Psalm 42 // My Storm, His Calm

I am sad to wrap up this Summer’s Sunday School quarter — I have completely enjoyed Psalms, some favorites were studied, and some less common ones explored. Nevertheless, today we wrapped up with Psalm 42, a classic. I suspect, like me, the part I remember is the imagery of the deer panting for water… not the remainder of the Psalm — which of course is excellent!

p.s. I have been adding to a Playlist, Psalter ’25, with great songs for each of the Psalms we’ve covered — Psalter ’25 Playlist

It’s 11 verses – go and read it, beautiful, poetic, and rich.

I love that this Psalm approaches a topic that every human can relate to, adversity, setback, even despair. While the poetic nature metaphors are some of my favorites (and I know every church kid my age when growing up remembers the song “As the Deer”), I think I am mentally left pondering — where do people typically turn to for comfort in times of trouble? Clearly this “Son of Korah” who wrote Psalm 42 was in a season of grief and adversity…

So… where do people tend to turn for comfort in trials?

Sadly we see a lot “self-medicate”. It’s in our nature to make sense of things in our lives, and find coping mechanisms — but not all are healthy and beneficial.

Alcohol (in the scary ways)
Food
Drugs
Attempts to maintain control
Busyness & distraction
Entertainment (social media, tv, video games, etc)
Performance
Unhealthy relationships
Shopping/spending
BIG Projects

Thankfully, we get an example of a faithful follower of Yahweh truly seeking Yahweh Himself in the adversity and pain he experiences. It’s comforting, because it’s something we LONG for. Hence the beautiful intro, “as the deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants for You, O God.” What a sincere treasure. In our moments of doubt, fear, frustration, confusion, adversity, you name it — we don’t have to self-medicate, we don’t have to find a questionable or unhealthy coping mechanism. We can keep turning back to the Lord, and seek His face — and it’s not in vain. It may not change the circumstances, but it certainly can change the manner in which we process it, relate to it, and walk in those troubles.

The Other Side of the Coin

So let’s flip this around. Perhaps we are not in the same place the friend who is in turmoil at this given moment. How can we care for them, encourage them, point them to the heart of Jesus who can comfort and heal. After all, He assumed human flesh (fully God and fully Man) so that he COULD heal.

But how can we point our discouraged friend back to Yahweh? How can we encourage and counsel that friend?

We can remind them of what is true. Regardless of feelings. Regardless of circumstances. Regardless of what the world says.

God understands our feelings of pain, despair, and longing.
- Psalm 34:18, Hebrews 4:15, John 11:35, Isaiah 53:4
He is ready to comfort those who seek Him and trust Him.
- 2 Cor. 1:3-4, Isaiah 41:10, Psalm 46:1
He is present in our suffering, not distant or indifferent.
- Psalm 23:4, Isaiah 43:2, Romans 8:18
He speaks through his Word, silence doesn’t win.
- Psalm 119:105, Romans 15:4, Isaiah 30:21
God ministers often through US, His people.
- 1 Peter 4:10, Galatians 6:2, Hebrews 10:24-25
He tells us to cast our burdens, not carry them solo.
- 1 Peter 5:7, Psalm 55:22
He restores, perhaps not immediately, but faithfully.
- 1 Peter 5:10, Joel 2:25, Jeremiah 30:17

Something amazing, miraculous, is the ability of speaking truth and scripture into the darkness — when we truly seek to trust the Lord, and listen to His Word — it does impact our hearts and minds (Heb. 4:12, Ps. 107:20, Romans 15:4, Ps. 19:7-8, Isaiah 55:10-11, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Jeremiah 15:16). C.S. Lewis I believe once spoke of the power of speaking truth and defiance into the darkness, aloud, that this mattered enormously in the spiritual battles we face.

Desire, Deep Desire (v. 1-4)

I love the depth of this image we see unfolding before us. That the Psalmist is completely consumed with his desire for Yahweh. This isn’t a passing desire, but longing. We have cheapened this word in our age. I have heard it said that we LONG for that break, or that special event, even something like a fancy dinner. But can we imagine the severity of this longing? That tears and anguish have been the only company of this writer, his food even. That the longing is so great, without resolution, they could perish.

Think about the things we desire deeply…

To be known and loved.
To belong.
To have meaning.
To be safe.

Really these are wonderful, and can be holy desires.

Unfortunately there are some more likely to corrupt…

Power
Control
Money
Fame

John Piper once said that “the deepest desire of the Christian heart is to hallow God’s name”, which means to treasure Him above all. It’s interesting the things we would either admit, or perhaps deny we desire above all. But ironically, ALL of those above will be left wanting if they are greater than our desire and longing for the holiness of God. Heavy, and beautiful.

Even here in v. 4 — the writer is sustained simply by the memory of worshiping and praising the Lord completely, with “joy and thanksgiving, with a multitude”. Remembering helps.

