The Psalmist speaks and sings of intense internal longing. Exile is a sad place to be–primarily because its existence indicates the disregard of personal choice; which is a GOD-given gift. The Psalmist speaks of cool water, which is a refreshener, and the lack of it in his exile. Is he speaking of actual water? No. He is speaking of the River of GOD; the River of Life and Salvation. He is speaking of the lack of spiritual food, praise, and worship. In exile all of the things that you hold dear have been stripped away, leaving only the basics behind. The joys of life are denied you, the bitter cup is poured out daily.
The Psalmist speaks of the past and the assembly, where he “led them as they walked along. A happy crowd, singing and shouting praise to GOD”.
The Psalmist asks for a song at night; a prayer to GOD for deliverance. Oh, that we all would remember the GOD of our youth; the joy of our salvation. Put your trust in the GOD of Israel; the GOD of the Universe who framed the Heavens and the Earth; who sees his children as equals in His sight.
Praise ye the LORD. Charlene
Psalm 42
Good News Translation (GNT)
BOOK TWO
( Ps.42-Ps.42.72; )
The Prayer of Someone in Exile[a]
As a deer longs for a stream of cool water,
so I long for you, O God.
2 I thirst for you, the living God.
When can I go and worship in your presence?
3 Day and night I cry,
and tears are my only food;
all the time my enemies ask me,
Where is your God?
4 My heart breaks when I remember the past,
when I went with the crowds to the house of God
and led them as they walked along,
a happy crowd, singing and shouting praise to God.
5 Why am I so sad?
Why am I so troubled?
I will put my hope in God,
and once again I will praise him,
my Savior and my God.
6-7Here in exile my heart is breaking,
and so I turn my thoughts to him.
He has sent waves of sorrow over my soul;
chaos roars at me like a flood,
like waterfalls thundering down to the Jordan
from Mount Hermon and Mount Mizar.
8 May the Lord show his constant love during the day,
so that I may have a song at night,
a prayer to the God of my life.
9 To God, my defender, I say,
Why have you forgotten me?
Why must I go on suffering
from the cruelty of my enemies?
10 I am crushed by their insults,
as they keep on asking me,
Where is your God?
11 Why am I so sad?
Why am I so troubled?
I will put my hope in God,
and once again I will praise him,
my Savior and my God.
Footnotes:
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Psalm 42:1 HEBREW TITLE: A poem by the clan of Korah.
