Psalm 42 is full of honesty about confusion and fear, yet also trust and hope. To immerse yourself in this psalm today, play the song below, and read the text as you listen. Read the text repeatedly—let your eyes roam back and forth over the words. Don’t be distracted that the song doesn’t follow the psalm word-for-word. Sandra has rephrased—yet captured—the heart of psalmist. Enjoy.
“My Hope, My God”, by Sandra McCracken. Album: Psalms. Buy here.
Psalm 42—To the choirmaster. A Maskil of the Sons of Korah.
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.
When can I go and meet with God?
3 My tears have been my food day and night,
while people say to me all day long,
“Where is your 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.
5 Why, my soul, are you downcast?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God.
6 My soul is downcast within me;
therefore I will remember you
from the land of the Jordan,
the heights of Hermon—from Mount Mizar.
7 Deep calls to deep
in the roar of your waterfalls;
all your waves and breakers
have swept over me.
8 By day the Lord directs his love,
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 must I go about mourning,
oppressed by the enemy?”
10 My bones suffer mortal agony
as my foes taunt me,
saying to me all day long,
“Where is your God?”
11 Why, my soul, are you downcast?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God.
Questions:
1. What stood out to you?
2. What is the significance of therefore in verse 6?
3. Summarize the psalm in you own words in one sentence. Write it down.
4. Return to the psalm again later today or tomorrow. Ask the Lord that He alone will be the source of your peace and hope.
Thank you for sharing this beautiful psalm and sweet song. May God’s love surround you, wash over you, and comfort you as you grieve Sara not being by your side. The prayer group at Potomac Hills is praying for you.
Good food for my soul. Thank you, brother.