Psalm Chapter 42

To the chief Musician, Maschil, for the sons of Korah.

• Psalm 42:1  As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.

What a wonderful attitude to have toward God. How marvelous to desire His presence so much that it is compared to a thirsty deer who is happy to find clean fresh water. The word of God cleanses our soul like water cleanses our body. The word of God refreshes us similar to how water refreshes a thirsty traveler.

Christ gave Himself for the salvation His body of believers we call the church or called out ones.  They are sanctified by the word.

• Ephesians 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

• John 4:10 Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.

• John 4:14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

• John 7:38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

• Hebrews 10:22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

• Psalm 42:2 My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?

We shall appear before God one day. If we desire that day, it is a good sign that we are ready to meet Him. If we fear His coming, then we either are not ready to meet Him or else we love this present world too much. This does not mean that we should desire death but desire that He come back again.

Death is not really death to a child of God. To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. So in essence, we are not really dead when our body dies. We live with the Lord if we have received His salvation and in hell if we refuse His salvation. The body only dies at death, the soul and spirit live one place or the other. That is why Jesus came and suffered for our sins so that we do not have to perish forever in Hell. It is not the will of God that any soul die and be lost.

• Psalm 42:3 My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God?

Mockers of our faith in God will say these things to us. They will mock and ask, "Where is our God?" This may happen if tragic things happen in the life of a faithful follower of Jesus Christ. Unbelievers may see this and say, "If God is real, why did He let this happen?" Then too, we may think this ourselves and hear the mocker of all souls speak these words. That mocker being the devil of course. There is always a danger of being too rich and comfortable that we might forget God or else suffer loss and doubt God. God will give us strength to be able to avoid unbelief in both of these extremes and trust in Him at all times. 

• Psalm 42:4 When 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.

If we have to follow a crowd, it is better to be identified with those that worship and praise God then those who follow a multitude to do evil.

• Exodus 23:2 Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil; neither shalt thou speak in a cause to decline after many to wrest judgment:

• Psalm 42:5 Why 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.
• 6 O 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.
• 7 Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me.

There will be times when we feel like waters are drowning us in sorrows and we may feel forsaken, abandoned and alone.

• Psalm 42:8 Yet 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.

God will never forsake those that seek Him with a sincere heart. He will answer the prayer of His faithful believers.

• Psalm 42:9 I will say unto God my rock, Why hast thou forgotten me? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?
• 10 As with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me; while they say daily unto me, Where is thy God?
• 11 Why 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.

Faith in God is our hope and strength. I believe we should praise God and depend upon Him when things are going great and not just when things are bad. Some praise God when things go well and lose faith when bad happens. Others ignore God when things go well and call upon Him only when the hard times hit.

It is better to depend and look to God always, never relying upon our own strength. Our strength will fail, but His remains strong always. -DC

• Philippians 4:12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 
• 13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Psalm 43

Psalm Index