Psalm 42
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. (Psalm 42:11)
Webster’s 1828 American Dictionary defines the word “disquieted” as “made uneasy or restless, disturbed, harassed.” In our lives, we can find ourselves disquieted because of circumstances or other people. Sometimes, we are disquieted by our own thoughts. In Psalm 42, we find the author in a state of upset. He asks the question of his own soul, Why art thou cast down…? and why art thou disquieted within me?… Then he commands himself to …hope thou in God:… The struggle within his soul is obvious throughout this chapter, along with how he approached this battle of the mind. The Psalmist’s same methods can help us, too.
There was a desire for the Lord. (Psalm 42:1-2, 4)
As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. The Psalmist’s soul desired a relationship with his Saviour. He used the word “thirsteth” in verse two to describe the intensity of his desire. He says in verse 4, …I went with them to the house of God,… Despite feelings that he had a disquieted soul, he went to church and sought the Lord.
There were tears. (Psalm 42:3, 9)
The Psalmist was struggling with his emotions. Verse 3 says, My tears have been my meat day and night,… Verse 9 says, …why go I mourning… Tears are a sign of strong emotions.
There were questions. (Psalm 42:3, 9-10)
The Psalmist’s enemies asked him twice, …Where is thy God? They were convinced that God would not come through for him. Then, the Psalmist himself asked, …Why hast thou forgotten me?… Even as he asked the question, he knew God had not forgotten him. However, he expressed his doubts through prayer.
There was praise. (Psalm 42:5, 11)
In verses 5 and 11, the Psalmist repeated the phrase, …for I shall yet praise him… He felt sad and defeated, but he knew the answer was found in his God. He chose to praise Him before the victory was won because he trusted that God would be his Deliverer.
There was a song. (Psalm 42:8)
In verse 8, he says, 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. “Lovingkindness” is defined as “tender regard; mercy; favor.” The Psalmist rested in the Lord’s lovingkindness in the day, and the Lord gave him a song in the night. Notice that he was still struggling through a sleepless night, but did so while singing and praying.
Sometimes, the battle of the mind and emotions is hard. We may even find ourselves wondering where God is. Great news! He is right there with us in the storm, even when our feelings may say otherwise. In this Psalm, we see God referred to as the living God, God of my life, and God my rock. He is all these things—and more! He is the solid Anchor that keeps our ship in place through the difficult times.
Does your storm seem dark and your night feel extra long? You can rest in His lovingkindness in the day. He promises to give you a song in the night. May we praise Him for His faithfulness to us and for the hope He gives for our disquieted souls.
by Amber Slimp
