{"id":3939,"date":"2022-12-14T21:04:33","date_gmt":"2022-12-14T21:04:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thomascreedy.co.uk\/?p=3939"},"modified":"2022-12-14T21:04:33","modified_gmt":"2022-12-14T21:04:33","slug":"a-psalm-a-day-psalm-42","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thomascreedy.co.uk\/a-psalm-a-day-psalm-42\/","title":{"rendered":"A Psalm a Day: Psalm 42"},"content":{"rendered":"<article class=\"post-3936 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-being-human category-personal category-prayer category-psalms category-reading\">\n<div class=\"entry-content\">\n<p>Throughout September 2022, I managed to read and reflect \u2013 briefly \u2013 on a Psalm each day. For December 2022, I\u2019m going to pick up the discipline. I\u2019ll read the Psalm, pray, and then ponder a few questions:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>What is this Psalm about?<\/li>\n<li>What does this Psalm teach about God?<\/li>\n<li>How does this Psalm connect to God\u2019s people today?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>I\u2019ll close the post with a simple prayer, trying to draw the themes together.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-3950\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thomascreedy.co.uk\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/a-psalm-a-day-40-1024x1024.png\" alt=\"psalm 42\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thomascreedy.co.uk\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/a-psalm-a-day-40-1024x1024.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.thomascreedy.co.uk\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/a-psalm-a-day-40-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/www.thomascreedy.co.uk\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/a-psalm-a-day-40-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/www.thomascreedy.co.uk\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/a-psalm-a-day-40-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/www.thomascreedy.co.uk\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/a-psalm-a-day-40-730x730.png 730w, https:\/\/www.thomascreedy.co.uk\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/a-psalm-a-day-40-365x365.png 365w, https:\/\/www.thomascreedy.co.uk\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/a-psalm-a-day-40.png 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>On the fourteenth of December, here\u2019s Psalm 42:<\/p>\n<div class=\"std-text\">\n<div class=\"poetry top-05\">\n<div class=\"poetry\">\n<div class=\"poetry top-05\">\n<div class=\"poetry top-05\">\n<div class=\"std-text\">\n<div class=\"poetry top-05\">\n<div class=\"poetry top-1\">\n<div class=\"poetry\">\n<p class=\"line\"><span class=\"text Ps-42-1\"><sup class=\"versenum\">1\u00a0<\/sup>As the deer\u00a0pants for streams of water,<\/span><br \/>\n<span class=\"indent-1\"><span class=\"indent-1-breaks\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"text Ps-42-1\">so my soul pants\u00a0for you, my God.<\/span><\/span><br \/>\n<span id=\"en-NIV-14558\" class=\"text Ps-42-2\"><sup class=\"versenum\">2\u00a0<\/sup>My soul thirsts\u00a0for God, for the living God.<\/span><br \/>\n<span class=\"indent-1\"><span class=\"indent-1-breaks\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"text Ps-42-2\">When can I go\u00a0and meet with God?<\/span><\/span><br \/>\n<span id=\"en-NIV-14559\" class=\"text Ps-42-3\"><sup class=\"versenum\">3\u00a0<\/sup>My tears\u00a0have been my food<\/span><br \/>\n<span class=\"indent-1\"><span class=\"indent-1-breaks\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"text Ps-42-3\">day and night,<\/span><\/span><br \/>\n<span class=\"text Ps-42-3\">while people say to me all day long,<\/span><br \/>\n<span class=\"indent-1\"><span class=\"indent-1-breaks\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"text Ps-42-3\">\u201cWhere is your God?\u201d<\/span><\/span><br \/>\n<span id=\"en-NIV-14560\" class=\"text Ps-42-4\"><sup class=\"versenum\">4\u00a0<\/sup>These things I remember<\/span><br \/>\n<span class=\"indent-1\"><span class=\"indent-1-breaks\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"text Ps-42-4\">as I pour out my soul:<\/span><\/span><br \/>\n<span class=\"text Ps-42-4\">how I used to go to the house of God<\/span><br \/>\n<span class=\"indent-1\"><span class=\"indent-1-breaks\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"text Ps-42-4\">under the protection of the Mighty One<\/span><\/span><br \/>\n<span class=\"text Ps-42-4\">with shouts of joy\u00a0and praise<\/span><br \/>\n<span class=\"indent-1\"><span class=\"indent-1-breaks\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"text Ps-42-4\">among the festive throng.