Psalms of Praise: Psalm 42

*This post is part of a series looking at the Psalms to encourage your heart towards singing God’s praise all throughout the day. For the rest of the series, go to: Psalms of Praise. Come along with me as we dive into the Psalms and praise God’s name together! *

We are halfway through our Psalms of Praise series! I’ve been so encouraged as I’ve heard from a few of you how the Lord is drawing you to praise through this study of the Psalms each day. I would love to continue to hear in the comments at the end how God is working in your heart through His Word. I hope it has also been encouraging to take others along the journey with you as you point them to praising Jesus in the everyday moments of life. Day 3 of our series is on Psalm 42. This was so good for me to meditate on today as I prayed for God to replace my struggling attitude and to fill my heart with HOPE in Christ instead.

Psalm 42: Why Are You Cast Down, O My Soul?

To the choirmaster. A Maskil of the Sons of Korah.

1 As a deer pants for flowing streams,
    so pants my soul for you, O God.
² My soul thirsts for God,
    for the living God.
When shall I come and appear before God?
³ My tears have been my food
    day and night,
while they say to me all the day long,
    “Where is your God?”
⁴ These things I remember,
    as I pour out my soul:
how I would go with the throng
    and lead them in procession to the house of God
with glad shouts and songs of praise,
    a multitude keeping festival.

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 ⁶ 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.
⁷ Deep calls to deep
    at the roar of your waterfalls;
all your breakers and your waves
    have gone over me.
⁸ By day the Lord commands his steadfast love,
    and 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 do I go mourning
    because of the oppression of the enemy?”
¹⁰ As with a deadly wound in my bones,
    my adversaries taunt me,
while they say to me all the day long,
    “Where is your God?”

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.

Questions to ponder as you meditate on this passage:

• Am I longing for the living God with a longing that can only be quenched by Him who truly satisfies?
• Where do I turn when my heart is down or discouraged?
• Do I put my hope in God in all circumstances as my rock and my salvation?
• How can I remember God’s power and steadfast love, and praise Him today?

Spend time responding in prayer to our great God and praising his name.

Lord, I long to find my hope in you, the God of my salvation, in all circumstances. Great Father, I know that you alone satisfy the every longing and desire of my heart, but I’m so quick to turn to other things to fulfill my longings. I’m so quick to be discouraged and forget the present and future hope I have in your name. Tune my heart to sing your praise today- to be satisfied in you in any and every situation. Cause me to remember that your steadfast love, power, and faithfulness leads me day and night. Thank you that no matter what struggles I come up against you are the same, unchanging, good, and faithful God. I can come to you and find my rest in your presence. Draw me to gaze at your splendor all day long and to sing of your greatness which reveals that you are truly all I need. Thank you that I can put my hope in you and praise you, the God of my salvation. You are the God who made the waves and the wind and all the earth- remind me of the safety in your name and in your salvation when I feel like I’m drowning. May my heart be satisfied and at rest in you. You are such a gracious, good God, worthy of all praise! Amen.

If this post was encouraging to you as you spent time with God, don’t just keep it to yourself- share it with a friend! Part of my desire with this series is to encourage you to sing God’s praise in the everyday moments of life, but to also come alongside someone else in doing this in their lives as well. So think: Who could you invite to join you in spending time pondering the Psalms this week? Someone you’re discipling? Your husband or children? A friend that you know needs encouragement? Bring someone alongside you and share with one another how God is drawing your heart to praise throughout your day. And please share with me below how you are praising God through the Psalms as well. Let’s praise his name together!

“Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.” Psalm 100:1-3