Ps 42: An upward look by a downcast soul?

(Reality): In recent months, sadness has hit us in new and challenging ways through a virus that has caused so much fear and death. We live in a world where the reality of depression and anxiety is very real. Just consider these headlines:

- “COVID-19 has likely tripled depression rate.” A study by the Boston University School of Medicine finds that 27.8 percent of U.S. adults had depression symptoms as of mid-April, compared to 8.5 percent before.

- Another study from the Census Bureau in USA, “A third of Americans are showing signs of clinical anxiety or depression…”

(Ripple in the church): We live in a world consumed with stress, anxiety, fear, isolation. The prediction of a second wave has become a reality. And that means things close, groups get smaller, people are isolated, loved ones get sick, and people like you, like me get anxious. It’s possible, even likely that there are those in the church, even here today, that are worried about the future and struggling with depression.

(Tension): From a wider perspective, how are we to cope with anxiety, discouragement and depression? Or, to state the question in a different way, how are we, as Christians, to respond when you or I become despondent in our suffering, when God feels absent from us? How are you going you comfort your soul when cries out, “Where is God in all my suffering?”

(Introduction to Psalm 42): This morning, we are going to focus our attention on the 42nd Psalm. Is a well-know psalm for those that are familiar with the bible. It’s a psalm put to words the feelings and experiences of an anguished soul, a troubled mind, a depressed spirit, a discouraged Christian.

And as we open God’s Word this morning to this psalm, I’m sure that many here today will immediately be taken back in their mind to a time in their life which was filled with pain, torment and difficulties. Times that you would never want to relive. And during those times, perhaps the well-know words of Psalm 42 came to your mind.

There are some here this morning that are living in that exact dark hole. Perhaps there are some that come into this place with thoughts that are consumed with fear, eyes that are filled with tears, throats that are raw from crying, and a heart that struggles to beat in rhythm. And for you, the raw emotions and reality expressed in this psalm mirrors your struggles life, even last night as your tried to sleep on your bed.

It is true, as Spurgeon said, that… “The road to sorrow has been well trodden, it is the regular sheep track to heaven, and all the flock of God have had to pass along it.”

It’s even possible that some here find this psalm very discouraging. After reading this psalm, your conscious reminds you that you don’t have enough faith, that somehow your hope in God is inadequate, and that if you only trust in God more, all your discouragements will go away. And if it’s not your conscious telling you this, then perhaps regrettably a Christian friend comes up to you; “stop being so downcast, just hope in God. Don’t you believe? Rejoice always, be anxious for nothing… (Phil 4)” So, this psalm might, for some, bring discouragement and despair.

The question, then, is this: how do we move forward when it feels that God is absent from us? In this psalm we have an example of such a person. Psalm 42 gives us a window of a deeply troubled soul, a snapshot into the dark nights of a Christian. Even more that than, he shows us hot to be miserable in a godly way; how to trust God, even when your spiritually depressed and anxious. This psalm is timely given the reality that we are struggling with.

Let’s read this Psalm: Read Psalm 42

Life can be so unpredictable—joys and sorrows, beautiful blessings and distressing difficulties can come unexpectedly. Our life’s dreams and plans can change in an instant. We all know this to be true. So how can we find peace amid such turbulence? This morning, we sang the well-known song ‘It is well with my soul’ penned by Horatio Spafford (Chicago fire-1872, trip to Europe-1873, collision at sea, 4 daughter dies, Anna survived. “Saved alone what shall I do”.

When peace like a river attendeth my way, When sorrows like sea billows roll; Whatever my lot Thou hast taught me to say, “It is well, it is well with my soul!”

For some of us, these words area a reality, and we sing these words as a confession of faith: through thick and thin, through times of joy and stormy trials, we are able to calm ourselves with the knowledge that it is well with my soul. We sing these words with confidence.

But there are others here today who struggle to sing these words. Perhaps your voice cracks, or you just mouth the words for fear of breaking down. The words of this psalm are like a hopeful wish, a dream. In reality, what you experience is this:

When grief like a torrent destroyeth my way When sorrows like sea billow roll God has forgotten, my God is away It’s not well, it’s not well with my soul.

