Psalm 42

As the deer panteth after the water brooks,
so panteth my soul after thee, O God.
{2} My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God:
when shall I come and appear before God?

{3} My tears have been my food day and night,
while they continually say unto me,
Where is thy God?

{4} When I remember these things,
I pour out my soul in me:
for I had gone with the multitude,
I went with them to the house of God,
with the voice of joy and praise,
with a multitude that kept holyday.

{5} Why art thou cast down, O my soul?
and why art thou disquieted in me?
hope thou in God:
for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.

More often than not, when depression sets in, we are like this singer who asks “Why are you downcast, O my soul?" We have the blues, we feel low, and have no real idea why we feel that way. But there are a couple of very real and related reasons.

Our life has no meaning and thus, no hope. So our singer tells himself, “hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God."

But there is no point in pretending we feel better than we do. We might as well tell God, for he already knows.

{6} O my God, my soul is cast down within me:
therefore will I remember thee from the land of Jordan,
and of the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar.
{7} Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts:
all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me.

{8} Yet the LORD will command his lovingkindness in the daytime,
and in the night his song shall be with me,
and my prayer unto the God of my life.

I hadn’t thought about this, but the song in the night can be a great comfort. Sometimes you can sing in your own mind without making a sound. And one of the great things about a rich song service is that it plants these songs of praise and hope in our hearts.

{9} I will say unto God my rock, Why hast thou forgotten me?
why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?
{10} As with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me;
while they say daily unto me, Where is thy God?

{11} Why art thou cast down, O my soul?
and why art thou disquieted within me?
hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him,
who is the health of my countenance, and my God."

There is meaning in life, and hope in God. There is meaning in suffering, in loss.

"For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of sonship, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. {16} The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: {17} And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. {18} For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. {19} For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God." (Romans 8:15-19 KJV)

When we suffer, we need not suffer alone.

"Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. {15} For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” (Hebrews 4:14-16 KJV)

And it is good to remember that sometimes, when we are low, it is because we are thirsty. What we need is a good, deep drink at the well of God.

As the deer panteth after the water brooks,
so panteth my soul after thee, O God.
My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God:
when shall I come and appear before God?
 

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