When God Seems Far
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The Background of the Psalm
Sons of Korah are the authors along with several other Psalms
Korah responded to the struggles of wandering in the desert by rebelling against Moses and was swallowed up by the earth
His rebellion was to overthrow the authority of Moses and make every man his own priest.
These descendents seem to have become leaders of worship in the temple.
From the passage, the author has in the past been deeply involved in temple worship, but is now far from the temple.
The author has also encountered difficult times and yearns for the relationship he had with God in His temple
For any who are suffering through times when God seems far away, This passage is for you.
Psalm 42 and Psalm 43 form a single poem with three stanzas, each concluding with an identical conclusion statement (vs. 42:5; 42:11; 43:5)
The Psalmist describes a desperate longing for restoring his relationship with God - Psalm 42:1-5
The Psalmist describes a desperate longing for restoring his relationship with God - Psalm 42:1-5
As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God.
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?
My tears have been my food day and night, while people say to me all day long, “Where is your God?”
The Psalmist describes his longing in graphic terms
The Psalmist describes his longing in graphic terms
A deer gasping for life
Thirsting for God
The lostness of not knowing where to go
Tears are his food - Have you ever been so distressed you couldn’t eat
The mocking and ridicule of skeptics
The Psalmist reflects on what his relationship was once like with his God - Psalm 42:4
The Psalmist reflects on what his relationship was once like with his God - Psalm 42:4
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.
He remembers going to God’s house
He remembers the protection of God from the kind of things he is now experiencing
He remembers the praise and joy
He remembers the people he was with
The Psalmist concludes the stanza with his statement of purpose - Psalm 42:5
The Psalmist concludes the stanza with his statement of purpose - Psalm 42:5
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.
He asks himself why he is down
He acknowledges that if he puts his trust in God he will again be restored to that close relationship
The Psalmist discovers the solution to his distress - Psalm 42:6-11
The Psalmist discovers the solution to his distress - Psalm 42:6-11
The Psalmist looks at his situation as a storm - Psalm 42:6-7
The Psalmist looks at his situation as a storm - Psalm 42:6-7
My soul is downcast within me; therefore I will remember you from the land of the Jordan, the heights of Hermon—from Mount Mizar.
Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me.
The storm is powerful and fierce
The storm is also soon to pass
The Psalmist acknowledges that God is with him even in his present circumstances - Psalm 42:8
The Psalmist acknowledges that God is with him even in his present circumstances - Psalm 42:8
By day the Lord directs his love, at night his song is with me— a prayer to the God of my life.
This verse is the first use of the name Jehovah in referring to God - It implies a more awe filled relationship with God
He sees God’s love throughout his day
These are the sam circumstances, but he now sees them differently
Nights are filled with songs of praise
This all comes through prayer
The Psalmist questions his suffering - Psalm 42:9-10
The Psalmist questions his suffering - Psalm 42:9-10
I say to God my Rock, “Why have you forgotten me? Why must I go about mourning, oppressed by the enemy?”
My bones suffer mortal agony as my foes taunt me, saying to me all day long, “Where is your God?”
Why Me?
Why not me? None of us is worthy of being above suffering
Where is God?
He is with us even when we cannot see him at work
The Psalmist concludes this stanza with the same statement of hope - Psalm 42:11
The Psalmist concludes this stanza with the same statement of hope - Psalm 42:11
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.
The Psalmist looks to his future with God - Psalm 43
The Psalmist looks to his future with God - Psalm 43
As he looks to the future, he desires security and refuge from those who are evil - Psalm 43:1-2
As he looks to the future, he desires security and refuge from those who are evil - Psalm 43:1-2
Vindicate me, my God, and plead my cause against an unfaithful nation. Rescue me from those who are deceitful and wicked.
You are God my stronghold. Why have you rejected me? Why must I go about mourning, oppressed by the enemy?
As he looks to the future, he recognizes that his need is to dwell close to God - Psalm 43:3-4
As he looks to the future, he recognizes that his need is to dwell close to God - Psalm 43:3-4
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.
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.
He asks for light
He seeks to be in God’s presence
His desire is to praise God
In conclusion, he asks the same questions as before and answers them with hope in God - Psalm 43:5
In conclusion, he asks the same questions as before and answers them with hope in God - Psalm 43:5
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.