What do we do when it is no longer well with your soul, or my soul?

The sorrows like sea billows roll. Life caves it. The door slams. Your knees begin to buckle. Your mind wants to break because life stomped on you and God didn’t stop it. Suddenly, your faith gets tested, and you will have to bank everything on what you profess to believe about God. Possibly for the first time, or the 100th time, your trust in God must be proven.

(Tension): How do we speak into those situations? …or encourage your friend? …or support your wife? …or assist your struggling pastor? What’s the cure for a downcast soul, a depressed spirit?

Psalm 42 gives us the good news, the best new… It encourages us to direct the focus of the downcast soul to God – God alone gives us hope and comfort, even in the darkest of nights.

An upward look by a downcast soul

1. The crisis

2. The cure

Point 1: The crisis

As we read the psalm before us this morning, we should note that the crisis which the author was experiencing was 2-fold. I wonder if you noticed that? Firstly, he was facing an external, physical crisis. And secondly, and internal crisis. Let’s see that together:

External/Outward Crisis

Have a look at verses 2 & 4, it becomes evident that the psalmist was isolated.

“2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?” (Psalm 42:2, NIV)

For whatever reason, he could not be in the temple of God in Jerusalem. He couldn’t be in God’s presence. He couldn’t meet with God. He couldn’t offer his sacrifices. He was isolated. And not only that, but he was also isolated from the people 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.” (Psalm 42:4, NIV)

He couldn’t sing shouts of joy and praise among the believers. He couldn’t share fellowship with the friends. He was alone. It’s not clear from the Psalm the reason for his isolation. He could have been exile or captivity. Perhaps it was sickness or some other reason. Evidently, whatever was restraining him from going to the temple, it was for a prolonged period of time.

Not only was the psalmist isolated from the temple, but he was also experiencing obvious suffering and trauma in his life. Those around him – his neighbours, his friends, and even his enemies recognised that things where going well. We can see this in verses 3 & 10:

people say to me all day long, “Where is your God?” (Psalm 42:3, NIV)

The taunt “Where is your God?” implies that something else has gone wrong too, or they wouldn’t be saying, “Where is your God?” Again, the psalmist doesn’t describe what it was that has gone wrong in his life.

(Connection to listener): We live in a very different context to the psalmist. Today, we don’t locate God in a literal, particular building like the psalmist did. We don’t go on pilgrimages to the temple. We don’t have physical enemies to hide from. There is a difference, isn’t there?

But we are human, just like the psalmist. And we experience the effect of effect of sin in our life, just as the psalmist did. It’s not difficult, is it, to imagine what that eternal suffering might look like today? I know there are many that can identify with the suffering which, perhaps, the psalmist endured. Living with disabilities. Struggling with sickness and poor health. Breakdown of a relationship. Whatever the case may be. There are all effects of sin. Sin by others, sin by ourselves. Sin in general. And when this suffering is amplified by time, we can become discouraged, can’t we?

I’m sure that in a unique way, particular to the year 2020, we might understand of little of what the psalmist went through – isolated from the worship of God with the people of God. For many months now, we have been unable to meet together as a church family. It seems like along time ago that we could enjoy the close friendship that desire. Things are so different, and as see the second wave coming, and the regression of phases, it’s easy to despair. And again, this can be a reason for deep discouragement.

Internal crisis (within).

The psalmist not only suffered external, physical suffering. He also had an internal crisis within himself. At all times of the day and night (v3), he is in tears, he’s upset and mourning (v9). And then we get that raw refrain:

Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? (v5, v11).

Twice he repeats this refrain. He wants God to know that he’s struggling. His soul is downcast, he’s in despair. As he considers his situation, he is overwhelmed again.

“7 Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me.” (Psalm 42:7, NIV)

Can you imagine what the psalmist is going through? **Ps 69:1 (BoP)** He’s drowning from one tribulation after another – sea billowing, wave after wave. He has just endured one crisis, and bang, another one rushes it. He got dumped by one wave, and before he can get his footing, crash, another follows. As we sang earlier, ‘when the oceans are rising, the thunder is roaring’ and the psalmist has no strength left to survive.

