Psalm 42-43

Psalm 42 ESV

To the choirmaster. A Maskil of the Sons of Korah. 1 As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. 2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God? 3 My tears have been my food day and night, while they say to me all the day long, “Where is your God?” 4 These things I remember, as I pour out my soul: how I would go with the throng and lead them in procession to the house of God with glad shouts and songs of praise, a multitude keeping festival. 5 Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation 6 and my God. My soul is cast down within me; therefore I remember you from the land of Jordan and of Hermon, from Mount Mizar. 7 Deep calls to deep at the roar of your waterfalls; all your breakers and your waves have gone over me. 8 By day the Lord commands his steadfast love, and 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 do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?” 10 As with a deadly wound in my bones, my adversaries taunt me, while they say to me all the day long, “Where is your God?” 11 Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.

Psalm 43 ESV

1 Vindicate me, O God, and defend my cause against an ungodly people, from the deceitful and unjust man deliver me! 2 For you are the God in whom I take refuge; why have you rejected me? Why do I go about mourning because of the oppression of the enemy? 3 Send out your light and your truth; let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling! 4 Then I will go to the altar of God, to God my exceeding joy, and I will praise you with the lyre, O God, my God. 5 Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.

Birth of the Blues

Blues music typically combines melancholy lyrics and melodies in a standard structure. Blues music has its roots in the work songs of African Americans starting in the 1800s. These folk songs express sadness and hard times. Psalm 42-43 share a lot of similarities with the blues genre. It is a lament prayer sung by a person who is overwhelmed with grief and pain. But unlike the blues, these Psalms point us to recognize the One who turns our mourning and sorrow into gladness and joy. God makes the sad heart once again sing praises to God because He is the God of salvation. As we study these psalms, consider how you might express yourself honestly to God, both in praise and pain. God is both worthy and compassionate to receive both.

A History of God’s Grace

The superscript tells us that this song is connected to the Sons of Korah. The history of the Korah's immediate household started out in rebellion, to which God caused the ground to swallow them in judgment. Numbers 16:28-35 But the later descendants were not abandoned by God. The Korahites became gatekeepers and workers in the tabernacle. They also participated in the singing and worship of God. The sons of Korah are examples of God's grace to judge sin and extend mercy. In the same way, your family history may include a lot of mess, problems, and rebellion, but God has not given up. Your interest and desire to know Him is evidence of His steadfast love. And this is the hope of all who come to Him. He can change the rebellious trajectory of life into a life of worship and faithfulness. In the same way, your family history may include a lot of mess, problems, and rebellion, but God has not given up. Your interest and desire to know Him is evidence of His steadfast love. And this is the hope of all who come to Him. He can change the rebellious trajectory of life into a life of worship and faithfulness.

Thirsty Tears

The two psalms go together structurally with the pattern of a lament followed by a refrain of hope. The writer uses powerful imagery to describe a deep emotion. The primary concern is the temporary pain connected with exile. In the history of Israel, God allowed the once redeemed people to experience an exodus from the promised land. God did so as part of His covenant responsibility and love toward a rebellious people. No matter how severe the discipline was, it was done in love and hope that they would return to faith, love, and obedience to God. The songwriter is such a person. He recognizes that sin has changed the landscape of life. The psalm writer remembers the holy festivals and longs to participate but cannot because they are separated from the holy city, Jerusalem. Because of this, they are deeply sorrowful. You may recognize this feeling if you have been separated from home and family. Like a deer who thirsts for the abundant flowing water to quench a natural thirst, so does the one who experiences loss.

The songwriter misses two things. First, he misses the worship of God as God intended for Israel in the Temple. Second, he misses the fellowship included in worship with others. While we do not require a sacred place to worship God today, we can relate to the situation. The early days of the lockdown restrictions may have been necessary, yet many of us recognized that it should not be the new normal for worship. The natural response for the person who worships God is to do so with others. It logically fulfills the greatest commands to love God and love others. But exile prevents this from happening.

The writer describes his sadness as eating tears day and night. And added to this heaviness is the taunting of enemies who say, "Where is your God?" Moments of great sadness often cause us to question God's existence, love, and sovereignty. In moments like these, we must recognize the reality of sin and life in a fallen world. At times our foolish and sinful choices will cause us to feel the pain of wandering from God. But not all pain and suffering are a result of our own sin. At times, we will feel the pain of living in this sinful world. Yet, as believers, we can be like this psalm writer. We can state the reality of present sadness and the promise of future hope. The psalm writer appears to confidently encourage himself that God is Salvation and God is God. As Salvation, God will bring an end to exile and sadness. As God, He is in sovereign control of the situation, even though it appears like the end. It is good to have honest faith that can recognize the present reality and look to God for the future.

Overwhelming Distance

In the next section, the writer mentions his familiar location of the mountainous regions near the Jordan River. As he remembers the physical location, his sadness is like a waterfall and rushing river. The picture is not of drinking water but of potential drowning. The pain of exile and God's discipline seem like too much to handle, and it would be were it not for God's faithfulness. By day God, when the singer is awake, He is aware of God's presence. And at night, he is able to lay his head down in confidence that God is in control.

