Day 14 – Psalm 42
An interesting introduction to this psalm, it says “of the sons of Korah” the sons of Korah were a family choir appointed by David. They were grandsons of Levi. This psalm was most likely written for them to sing. The writer is unknown.
Water is essential for all life, but more than a need, it is something we desire, when our mouth is dry and we are really thirsty, we go out of our way to quench our thirst, and when we do finally have a drink, it is such a good, refreshing feeling. Often we can think of nothing else until we have quenched our thirst. That is how we feel after just a few hours of not drinking, imagine if it were days of being thirsty.
The psalmist compares our natural feeling of thirst to his desire for God’s presence, he asks the question “when can I go and meet with God?” He is desperate to meet God. As desperate as an animal in search of a watering hole. (v1-2) Jesus uses similar language when He says in John 4:14 “Whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
The psalmist goes on to speak of great sadness, he paints a picture of tears running down his face into the corners of his mouth, “my tears have been my food day and night” (v3)
He draws a contrast here between the deep thirst he has for God, and the ‘food’ of his tears. It’s as if he is saying, he has wallowed in his sadness, allowing it to become his food and drink, instead of going to the one who can truly quench his thirst.
The psalmist remembers fondly how things used to be, how he was so full of joy at going to worship God and in remembering this, the psalmist’s tone changes, he begins to speak to his own soul, he instructs himself to change his thinking.
“Why are you downcast”....”put your hope in God” (v5)
In fact it is because his soul is downcast, that he reminds himself of God’s goodness, he says “...therefore I will remember you” (v6)
Verse 7 is often seen as a negative verse, stating the psalmists distress as if all the water is piling up on him, but given the previous verses context of remembering the Lord and the opening of the psalm panting in thirst for God, it seems to me that he is reminding himself of God’s goodness, that God is the source of water, and that he pours it out in abundance in waterfalls, and waves that not only quench your thirst but pour over you. The picture of this as God’s presence and goodness is beautiful.
The psalmist goes on to speak again of his suffering, it doesn’t go away just like that, but in repeating verse 5 he is reminding us to keep on speaking to our soul, to keep on reminding ourselves again and again to put our hope in God, to hunger and thirst for him.
Think it over / Meditate on
Are you thirsty for God? Do you ask the question “when can I go and meet with God?”
Learn to speak to your own soul, we need to remind ourselves of God’s word in order to triumph over our own feelings.
Allow God’s presence to sweep over you like a wave of love, peace and grace.
Ben
Ben Parsons, Lead Pastor - Sutton Central location