(Connection to listener): I am sure that there are some here this morning who are experiencing an internal crisis, drowning in flood waters, gasping in the breaking waves. It seems as if you are lurching from one crisis to another. The pain of loneliness... There are many who live with and battle against depression, where even getting out of bed in the morning is difficult. Some, here, may struggle with the effects of abuse. Some here may have been neglected or betrayed by a spouse, family member or friend. I’m sure that some here today are racked with guilt, perhaps pain that we’ve cause other or regrets that we live with. And then those are those who wrestle with chemical imbalances within their body, when medication is required just to get through the day. And we cry out,

Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me?

End result: Spiritual depression

And what was the result for the psalmist of all these painful circumstances? Discouragement → despondency. We have a tendency to become despondent because of our situation. It is possible that we feel that God is no longer directing our circumstances. We feel that God is no longer looking over us. Often, we can’t always understand or comprehend God’s plan for us, and when we don’t understand, then we assume that God does not have a plan for us. And sometimes our response to these circumstances can take a dark turn. Grief, despondency turns into despair. We hold out for as long as we can, but then it becomes to much.

We can see this in the psalm, can’t we? The psalmist struggles to see God’s providential care through all his suffering. In fact, he goes further. God seems absent from him.

9 I say to God my Rock, “Why have you forgotten me? (Ps 42:9)

That feeling when God is absent, is what is sometimes called spiritual depression. It’s that God has left them and they are spiritually and emotionally alone. Spiritual depression is a crisis of faith, when the trauma we experience, whether external or internal, becomes an occasion for outright spiritual battle. There is a tug-of-war between God and the despair brought about by the circumstances. Spiritual depression can affect all people – the mature in faith, and those still learning. The old and the young. Some of the most well-know Christians struggled with spiritual depression. Listen to C.S. Lewis:

“Where is God? This is one of the most disquieting symptoms. When you are happy, so happy that you have no sense of needing God, you will be welcomed with open arms. But go to Him when your need is desperate, when all other help is vain, and what do you find? A door slammed in your face, and a sound of bolting and double bolting on the inside. After that, silence. You may as well turn away. The longer you wait, the more emphatic the silence will become. There are no lights in the windows. It might be an empty house. Why is God so present a commander in our time of prosperity and so very absent a help in time of trouble? (A Grief Observed, C. S. Lewis)

We’re not alone in this crisis. There is another man also knows what it’s like to suffer, to feal grief. That man is Jesus Christ, the Son of God and your Saviour. He know what it’s like. When seeing a close friend who died, we read that Jesus spirit was troubled (John 11:33). Just a short while later, when speaking about his death, Jesus prays to God “My soul is troubled (Jn 12:27). And again, in the next chapter “Jesus was troubled in spirit (Jn 13:21). Stirred up, agitated, not at peace. And in the garden called Gethsemane, Jesus said to his friends, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death (Mt 26:38).”

Dear friends, church is more than just consoling and encouraging one another, to help hurting souls, supporting eachother. It’s so much more. We come, acknowledging that Jesus, who is the Son of God – he is able to sympathize with our weaknesses (Heb 4:15). Beauty of Christianity – Christ came down in flesh (Christmas), he experienced a lived a broken life. He knows, he understands.

Question, then, is this? What the cure for spiritual depression? What’s the remedy for a soul that fails to feel the presence of God?

“16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16)

What’s the antidote for a downcast soul? Look upwards. Look to God.

Point 2: The Cure

This morning I want to draw out 2 conclusions, 2 responses which the psalmist uses to cure his downcast soul. Both have to do with talking.

i. Talk to God (v1-2)

This is amazing, and I hope that you are encouraged. Although God felt absent, the psalmist recognises that he must turn to God in supplication! Though God seems to have forgotten him, the psalmist knew that he must pour out his heart to God.

