What situation was David going through when he wrote Psalm 42?
Psalms 42:1 - 11
ESV - 1 Book Two 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?
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Asked June 19 2013
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Jeff Lawhead
Supporter
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Chris Eleam
Supporter
Book Two (Psalms 42-72). This section starts with eight Korahite psalms. Psalms 42 and 43 are both attributed to the sons of Korah, since together they are in reality one poem in three stanzas, linked together by a recurring verse. (42:5, 11; 43:5)
Jack Gutknecht
Supporter
Good question, Jeff! What was the situation when David wrote Psalm 42? I am going to focus on Ps 42:1, 3-5 Psalm 42:1 says, “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God.” Psalm 42:3-5 says, 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 5 and lead them in procession to the house of God with glad shouts and songs of praise, a multitude keeping festival.” The psalmist, whether this was David or not, longs to be in God's presence. He feels abandoned by God but hopes that God will come to him once again. At this time this is David’s desire (Ps 42:1-2): He thirsts for God like a thirsty deer pants for water. “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God.” (v. 1) The country where David was most probably was experiencing a drought. This led to David’s despair (Ps 42:3, 9-10). He feels abandoned by God (Ps 42:9). He feels attacked by his enemies (Ps 42:3 - “My tears have been my food day and night, while they say to me all the day long, ‘Where is your God?’” But this is David’s determination (Ps 42:4-8, 11). He remembers God's goodness (Ps 42:4-8). “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.” He rests in God's goodness (Ps 42:11): Because of God's goodness in the past, David puts his hope in God to rescue him yet again. “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.” --barebones outline from Harold Wilmington
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