Psalm 42

Some ancient Hebrew manuscripts united Psalms 42 and 43 as one. This is understandable since the same refrain occurs in both of them (cf. 42:5, 11; 43:5). Psalm 42 expresses the writer's yearning for God.⁹⁴It consists of two stanzas each of which ends with the same refrain.

 1. The psalmist's longing for God 42:1-5

The writer suffered at the hands of tormenting enemies. He longed for God whom he confidently expected to be able to praise in the future when the Lord would deliver him.

42:1-2 As water from a brook sustains a deer physically, so God Himself sustains people spiritually (cf. John 4:14). The psalmist was thirsty for God. He could not obtain the refreshment he needed yet, but he looked forward to finding it soon.

42:3-4 Rather than drinking from God he had to drink the water of his own tears. God was not providing for his needs just then. The writer remembered with great delight the times when he found spiritual refreshment at the sanctuary in Jerusalem, but he was not able to return there yet.

42:5 The psalmist encouraged himself rhetorically by reminding himself that he would again praise God. He needed to continue to hope in God till then.

 2. The psalmist's lamentation because of his enemies 42:6-11

In this stanza the writer focused on his enemies rather than on God. However, he came back to the same expression of confidence with which he ended the first stanza.

42:6 The psalmist was far from Jerusalem and the central sanctuary. Evidently he was near the Hermon range of mountains that was to the northeast of the Sea of Chinnereth (Galilee). The Jordan Valley is quite wide north of this sea and the mountains of Hermon rise up to the east from it. Mount Mizar is one of the hills in that area. It was a long way from Mount Zion where the ark dwelt in David's day.

42:7 The writer viewed his troubles like waves cascading down on him as if he were standing under a waterfall. He compared the noise of the waves with his troubles that he personified calling to one another to come overwhelm him.

42:8 Nevertheless he believed God would remain loyal to him. In the daytime the Lord would pour out His love to the psalmist, and in the night he would respond by praising God.

42:9-10 In his prayer he would also ask God the reason for his continuing physical and emotional distress. The repeated taunt of his enemies would hopefully move God to deliver him (cf. v. 3).

42:11 Again the psalmist encouraged himself with the rhetorical refrain (cf. v. 5).

When we are spiritually dry, believers should remind ourselves that God is sufficient for all our needs. This remembrance will encourage us to continue to trust Him while we go through temporarily distressing periods.⁹⁵