“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.” (Psalm 42:1–2)

Yes, it’s true that the psalmist couldn’t feel God’s presence. But he recognised that God still heard his cries, God still saw his tears. And so prays to the living God. And notice that the psalmist thirst for God! He’s not thirsting for a relief from his situation. He’s not crying out for his enemies to be destroyed. Of course, there is nothing wrong with praying for relief. But first and foremost, on the psalmist mind was to pray to God for God himself. God is not only the object of our praises when things are going well for us, but God is also the source of comfort and strength when things are not going well. The psalmist needed to talk to God.

And the truth this morning is that the psalmist didn’t only need to talk to God. So also did Jesus Christ. Our Saviour was a man of prayer. All 4 Gospels tell us that Jesus regularly went to his Father in prayer. Time and time again, we read of Jesus talking to God, his Father. In times of great need, just before his death, when his would is so troubled that he sweated blood, at that time, he goes to God in prayer. Even in the cross, when great darkness covered the land, Jesus cries out in anguish of soul the word of Ps 42:9: “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me!”

(Application):

This truth, which was so critical for the psalmist, is also true for us today, for those suffering from discouragement and spiritual depression. Even if you can’t feel God’s presence, God is always there. Going to God is an action of faith – believing God’s promises to be true despite what you see and feel. He wants us to walk by faith, not by sight; and walking by faith means sometimes pressing on when we can’t feel or see Him. Listen to this promise God made with the people of Israel:

“2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. 3 For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.” (Isaiah 43:2–3, NIV)

Note when you through water, when you walk through the fire… when this happens, remember that I will be with you. Remember God, your faithful God!

Why can we be so confident that God will be with us? Not because we are great people, not because we are so wonderful. No, God will never abandon or leave us, only because God is faithful to all his promises. He says in multiple places throughout scripture, (Dt 31:6, Heb 13:5), ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’ When we promise “always” or “never” we are incapable of upholding it. Thus, the infamous saying, “never say never!” However, when God promises “always” or “never” He can be fully trusted to honor His word. “I will never leave you, I will never forsake you.” God is always faithful to his promises.

Therefore: even when God feels distant, turn to God, your heavenly Father. In faith, go to him in prayer, in lament, in times of tears, in times of grief. Even when you can’t see God’s plan for your life, turn to him and pray, cry out to God, for faithful father. Go to Jesus, your Saviour, who will never let you go. Talk to your Saviour, who knows what it’s like to be deeply troubled. Flee to Jesus, for “whoever believes in him will never be thirsty.” (John 6:35, NIV). The reason go to God, is because in his Son, we have the drink for a thirsty soul.

ii. Talk to your soul (v5, 11)

The second truth that God teaches us in the passage today is this, that we need to talk to ourselves, preach to ourselves (v5, v11).

5 Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me?

You need to speak to yourself, instead of letting yourself speak to you! I cannot say it any better or more eloquently, so listen how Dr Martin Lloyd-Jones explained these verses:

“We have to learn is what the Psalmist learned—we must learn to take our-selves in hand. This man… talks to himself. The problem is this, that we allow our self to talk to us instead of talking to our self… Take those thoughts that come to you the moment you wake up in the morning. You have not originated them, but they start talking to you, they bring back the problems of yesterday, etc. Who is talking to you? Your self is talking to you. Now this man’s treatment was this; instead of allowing this self to talk to him, he starts talking to himself.

What can I say to my soul? What will give ultimate hope for my soul? The psalmist tells us – Hope in God! Of course, for us today, we realize that our greatest hope is built on nothing less than the life, death and resurrection of our Saviour, Jesus Christ. We have hope, we have the gospel. And so, we preach the gospel to ourselves:

31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Rom 8:31-39)

Just as the psalmist did, we need to learn to preach the gospel to ourself. Focus our eyes on the cross, on what Jesus has secured for us through his death.

→ of God’s presence in the past (v4)

In a sense, that what the psalmist did. He looks back in past, to recall those times when we came joyfully into his presence in the company of the faithful. We can see this in verse 4:

“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.” (Psalm 42:4, NIV)

He reminds his souls of the pilgrimage to the temple, the festive celebrations. He brings to mind God’s faithfulness in times gone by, and uses this to encourage his soul.

Therefore: The same is true for us today. Bring to your memory how God has been faithful in the past. Recall God’s faithful, providential care for you. Recall how Jesus Christ, your Saviour was always there beside you, just as he promised.

