Psalm 42
BOOK TWO
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?”
4These 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 6and my God.
My soul is cast down within me;
therefore I remember you
from the land of Jordan and of Hermon,
from Mount Mizar.
7Deep calls to deep
at the roar of your waterfalls;
all your breakers and your waves
have gone over me.
8By day the LORD commands his steadfast love,
and at night his song is with me,
a prayer to the God of my life.
9I say to God, my rock:
“Why have you forgotten me?
Why do I go mourning
because of the oppression of the enemy?”
10As 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.
#1 by Katie Connette on March 11, 2010 - 7:18 am
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i love david’s honesty and humility before the Lord. he understands that he’s in a pit, has nowhere to go, and that nothing he can do can get him out of it. hope in God, Hope in God, HOPE IN GOD!
#2 by Bill on March 11, 2010 - 11:37 am
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Amen Katie!
Do you guys ever have times where you just feel sad (or your soul is “downcast”)? Many of the times that I feel sad I think I want to believe that the solution is to change my circumstances or do something fun. I love how David says that the answer to his soul being downcast is to “hope in the Lord.” That’s so helpful for me to think about!
Let’s hope in the Lord! Maranatha!
#3 by Cory on March 12, 2010 - 4:57 pm
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I love how David talks to himself and reminds himself of what is true. I so often get caught up in my thoughts and worries and start to believe things that are not true. But like David, I should then remind myself to believe what is true and put my hope completely in God!
#4 by Micah on March 13, 2010 - 9:02 am
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Amen Amen Amen!! Like all you said, I love this Psalm!