Old Testament Commentary - Psalms 42

by Don R. Hender


Scriptural Text [& Editorial]
Commentary & Explanation
Footnotes ~ References ~ JST
       CHAPTER 42          

Souls of the righteous thirst for God—The wicked say: Where is thy God?

To the chief Musician, Maschil, for the sons of Korah.
  1 AS the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.
  2 My soul athirsteth for God, for the bliving 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?a 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.
 5a Why art thou cast down, O my soul? Whether like Job, Joseph Smith, Daniel, Joseph and others who have met with disapointments and the torments of life to the extreme in various cases; or whether one is but cast down for no seeming reason other than life's daily hassel, our thoughts for aid to turn unto our God, our rock, and our support and comfort. He is ever there and though at times we like he in his hour may feel forsaken, we are not. He is still there and we may rely and trust in him. Be still and know that he is God and all will be healed by him and made well if we but turn unto and trust in him.
  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 anight 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 acast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? bhope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.