
as I pour out my soul:
how I would go with the throng
and lead them in procession to the house of God
with glad shouts and songs of praise,
a multitude keeping festival.
5 Why are you cast down, O my soul,
and why are you in turmoil within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
my salvation 6 and my God.
My soul is cast down within me;
therefore I remember you
from the land of Jordan and of Hermon,
from Mount Mizar.
7 Deep calls to deep
at the roar of your waterfalls;
all your breakers and your waves
have gone over me.
8 By day the Lord commands his steadfast love,
and at night his song is with me,
a prayer to the God of my life.
9 I say to God, my rock:
“Why have you forgotten me?
Why do I go mourning
because of the oppression of the enemy?”
10 As with a deadly wound in my bones,
my adversaries taunt me,
while they say to me all the day long,
“Where is your God?”
11 Why are you cast down, O my soul,
and why are you in turmoil within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
my salvation and my God.
Psalm 42 is a beautiful example of having great faith in the darkest moments of life. Imagine being so filled with sorrow that you feel like your only sustenance are your own tears, the psalmist also says in these moments he was mocked by those around him questioning if God was even with him.
Yet in the midst of his sorrow, he looks inward, and confronts his own feelings of discouragement by asking, “Why are you in turmoil within me?” Then a very important part of this passage is that rather than shy away or further his distance from God, he brings this problem to Him. He tells God that his soul is downcast, but he also remembers all that God has provided for him, even in despair his hope remains in God, and that leads him to keep praising the Lord.
- Keegan Geis
Yet in the midst of his sorrow, he looks inward, and confronts his own feelings of discouragement by asking, “Why are you in turmoil within me?” Then a very important part of this passage is that rather than shy away or further his distance from God, he brings this problem to Him. He tells God that his soul is downcast, but he also remembers all that God has provided for him, even in despair his hope remains in God, and that leads him to keep praising the Lord.
- Keegan Geis
[ EXAMINE ] the passage. At this point, answer some questions about the meaning of the text. Take time to reflect.
+ What does this psalm teach us about bringing our struggles honestly before God?
+ What images does the psalmist use to describe his longing for God?
+ What does this psalm teach us about bringing our struggles honestly before God?
+ What images does the psalmist use to describe his longing for God?
[ APPLY ] the passage to your own life.
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ How can reflecting on God's past faithfulness help you in difficulties?
+ When have you felt spiritual sorrow or distance from God like the psalmist?
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ How can reflecting on God's past faithfulness help you in difficulties?
+ When have you felt spiritual sorrow or distance from God like the psalmist?
[ PRAY ] through the passage and your application, and ask God to change your heart and your life.
+ Pray with me:
Heavenly Father, I thank you for your faithfulness and your steadfast love. I pray that when my soul is in despair or when I feel distanced from you that I will always remember what you have done for me. Thank you for your word and how you guide us into being more like you each and every day. “For I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.” Amen.
+ Pray with me:
Heavenly Father, I thank you for your faithfulness and your steadfast love. I pray that when my soul is in despair or when I feel distanced from you that I will always remember what you have done for me. Thank you for your word and how you guide us into being more like you each and every day. “For I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.” Amen.
[ SHARE ] what God is teaching you with at least one person: your roommate,
your spouse, your kids, or your coworkers. Don’t keep what God taught you to
yourself.
(e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join a community group at downtownhope.org/community-groups)
+ What truth from this psalm would you want a friend to hear this week?
your spouse, your kids, or your coworkers. Don’t keep what God taught you to
yourself.
(e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join a community group at downtownhope.org/community-groups)
+ What truth from this psalm would you want a friend to hear this week?
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