Psalm 42
1As the deer pants for streams of water,
so my soul pants for you, O 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 men 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 with the multitude,
leading the procession to the house of God,
with shouts of joy and thanksgiving
among the festive throng.
5 Why are you downcast, O my soul?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and 6 my God.
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 are you downcast, O my soul?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God.
Questions From Text:
1. What does Davids soul pant and thirst for?
2. What has been Davids food day and night? What do you think this means?
3. How does David’s soul feel?
4. What does David tell own soul to do?
5. What is going on with David’s bones?
Personal Questions:
6. Do you long for God in the manner that David does? If so, give examples. If not, how are you trying to change that?
7. What do you tell yourself when your soul is downcast (sad)?
8. Do you put your hope in God, even when you are physically suffering and being mocked? How?
Pray:
Take some time to go to a quiet place to pray. Think about the passage and the questions. Express to God how much you want Him in your life. Pray for the Holy Spirit to remind you to put your trust in God when you are sad. Ask God to help you overcome your feelings when you feel that God has forgotten you. Pray for anyone else that you know who has a downcast soul right now. Allow the Holy Spirit to guide you in who to pray for. God Bless.
