Psalm 42

As a deer pants for the water...

WEEK  2                                                 Psalm 42

WEDNESDAY  Reflections

“What do you want?”

In my favorite Sci-Fi series, this question ends up being the downfall of some people who might have been great. Not only in fiction but in real life the answer to this question is what brings greatness or catastrophe. 

The reason this is true is that we do what we want to do. Yes, there are times our choices aren’t good ones, but in the end, we still make a choice and do what we choose. 

The psalmist here has placed God in the place of greatest desire. It is what causes him at the end of the chapter to say to his soul, Why are you upset, trust God. It is this desire which ultimately brings the psalmist, and us, hope.

Psa 42:1-11
(1)  To the chief Musician, Maschil, for the sons of Korah. As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.
(2)  My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?
(3)  My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God?
(4)  When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday.
(5)  Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.
(6)  O my God, my soul is cast down within me: therefore will I remember thee from the land of Jordan, and of the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar.
(7)  Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me.
(8)  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.
(9)  I will say unto God my rock, Why hast thou forgotten me? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?
(10)  As with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me; while they say daily unto me, Where is thy God?
(11)  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.

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