Psalms 42 -- Old Testament -- Gospel Daily

Psalms

Chapter 42

Longing for God amid sorrow and mockery

The psalmist expresses an intense thirst for God's presence, comparing his soul's desire to a hart panting for water. His tears have become his nourishment as enemies taunt him, asking where his God is. Though cast down and troubled, the psalmist recalls God's past lovingkindness and determines to maintain hope, knowing that God will command His kindness even in the night and provide aid against the oppression of his enemies.

Thirst for GodSorrow and tearsEnemy oppositionHope in GodGod's lovingkindness

¹As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.

²My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?

³My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God?

⁴When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday.

⁵Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.

⁶O my God, my soul is cast down within me: therefore will I remember thee from the land of Jordan, and of the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar.

⁷Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me.

⁸Yet the LORD will command his lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life.

⁹I will say unto God my rock, Why hast thou forgotten me? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?

¹⁰As with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me; while they say daily unto me, Where is thy God?

¹¹Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.