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"poetry top-05\">\n<p class=\"line\"><span id=\"en-NIV-14561\" class=\"text Ps-42-5\"><sup class=\"versenum\">5\u00a0<\/sup>Why, my soul, are you downcast?<\/span><br \/>\n<span class=\"indent-1\"><span class=\"indent-1-breaks\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"text Ps-42-5\">Why so disturbed\u00a0within me?<\/span><\/span><br \/>\n<span class=\"text Ps-42-5\">Put your hope in God,<\/span><br \/>\n<span class=\"indent-1\"><span class=\"indent-1-breaks\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"text Ps-42-5\">for I will yet praise\u00a0him,<\/span><\/span><br \/>\n<span class=\"indent-1\"><span class=\"indent-1-breaks\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"text Ps-42-5\">my Saviour and my God.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"poetry top-05\">\n<p class=\"line\"><span id=\"en-NIV-14562\" class=\"text Ps-42-6\"><sup class=\"versenum\">6\u00a0<\/sup>My soul is downcast within me;<\/span><br \/>\n<span class=\"indent-1\"><span class=\"indent-1-breaks\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"text Ps-42-6\">therefore I will remember\u00a0you<\/span><\/span><br \/>\n<span class=\"text Ps-42-6\">from the land of the Jordan,<\/span><br \/>\n<span class=\"indent-1\"><span class=\"indent-1-breaks\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"text Ps-42-6\">the heights of Hermon\u2014from Mount Mizar.<\/span><\/span><br \/>\n<span id=\"en-NIV-14563\" class=\"text Ps-42-7\"><sup class=\"versenum\">7\u00a0<\/sup>Deep calls to deep<\/span><br \/>\n<span class=\"indent-1\"><span class=\"indent-1-breaks\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"text Ps-42-7\">in the roar of your waterfalls;<\/span><\/span><br \/>\n<span class=\"text Ps-42-7\">all your waves and breakers<\/span><br \/>\n<span class=\"indent-1\"><span class=\"indent-1-breaks\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"text Ps-42-7\">have swept over me.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"poetry top-05\">\n<p class=\"line\"><span id=\"en-NIV-14564\" class=\"text Ps-42-8\"><sup class=\"versenum\">8\u00a0<\/sup>By day the\u00a0<span class=\"small-caps\">Lord<\/span>\u00a0directs his love,<\/span><br \/>\n<span class=\"indent-1\"><span class=\"indent-1-breaks\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"text Ps-42-8\">at night\u00a0his song\u00a0is with me\u2014<\/span><\/span><br \/>\n<span class=\"indent-1\"><span class=\"indent-1-breaks\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"text Ps-42-8\">a prayer to the God of my life.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"poetry top-05\">\n<p class=\"line\"><span id=\"en-NIV-14565\" class=\"text Ps-42-9\"><sup class=\"versenum\">9\u00a0<\/sup>I say to God my Rock,<\/span><br \/>\n<span class=\"indent-1\"><span class=\"indent-1-breaks\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"text Ps-42-9\">\u201cWhy have you forgotten\u00a0me?<\/span><\/span><br \/>\n<span class=\"text Ps-42-9\">Why must I go about mourning,<\/span><br \/>\n<span class=\"indent-1\"><span class=\"indent-1-breaks\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"text Ps-42-9\">oppressed\u00a0by the enemy?\u201d<\/span><\/span><br \/>\n<span id=\"en-NIV-14566\" class=\"text Ps-42-10\"><sup class=\"versenum\">10\u00a0<\/sup>My bones suffer mortal agony<\/span><br \/>\n<span class=\"indent-1\"><span class=\"indent-1-breaks\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"text Ps-42-10\">as my foes taunt\u00a0me,<\/span><\/span><br \/>\n<span class=\"text Ps-42-10\">saying to me all day long,<\/span><br \/>\n<span class=\"indent-1\"><span class=\"indent-1-breaks\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"text Ps-42-10\">\u201cWhere is your God?\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"poetry top-05\">\n<p class=\"line\"><span id=\"en-NIV-14567\" class=\"text Ps-42-11\"><sup class=\"versenum\">11\u00a0<\/sup>Why, my soul, are you downcast?<\/span><br \/>\n<span class=\"indent-1\"><span class=\"indent-1-breaks\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"text Ps-42-11\">Why so disturbed within me?<\/span><\/span><br \/>\n<span class=\"text Ps-42-11\">Put your hope in God,<\/span><br \/>\n<span class=\"indent-1\"><span class=\"indent-1-breaks\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"text Ps-42-11\">for I will yet praise him,<\/span><\/span><br \/>\n<span class=\"indent-1\"><span class=\"indent-1-breaks\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"text Ps-42-11\">my Saviour and my God.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"footnotes\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"poetry top-05\">\n<div class=\"footnotes\"><\/div>\n<p><strong>What is this Psalm about?