Timeless Biblical Truth.
Believers, when absent from the sanctuary and overwhelmed by enemies, yearn to be present in the sanctuary, praising God for His salvation.
- When absent from the place of worship and insulted because of their faith, believers will yearn to be in the sanctuary, worshiping God (42:1-5).
- Believers yearn to be in the refreshing presence of the living God (42:1-2).
- Believers presently endure the insults of unbelievers while remembering past joys of praising God in the sanctuary (42:3-4).
- Believers, when they become spiritually depressed, encourage themselves to hope in God’s deliverance because they will once again praise God (42:5).
- Even if believers are overwhelmed by enemies of God, they are encouraged by knowing that they will again praise God (42:6-11).
- Believers may confess their depression to God (42:6-7).
- Believers may remind themselves that the LORD will comfort them with His covenantal love (42:8).
- Believers may complain to the LORD about the insults they endure because they trust in God (42:9-10).
- Believers, when they become spiritually depressed, encourage themselves to hope in God’s deliverance because they will once again praise God (42:11).
- Because believers know that God will vindicate and restore them, they vow to praise God when once again at His altar (43:1-5).
- Believers petition God for their vindication and deliverance from the wicked (43:1).
- Believers petition God to end their sadness by leading them into the sanctuary (43:2-3).
- Believers may lament that God seems to have rejected them (43:2).
- Believers may pray for God to guide them back to His sanctuary (43:3).
- Believers vow to praise God in the sanctuary with music (43:4).
- Believers encourage themselves to hope in God, knowing they will praise Him (43:5).
Questions for Second Milers
- Psalms 42 and 43 are considered by some to be one psalm originally. Read them as one psalm and see why that may be so.
- What does the psalmist in Psalm 42 desire and to what extent?
- What do the images of the thirsty deer and the flowing streams depict? When have you felt the same desire? How has it been fulfilled?
- Based on Psalm 42 what do you think was the psalmist’s past spiritual experience? What does his past and present experience suggest about the Christian life?
- When and why do you sometimes feel cut off from God?
- Note the refrains of 42:5 and 11. How does each answer the problems raised in the preceding verses? Notice how the psalmist gives a good talking to himself. Have you ever done that?
- Give your own short titles to Psalm 42 and 43.
- How does Psalm 43 continue and complete the theme begun in Psalm 42?
- Describe the psalmist’s situation as given in Psalm 43.
- What are his requests?
- What does he then promise to do (in the Old Testament, communion with God before His altar in the Temple sanctuary; so, what specifically can you do to praise God now as a Christian?
- Write a prayer expressing your desire to commune with and praise God.
