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Psalms 42:3-5

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BOOK II

Psalms 42-72

Psalm 42

In many Hebrew manuscripts Psalms 42 and 43 constitute one psalm.

For the director of music. A maskilTitle: Probably a literary or musical term of the Sons of Korah.

1As the deer pants for streams of water,
so my soul pants for you, O God.

2My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When can I go and meet with God?

3My tears have been my food
day and night,
while men say to me all day long,
“Where is your God?”

4These 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.

5Why 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

6my God.
MyA few Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint and Syriac; most Hebrew manuscripts praise him for his saving help. / 6 O 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.

7Deep calls to deep
in the roar of your waterfalls;
all your waves and breakers
have swept over me.

8By day the LORD directs his love,
at night his song is with me—
a prayer to the God of my life.

9I say to God my Rock,
“Why have you forgotten me?
Why must I go about mourning,
oppressed by the enemy?”

10My bones suffer mortal agony
as my foes taunt me,
saying to me all day long,
“Where is your God?”

11Why 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.

Psalm 43

In many Hebrew manuscripts Psalms 42 and 43 constitute one psalm.1Vindicate me, O God,
and plead my cause against an ungodly nation;
rescue me from deceitful and wicked men.

2You are God my stronghold.
Why have you rejected me?
Why must I go about mourning,
oppressed by the enemy?

3Send forth your light and your truth,
let them guide me;
let them bring me to your holy mountain,
to the place where you dwell.

4Then will I go to the altar of God,
to God, my joy and my delight.
I will praise you with the harp,
O God, my God.

5Why 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.

Hide Notes

Scott_D - (eBible Novice) about 1 year ago.

Water is a part of tears and tears are necessary to Life. The Psalmist is so cast down that he claims that his tears are his diet. Tears are necessary to cleanse the eyes. There are several kinds of tears: Tears of joy, Tears of sadness, Tears of embarrassment. When it comes to tears of sadness, tears are necessary because they are an outward sign of an inward hurt. Anyone can say that they are “o.k.” on the outside and there isn’t much you say about it of they insist, but if someone is crying you know for a fact that something is going on. The Psalmist even says that his tears mock him, asking “Where is his God?”. Here is the hope: Why should we be depressed? We have God! When we seek and find God’s face we no longer need to be sad! We know in Revelation that God will wipe all of our tears away! Water is a part of tears and tears are an outward sign of an inward hurt – without tears of sadness no one can help us because no one knows we are hurting.