Psalms Reading – 2.10.2022
Psalm 42
For the director of music. A maskil of the Sons of Korah.
1 As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God.
2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?
3 My tears have been my food day and night, while people say to me all day long,
2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?
3 My tears have been my food day and night, while people say to me all day long,
“Where is your God?”
4 These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go to the house of God
4 These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go to the house of God
under the protection of the Mighty One with shouts of joy and praise among the festive throng.
5 Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.
Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.
6 My soul is downcast within me; therefore I will remember you
from the land of the Jordan, the heights of Hermon—from Mount Mizar.
7 Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me.
from the land of the Jordan, the heights of Hermon—from Mount Mizar.
7 Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me.
8 By day the Lord directs his love, 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 must I go about mourning,
oppressed by the enemy?”
10 My bones suffer mortal agony as my foes taunt me, saying to me all day long, “Where is your God?”
10 My bones suffer mortal agony as my foes taunt me, saying to me all day long, “Where is your God?”
11 Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.
Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.
Psalm 43
1 Vindicate me, my God, and plead my cause against an unfaithful nation.
Rescue me from those who are deceitful and wicked.
2 You are God my stronghold. Why have you rejected me?
Rescue me from those who are deceitful and wicked.
2 You are God my stronghold. Why have you rejected me?
Why must I go about mourning, oppressed by the enemy?
3 Send me your light and your faithful care, let them lead me;
let them bring me to your holy mountain, to the place where you dwell.
4 Then I will go to the altar of God, to God, my joy and my delight.
I will praise you with the lyre, O God, my God.
3 Send me your light and your faithful care, let them lead me;
let them bring me to your holy mountain, to the place where you dwell.
4 Then I will go to the altar of God, to God, my joy and my delight.
I will praise you with the lyre, O God, my God.
5 Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.
Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.
These two psalms appear to have been one psalm originally. The sons of Korah were from a Levitical family with musical and gatekeeping responsibilities at God’s house. There are three stanzas each with an identical refrain. The first two stanzas are passionate laments while the third is a plea for help.
The word “soul” speaks of our core being, the very essence of who we are. The psalmist’s soul pants, thirsts, pours out to God, and is downcast. He prays to God but also talks to himself. He uses soul-talk in asking why he is so disturbed. It appears he is in exile and is not able to meet with God at the temple in Jerusalem. Since he is a worship leader and understood God’s presence to be located at the temple, this was a very disheartening time. However, he refuses to give up. He declares that the Lord shows His love by day, and God’s song is with him at night. In his darkness, he models for us how to have healthy self-talk so we can once again trust in God and offer praise to our Savior.
Memory Verse:
Psalm 39:7, “But now, Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in you.”
Question(s) to Consider:
How can you use such soul-talk to get you through difficult times and renew your trust in God?