At this point, we see the challenge of having faith in God. Let’s review a definition of faith from Hebrews 11:1-3

Hebrews 11:1–3 ESV

1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 For by it the people of old received their commendation. 3 By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.

From this, we recognize that having faith implies hope in God for things not yet seen. We should be careful not to assume that biblical faith is much like making a wish while blowing out a birthday cake. Biblical faith is rooted in the steadfast character of God. We don't have faith in faith or hope itself. We have faith in the person and character of God. We must not assume that our faith in God will be perfect. As in this psalm, we find the singer admitting the difficulty of continuing in light of the situation. We will often find it a challenge to trust in God when things remain unseen for us. The psalm writer has an internal strain and external as well. Enemies continue to poke at him with doubt. They ask, "Where is your God?" By faith, the singer restates that God is a rock, his rock. Even when life shows that God is absent, he faithfully states that hope is built upon a solid foundation: God.

After this, we hear a repeat of the refrain. We can see the singer have another conversation with his soul. The soul, in this context, is the center of his emotions and mental health. In the refrain, we see faith building toward a confident stance to hope in God because the present reality is not the eternal state. God is still in control.

Return to Hope

As we mentioned, chapter 43 fits with chapter 42. In this section, the psalm writer shifts from reflection on the situation to direct conversation with God. He prays for vindication, a term that describes God proving that faith in the One True God is not futile. He asks for God to show those who doubted that trust in God is the only way to go through suffering. But yet again, we see the reality of faith. It can be challenging. Sometimes faith requires us to look beyond our pain to God and wait upon Him. The prayer for vindication is connected to the prayer for guidance. The only way to go through suffering is to have the light and truth of God. Thankfully God provides believers this with the presence of the Holy Spirit and scripture. Jesus promised the disciples and all who believed these promises in John 14:26-29

John 14:26–29 ESV

26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. 28 You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. 29 And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place you may believe.

The Holy Spirit brings emotional comfort and peace of mind through the word of God. This is how the people of God have always lived. The songwriter describes the hope for which he waits. It is the hope of once again being in the presence of God in worship.

God is the Author of Hope

Why would God allow such a psalm to be included in the Bible? We can find some degree of comfort knowing that we are not the only ones who feel this way at times. To some degree, it is normal to feel sadness, sorrow, and grief. It is part of the human experience. But the inclusion of lament psalms like these also points us to reflect on the doctrine of inspiration. While this is a psalm written by a human being, it is also part of God's Word. What do we mean by this? Let's look at two key verses in 2 Timothy 3:16 and 2 Peter 1:21

2 Timothy 3:16 ESV

16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,

2 Peter 1:21 ESV

21 For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

God directed the thoughts, concepts, and words written down. This does not imply that the authors wrote down everything God said like a secretary, even though there are instances of this. The doctrine of inspiration reminds us that God is the foundation of the Bible.

Plenary, verbal inspiration is the view that every single word in the Bible is the very word of God. It’s not just the ideas or thoughts that are inspired, but the words themselves.

He has directed its formation, and He ensures its validity. While we accept this by faith, there is good evidence to entrust ourselves to this truth. Consider the following:

The Old Testament contains numerous (over 300) prophecies about Jesus Christ. They were recorded hundreds of years before Jesus’ first coming.

Approximately 40 authors wrote the Bible over a period of 1600 years in different languages and locations. You might expect many contradictions, but we see a united picture of God and a clear plan for the world He created.

The Bible gives us honest pictures of its "heroes." David was a great man, but we know about his great sins and weaknesses. The Bible does not seek to hide the details of life to make those who trusted in God appear more than they actually were.

The Bible is rooted in a verifiable time and location. Archaeology supports the history and validity of the Bible.

Knowing all this makes reading Psalm 42-43 a way to see God’s knowledge, presence, and power in the middle of grief. God authored these psalms to encourage His people to put their hope in Him.

Jesus: Man of Sorrow

If it weren't enough to know that God led the writing of the lament Psalms, we have one more concept that should bring us comfort. Let's look at the marvelous prophecy of Isaiah concerning the Suffering Servant. Isaiah 53:1-5

Isaiah 53:1–5 ESV

1 Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? 2 For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. 3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4 Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.

When we read this and look at the gospels, we can't help but see that Jesus knew firsthand what it felt like to experience the pain and suffering that any human has ever felt. We might be tempted to think that since Jesus is God, he somehow avoided feeling the pain and emotional trauma. To think this way is to deny that Jesus is the God-man, fully divine, and fully human. Christ endured the suffering for our sake so that we could have peace. The Hebrew word "shalom" has a greater depth of expression than our English concept of peace. Shalom implies more than just physical health and freedom from conflict. It includes having the favor of God and things put back as God intended them to be. The broken is made whole and complete again. Thanks be to God, who knows what we need and supplies it according to His good and glorious will. Put your hope in Him. God can take our blues and make them songs of praise.