Why So Downcast?

Draft, under review

Psalm 42:1–11

1For the choirmaster. A Maskil of the sons of Korah. As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul longs after You, O God.

2My soul thirsts for God, the living God. When shall I come and appear in God’s presence?

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

4These things come to mind as I pour out my soul: how I walked with the multitude, leading the festive procession to the house of God with shouts of joy and praise.

5Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why the unease within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him for the salvation of His presence.

6O my God, my soul despairs within me. Therefore I remember You from the land of Jordan and the peaks of Hermon—even from Mount Mizar.

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

8The Lord decrees His loving devotion by day, and at night His song is with me as a prayer to the God of my life.

9I say to God my Rock, “Why have You forgotten me? Why must I walk in sorrow because of the enemy’s oppression?”

10Like the crushing of my bones, my enemies taunt me, while they say to me all day long, “Where is your God?”

11Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why the unease within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God.

Berean Standard Bible. Read the full chapter

Reflection

The psalm opens with thirst. Like a deer longing for streams of water, the writer longs for God (Ps 42:1–2). But God feels far away. His tears have become his food day and night, and people keep asking where his God is (Ps 42:3, 10). He remembers leading joyful crowds to worship, and the memory hurts (Ps 42:4).

Then he does something surprising. He speaks to himself. He asks his own soul why it is so bowed down and restless, and then he tells it to wait for God, because a day of praise is still coming (Ps 42:5). He doesn't deny the darkness. He questions it.

The feeling doesn't lift right away. In the very next verse he is downcast again (Ps 42:6). Deep calls to deep, and God's waves seem to roll over him (Ps 42:7). Still, he holds on to God's steadfast love by day and a song by night (Ps 42:8). The refrain returns (Ps 42:11; 43:5). Hope here is not a feeling you have to wait for. It is a waiting that keeps turning toward God, again and again.

If you are lonely or low, this psalm gives you permission to say it honestly, and words to answer back with hope. Low mood is not a failure of faith, and seeing a doctor or counselor, or taking prescribed medicine, is not a lack of faith (Luke 5:31; 1 Kgs 19:5–8). It is wise, and so is telling someone near you today, a friend, a pastor or a doctor. Your soul may be downcast, but you are not alone. Jesus Himself was deeply grieved, and He stays near (Matt 26:38; Heb 4:15).

Word study: verified (STEPBible)

shachach (Hebrew, Strong's H7817): to be bowed down, downcast (Ps 42:5, 11; 43:5). The refrain answers it with yachal (to hope, wait expectantly, H3176) in the same verse. In the Hebrew numbering, English Ps 42:5 is verse 6.

Cross-reference trail

  1. Ps 43:3-5: The refrain completed.
  2. Ps 63:1: Thirst for God in a dry land.
  3. Lam 3:21-24: Calling hope back to mind.
  4. Matt 26:38: Jesus' soul overwhelmed with sorrow.
  5. 2 Cor 4:8-9: Hard pressed, but not crushed.

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Prayer

God, my soul is low and You feel far. I choose to hope in You today, and to tell someone how I really am.

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