Click here to read PSALM 42 in poetic form.
Background
This Psalm opens the second or “Exodus” book in the Psalms (Psalms 42-72), and is tied together with Psalm 43 (which has no title of its own). This unity can be seen in that a chorus occurs in the middle and end of Psalm 42 and at the end of Psalm 43. The chorus includes: “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.”
Like Moses and the children of Israel crying for God’s help in the wilderness, these two Psalms show the Messiah’s appeal for God’s help in his “wilderness” of life. At times that was literally true, as when he was tempted in the wilderness just before opening his ministry.
The title includes “for the sons of Korah.” This is the first time this heading occurs with six more in the Exodus book (Psalms 44-49). Since Psalms 42 and 43 are a unit, the first seven Psalms in the Exodus book begin in this way. There are also four other times (Psalms 84,85,87,88) this heading occurs in the “Leviticus” book in the Psalms.
Regarding the sons of Korah, I Chronicles 9:19 says: “And Shallum the son of Kore, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah, and his brethren, of the house of his father, the Korahites, were over the work of the service, keepers of the gates of the tabernacle: and their fathers, being over the host of the Lord, were keepers of the entry.” They were responsible for service in the tabernacle and later the Temple.
Structure
(Verses 1-4) Messiah pours out his soul to “the living God” when under attack
(Verse 5) Chorus: Messiah praises God for His help
(Verses 6-10) Messiah prays to “the God of my life” [“the living God” in some texts] when under attack
(Verse 11) Chorus: Messiah praises God for His help
Key Scriptures
Verse 1—“As the hart panteth after the water brooks.” David had personal experience with the “hart” upon the mountains. He saw how sure-footed they were (Psalms 18:33). I Samuel 24:2 says that Saul and three thousand of his troops sought for David and his men “upon the rocks of the wild goats.” These wild goats refer to the African ibex. When visiting En-Gedi (where David and his men dwelt, according to I Samuel 23:29; 24:1), Sherry and I saw these ibex on the mountaintops.
Verse 3—“while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God?” This mocking question is repeated in verse 10 of this Psalm. Jesus Christ had evil men ask him the same question (Matthew 27:40,42; Mark 15:30) when dying upon the cross.
Verse 8—“in the daytime, and in the night.” God’s goodness is ever present at all times for those who seek Him.
Verse 11—“the health of my countenance, and my God.” This is slightly different wording than the chorus in verse 5 in the King James Version. But the Hebrew is the same in both, literally: “the Lord’s salvation [Jehoshua] of His face.” This is the name for the Messiah, Jesus [Jehoshua] the Christ.
FOR FURTHER STUDY
All 150 of The Psalms in Poetic Form are available from Amazon in a book, either Large Print or a smaller Bedside Reader. Also available for free with a Kindle Unlimited membership. Enjoy!
The entire blog series is now available in the publication The Psalms: Background & Structure with Key Scriptures Explained.
