Again, I share with you because of relevancy.
PSALM 42 For the director of music. A maskil of the Sons of Korah.
Theme: A thirst for God. When you feel lonely or depressed, meditate on God's kindness and love.
Author: The sons of Korah, who were temple musicians and assisstants
https://www.biblestudytools.com/psalms/42.html
1 As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my 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 people 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 to the house of God under the protection of the Mighty Onewith shouts of joy and praise among the festive throng. 5 Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. 6 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, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.
Study Notes:
42:1ff Psalms 42-49 were written by the sons of Korah. Korah was a Levite who led a rebellion against Moses (Numbers 16:1-35). He was killed, but his descendants remained faithful to God and continued to serve God in the temple. David appointed men from the clan of Korah to serve as choir leaders (1 Chronicles 6:31-38), and they continued to be temple musicians for hundreds of years (2 Chronicles 20:18, 19).
42:1, 2 As a life of a deer depends upon water, so our lives depend upon God. Those who seek him and long to understand him find never-ending life. Feeling separated from God, this psalmist wouldn't rest until he restored his relationship with God because he knew that his very life depended on it.
42:4, 5 The writer of this psalm was discouraged because he was exiled to a place far from Jerusalem and could not worship in the temple. During these God-given holidays, the nation was to remember all that God had done for them. Many of these festivals are explained in the chart in Leviticus 23.
42:5, 6 Depression is one of the most common emotional ailments. One antidote for depression is to meditate on the record of God's goodness to his people. This will take your mind off the present situation and give hope that it will improve. It will focus your thoughts on God's ability to help you rather thsn your inability to help yourself. When you feel depressed, take advantage of this psalm's antidepressant. Read the Bible's accounts of God's goodness, and meditate on them.
42:6 Hermon refers to Mount Hermon. Mizar means smallness, so Mount Mizar could be a smaller mountain in that mountain range.
Yesterday I read a lot of interesting posts on this Great Awakening board. It is interesting to me how they seem to tie in to my morning Bible Read, which just shows how relevant God's Word still is. I have posted before that I believe Truth is "everlasting and immutable". These tie ins keep validating the truth of God's Word to me.
I hope you are blessed by me sharing with you. If ever you tire of it, tell me to stop.
Lord, thank you for your Word, your everlasting order, and your Love. Thank you that we can live in Truth today. Thank you for your healing power within us, and for your comfort when we are depressed. You are faithful and you are good. In Jesus Name, Your Son (my Savior), I pray.
For emphasis. For the hard of hearing. I know about repeating stuff. 😇