→ of God’s presence in the present (v8)

The psalmist encourages his soul now, in the present, by singing songs in the night. Verse 8

“8 By day the Lord directs his love, at night his song is with me— a prayer to the God of my life.” (Psalm 42:8, NIV)

At night, when we are afraid to close our eyes in sleep. At night, when our mind gets flooded with discouragement. At night, the psalmist reflects on the Lord love. He uses the covenant name of God, YHWH. And he recalls his love, his steadfast, loyal love. The psalmist redirects his soul to God’s presence even in the darkest hour. He may be in danger, but God extends his loving covenant protection to him.

And I am sure that this psalm has also been the nighttime song for many people throughout the ages. So dear friends, when your soul is troubled, find time to sing. Have songs on your playlist that can encourage you when your downcast. Have songs that will focus your gaze upwards to God, the faithful and loving God.

→ of God’s presence in the future (v5, 11)

The psalmist also reassures his soul of God’s presence in the future. We can see this in the refrain in verses 5 & 11

Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.

The psalmist trusts that God will come through. Despite all that is happening to him, although he doesn’t feel God presence, though it feels that God has forgotten him, the psalmist acknowledges that he will again feel God’s presence. He will once again praise him. God has not changed. Therefore, his purposes for him have not changed. God is his salvation. God is the one bringing the trials and tribulations. They are God’s waves, God’s breakers. And if God brings trials in our life, God will also be our salvation out of these trials. What a wonderful thing to reassure ourselves when we are spiritually depressed?

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There is nothing that anyone has gone through, are currently going through, or will go through that Jesus cannot relate to, sympathize with or encourage his children in. Jesus Christ understands our weaknesses. He knows what we are going through. Here is the wonderful message of the gospel this morning.

We are all sinners, and don’t deserve God’s grace. But this text reminds us all that there is hope, even when we feel hopeless. Psalm 42 reminds us that our hope is not the absence of suffering, the absence of misery, the absence of despair and depression. No, we have hope despite our suffering, despite our suffering. Our hope for the future is not found in our own strength, our health, our medication. Our hope found in a person - Jesus Christ!

Conclusion

Is your soul downcast? Are the sea billows roaring over your head? Then hear these words from Jesus Christ, your Risen Saviour.

“17 The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.” (Revelation 22:17, ESV)

Come to Jesus, your Saviour. He has is arms around you, even you who are struggling with a deeply troubled soul. Christ didn’t only die for your sins; he also loves your soul. And so, even when God feels absent, Christ says, ‘Come, and drink.”

As the well-known ‘Footprints in the sand” poem reminds us,

One night a man had a dream. He dreamed he was walking along the beach with the LORD.

Across the sky flashed scenes from his life. For each scene he noticed two sets of footprints in the sand: one belonging to him, and the other to the LORD.

When the last scene of his life flashed before him, he looked back at the footprints in the sand.

He noticed that many times along the path of his life there was only one set of footprints. He also noticed that it happened at the very

lowest and saddest times in his life. This really bothered him and he

questioned the LORD about it:

"LORD, you said that once I decided to follow you, you'd walk with me all the way. But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life, there is only one set of footprints. I don't understand why when I needed you most you would leave me."

The LORD replied:

"My son, my precious child, I love you and I would never leave you. During your times of trial and suffering, when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you."

One day, on that great day when the Lord Jesus Christ returns, we will see him face-to-face. Then our laments shall be answered. As we read in Rev 21, we will dwell with God, and he will wipe away every tear from our eyes, and mourning, and crying, and stress, and anxiety, and worry, and depression will be no more. We will drink fully from the waters of life, and never be thirsty again. There, safety in the presence of God and our Saviour, the waves and breakers of the sea bill finally be stilled. There, we shall worship God forever. What hope, what a future awaits us, even for those whose soul is downcast.

2. Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come, Let this blessed assurance control, That Christ has regarded my helpless estate, And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

4. And Lord haste the day when the faith shall be sight, The clouds be rolled back as a scroll; The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend, Even so, it is well with my soul.