Therefore, I Have Hope (v. 5)

I love verse 5 — the Psalmist talking to himself.

Why are you in despair, O my soul?
And why are you disturbed within me?
Wait for God, for I shall still praise Him,
For the salvation of His presence.

The psalmist is clearly deciding, making a resolute statement, steadfastly choosing — he will trust in and hope in the Lord. When he looked to Yahweh, he sees the God who saves. What joy and comfort, peace even, comes when we decide, we WILL hope in the Lord.

I think it’s a verse I could talk about TOO much — because if we flip it around, the writer is in a manner, asking his heart — why are you in despair, and disturbed?! Why linger in these emotions when we instead can turn our eyes to the One who made us. Mmmm, to pause and rest in this thought, what a treasure.

Enemies?

Before moving on from v. 1-5, I think it’s worthy to consider in our own hearts and lives, the enemies we face. I don’t have a mortal enemy like most dramas and films. Considering we probably deal with much sneakier enemies working against us than a Shakespearean drama, it’s helpful we do not know the enemy or adversity in Psalm 42. That ambiguity can help us connect to the emotion, regardless of specifics.

Potential Enemies in Our Lives:

Fear: Isaiah 41:10 — “Do not fear, for I am with you…”
Shame and Guilt: Romans 8:1 — “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
Distraction and Busyness: Luke 10:41–42 — “Martha, Martha… you are worried and upset about many things…”
Comparison: Galatians 6:4 — “Each one should test their own actions… without comparing themselves to someone else.”
Lies and Accusation: John 8:44 — “[The devil] is a liar and the father of lies.”
Isolation: Ecclesiastes 4:9–10 — “Two are better than one… if either of them falls, one can help the other up.”
Pride and Self-Reliance: Proverbs 16:18 — “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.”
Unforgiveness: Ephesians 4:31–32 — “Get rid of all bitterness… forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”

Cling to the Word (v. 6-8)

Verses 6-8 are such a boon. When we consider the despair and pain of v1-4, and especially 5 — we know this is not an easy switch. But yet the Psalmist here clings to the commands of Yahweh, and His lovingkindness (hesed), that Yahweh’s steadfast love is with him at all times, no matter where he may find himself — even as far as Mt. Hermon and Mt. Mizar, which puts the writer perhaps 100+ miles from the temple in Jerusalem (which physically indicates he is far and removed from the presence of the Lord in the Temple).

But the feelings of isolation are real, even if the Psalmist stands firm on the trust he has in the Lord. The Psalmist is clinging to the promises of Yahweh, he KNOWS what Yahweh has said, and done, and His character — so even when the writer’s emotions don’t keep up, resting in the Word allows him to remain steadfastly looking to the Lord. Incredible. A promise embedded in a song of emotion and turmoil.

So if everyone is bound to have (expect it…) a Mt. Hermon or Mt. Mizar moment (feeling distant from God), ask yourself, what truths in the Bible can you cling to, rest in?

Some of my favorites that come to mind: (I made them real so you can click and read if they aren’t familiar, many likely are)

There are MANY more, but as I was gathering them, I realized that my list was getting long… so we’ll pause there. All above are NASB.

Holding Both Sorrow & Joy (v. 9-11)

I’ve learned this lesson a few times in life, most recently with the fire in Christmas of ’24 that destroyed our home, and took a member of our family. BUT, we humans are uniquely equipped BECAUSE of the Lord, to handle holding both joy and sorrow at the same time. We can hold sorrow in one hand, and joy in the other. It’s counterintuitive, but it is indeed true. I’ve lived it, and I know others who have. Some better than others certainly, but nevertheless, they learned to walk in that tension. BOY, that is what we see in verses 9-11 — a real person, wrestling in that tension, the in between, the already but not yet. We can have confidence that we too can do the same in our troubles and adversity.

The psalmist really comes to that point again, asking why — why the despair, why the pain, why the hurt?! He does not receive an answer — but he does steadfastly call himself to action once again — “I will wait for God, I shall still praise Him”…

Andrew Peterson is one of my all time favorite artists, and he has a song, Rejoice — that I think wraps this up well. I will copy and paste lyrics below, here is a link to go listen –> AP: Rejoice — definitely read the lyrics as you listen.

[Verse 1]
And when the winter is over
The flowers climb through the snow
The willows weep and the clover bloom
Then all at once you hear a song
That’s stronger than the noise

[Chorus]
Rejoice
Rejoice

[Verse 2]
And when the peace turns to danger
The nights are longer than days
And every friend has a stranger’s face
Then deep within the dungeon cell
You have to make a choice

[Chorus]
Rejoice
And again I say
Rejoice

[Verse 3]
Be still and know that the Father
Will hasten down from His throne
He will rejoice over you with song
So set your face against the night
And raise your broken voice

[Chorus]
Rejoice
Rejoice
Rejoice
And again I say
And again I say
And again I say
And again I say
Rejoice

Brian Maloy

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