This psalm voices a thirst for the living God from the middle of exile-like absence, where tears replace food and mocking enemies keep asking where God is. The singer remembers former joy in the house of God, argues with his own downcast soul, describes himself as overwhelmed by the breakers of divine providence, yet still clings to the LORD's steadfast love and ends by calling himself once more to hope in God, who remains his salvation and his God.
Psalm 42 is one of the great prayers of spiritual desolation in scripture. It teaches that holy longing can coexist with depression, that memory of past worship can sustain present faith, and that lament may legitimately speak both to God and to the self until hope is reasserted in the God whose face still saves.
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F1or the choirmaster. A Maskil of the sons of Korah. 2My soul thirsts for God, the living God. 3My tears have been my food 4These things come to mind as I pour out my soul:
5Why are you downcast, O my soul?
6O my God, my soul despairs within me. 7Deep calls to deep 8The LORD decrees His loving devotion by day,
9I say to God my Rock, 10Like the crushing of my bones, 11Why are you downcast, O my soul?
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