<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Psalm 42 is interesting &#8211; commentators note it was probably one together with 43 &#8211; not least as it is explicit about place, and the absence of the Psalmist from his usual worshipping community. It is a Psalm of yearning for God, and also for being honest about how one is feeling. The refrain &#8211; which ties it to Psalm 43 &#8211; that we see repeated in verses 5 and 11 is a wonderful invitation to emotional honesty and the choice to worship God regardless of how we might feel.<\/p>\n<p><strong>What does this Psalm teach us about God?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Psalm 42 says several things explicitly about God: God is the living God (v2), Saviour (v5, 11), directing His love (v8) and also singing (v8b). God is also &#8216;my Rock&#8217; and &#8216;my God&#8217; (v9 and 5\/11 respectively), making it clear that God is a personal God, and that the Psalmist understands himself as having a personal relationship with God &#8211; alongside the more universal and theological themes. God is also known by those who don&#8217;t know Him in the way the Psalmist does &#8211; the Psalmists foes (v10) recognise the relationship and taunt the Psalmist.<\/p>\n<p><strong>How does this Psalm connect to God\u2019s people today?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Speaking personally, this Psalm is a comforting reminder of the reality of God&#8217;s presence &#8211; and the necessity of worship &#8211; in the midst of depression. There have been times in my life where &#8216;my tears have been my food&#8217; &#8211; and yet Psalm 42 challenges me to be honest, to &#8216;put my hope in God&#8217;, and &#8216;yet praise him&#8217;. I think that the refrain (v5\/11) leaves the question open, but the importance of the rhythm of worship and praise remains. Psalm 42 should put pause to those of us who say Christians cannot be depressed, and for those fortunate enough to not resonate with the experiences of the Psalmist here, this is an opportunity to think about and pray for those we know who are &#8216;downcast&#8217;, whatever that may look like.<\/p>\n<p><strong>A prayer drawn from Psalm 41:<\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"poetry top-05\"><span class=\"text Ps-42-1\">As the deer pants for streams of water, <\/span><span class=\"indent-1\"><span class=\"text Ps-42-1\">so my soul pants for you, my God. <\/span><\/span><span id=\"en-NIV-14558\" class=\"text Ps-42-2\">My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. Let me come to you and be honest, and in doing so be honest with those around me. Lord, help me to put my<span class=\"text Ps-42-11\"> hope in you, God, <\/span><span class=\"indent-1\"><span class=\"text Ps-42-11\">for I will yet praise you, <\/span><\/span><span class=\"indent-1\"><span class=\"text Ps-42-11\">my Saviour and my God. Amen.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<footer class=\"single-footer\">\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/footer>\n<\/article>\n<section id=\"respond\">\n<div id=\"respond\" class=\"comment-respond\"><\/div>\n<\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Throughout September 2022, I managed to read and reflect \u2013 briefly \u2013 on a Psalm each day. For December 2022, I\u2019m going to pick up the discipline. I\u2019ll read the Psalm, pray, and then ponder a few questions: What is &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thomascreedy.co.uk\/a-psalm-a-day-psalm-42\/\">Continued<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":3950,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"kt_blocks_editor_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[125,554,223,288,606,49,453],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thomascreedy.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3939"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thomascreedy.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thomascreedy.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thomascreedy.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thomascreedy.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3939"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.thomascreedy.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3939\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3951,"href":"https:\/\/www.thomascreedy.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3939\/revisions\/3951"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thomascreedy.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3950"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thomascreedy.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3939"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thomascreedy.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3939"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thomascreedy.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3939"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}