Have you ever been so depressed or hurt that all you could think about was the horribleness of your situation? When you wake up and when you go to sleep your thoughts are of the pain you are bearing. You wish, hope, and pray, that things were different, but nothing changes. This is how the psalmist felt in Psalm 42. He seemed to be resting on the dark side of life.
In Psalm 42:5 he asks himself why? I believe it is ok to ask God why for a clearer understanding of what is going on. However, so many ask God “why,” as in “How dare you allow this to happen to me.” That is a sinful response. God is the God of the universe, and if we genuinely believe in Him, and give Him control, we know He is doing what is best for us in the big picture of life. I think the best response is to ask God what he is trying to teach us. We see earlier in the chapter he feels oppression from within and without. In verse 3 we note he is crying day and night, but he is not giving up. In verse 5, the writer is feeling turmoil within himself, but he does not forget that God is his hope. He is so strong in his faith that even though he is in the pit of depression he knows he will again praise God.
Psalm 42:5 “Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation”
In verse 6 he does a wise thing. He remembers back to what God had done for His people in the past. He remembers what God had done for him in the past. He never loses his grip on the truths of his faith. When it feels as if the waves are crashing in and he’s about to go under he remembers, and he clings to the truth about God. He never allows himself to forget the love and sovereignty of God.
Psalm 42:6-7 “and my God. My soul is cast down within me; therefore, I remember you from the land of Jordan and of Hermon, from Mount Mizar. Deep calls to deep at the roar of your waterfalls; all your breakers and your waves have gone over me.”
It is easier by the day to see God’s steadfast love for him, but during the night he cannot sleep. He feels the weight of his sorrow, yet he knows the truth of his God even though he doesn’t feel at peace. How does he handle this depressing situation? He begins to sing his prayer as a song. Some of the greatest hymns have been written in times of sorrow. One of my favorites is, “It Is Well.” This song was written by Horatio Spafford after the loss of his four children on a voyage to Europe. The ship went down and only his wife was saved. He had stayed back in America because of work. The song seems to be an expression of the Psalmist of Psalms 42. Though he doesn’t understand, Horatio is depending on the Savior. Unlike many heartbreak songs, it focuses more on where he can find hope than on what he lost. That kind of grace is only given to those who need it and are seeking God for help.
Psalm 42:8-9 “By day the LORD commands his steadfast love, and at night his song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life. I say to God, my rock: “Why have you forgotten me? Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?”
After several verses, where the author of Psalm 42 seems to be resting on the dark side of his circumstances, he again remembers the truth. He keeps coming back to the truth about God, even in the depths of despair. He knows that his hope is in God. He knows that his salvation is in God. He claims God as His God.
Psalm 42:11 “Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.”
This Psalm can teach us much about how we are to react to the horrible things that life throws at us. He had conversations with God about his pain. He asks God for help in dealing with it. He chose to sing in the night instead of feeling sorry for himself. He chose to trust God with everything. However, the key to reacting this way is to know God before the troubles come. You can’t trust someone you don’t know, and the more intimate the situation the more trust is required. Our understanding of our problems will only be real when we are able to see them in light of the Bible. It is not an uncommon thing for people to attend church all their lives and yet not genuinely believe what they hear each Sunday. When their faith is tested, they crumble. The time to prepare for resting when things are so unexplainable is now. He could rest in the darkness because he knew God was with him, and God was in control.
