Longing for the Living God
May 14, 2022
Commentary
We can’t be sure who wrote this psalm, but whoever he was, he certainly was discouraged and expresses his deep longing for God. Many Bible scholars are of the opinion that this psalm was written by David during his flight from his son Absalom (II Sam. 17:24). He had crossed the Jordan river near Jericho and taken refuge in Mahanaim (II Sam. 9:32) near Mount Hermon. After a tiring, run David compares his yearning for the living God to the thirsting of a deer for water (vv. 1-2). While in hiding David was separated from the place of worship in the Temple which to him meant being shut out from the Old Testament presence of God. He remembers his joyful participation in the festive activities of the house of God and frequency of his attendance there (vv. 3-4).
Depression is one of our most common emotional ailments. One antidote for depression is to meditate on the record of God’s goodness to his people (vv. 5-6). David’s distress is compared to the billows and waves of the sea (v. 7). Trouble has come over him like one wave after another but all he needs to do is call on the Lord to deliver him (v. 8). Depression has various causes, some of them being physical, but the chief cause of depression is selfishness. We are too busy looking at ourselves to look at God. Depression is dangerous. It comes naturally to us during difficult times.
The Psalmist asks three troubling questions in faith (vv. 9-11), for he remembers that God is his Rock, his protector and foundation. He cannot help but hope in Him in the middle of difficult circumstances. No day will ever come when the child of God is forsaken by God. He never forgets His own (v. 9). Slanderous statements are like daggers in our bones (v. 10). His enemies were continually asking him, “Where is thy God?” Even though he felt great dejection he had not forgotten the solution to that discouragement for he knew that his only hope was in God (v. 11).
Application
When is the last time I thanked the Lord for sending the Holy Spirit to live in me, guide me and comfort me? It is so easy for me to just take Him for granted.
Psalms 42:1–11 (NET)
1 As a deer longs for streams of water, so I long for you, O God!
2 I thirst for God, for the living God. I say, “When will I be able to go and appear in God’s presence?”
3 I cannot eat; I weep day and night. All day long they say to me, “Where is your God?”
4 I will remember and weep. For I was once walking along with the great throng to the temple of God, shouting and giving thanks along with the crowd as we celebrated the holy festival.
5 Why are you depressed, O my soul? Why are you upset? Wait for God! For I will again give thanks to my God for his saving intervention.
6 I am depressed, so I will pray to you while in the region of the upper Jordan, from Hermon, from Mount Mizar.
7 One deep stream calls out to another at the sound of your waterfalls; all your billows and waves overwhelm me.
8 By day the Lord decrees his loyal love, and by night he gives me a song, a prayer to the God of my life.
9 I will pray to God, my high ridge: “Why do you ignore me? Why must I walk around mourning because my enemies oppress me?”
10 My enemies’ taunts cut me to the bone, as they say to me all day long, “Where is your God?”
11 Why are you depressed, O my soul? Why are you upset? Wait for God! For I will again give thanks to my God for his saving intervention.
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