psalm 42 a deer silhouette
From My Devotions

Psalm 42 | Faith Versus Sight

Psalm 42 really stood out to me when I was studying it in my devotions the other day, so I wanted to share it with you along with some of what I learned.

Psalm 42

As the hart 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?

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

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.

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.

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.

Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me.

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 will say unto God my rock, Why hast thou forgotten me? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?

As with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me; while they say daily unto me, Where is thy God?

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.

Thoughts on Psalm 42

Psalm 42 is a very encouraging psalm to me. The author is discouraged, yet at the same time he knows that his hope is in God. He has troubles, yet he continues to praise God.

The first verse especially is very convicting to me.

Am I as thirsty for God as a deer is thirsty for a cool stream of water? Water is necessary for a deer to survive. Do I view my relationship with God in that way, as something I absolutely can not live without?

As my Bible study on Psalm 42 pointed out, there is a battle going on in this psalm between faith and sight. Faith is looking at our circumstances from God’s point of view. Sight is looking at our circumstances as they appear to us from a human point of view.

In verse 1, Faith says, “I thirst for God.” But in verse 2, Sight retorts, “Where is God?”

Faith says, in verse 5, “Hope in God.” But Sight says, in verse 6, “I am cast down,” or “I am discouraged.”

In verse 8, Faith declares, “God will be with me and show me His lovingkindness. His song will be with me in the night.” But Sight cries out in verse 8, “Why have you forgotten me. Why do I have trouble from my enemies?”

But in this conflict, Faith has the final say, and Sight is silenced. Faith finishes by saying, in verse 11, “Hope in God. I will still continue to praise Him. He is the health of my countenance, and He is MY God.”

With God’s help, Faith can win the battle over Sight, and even in the midst of difficult circumstances, we can hope in God, and we can praise Him!

Conclusion:

What verse most stands out to you from Psalm 42? What is something the Lord laid on your heart from this passage? Let me know in the comments!

psalm 42

About Author

Hannah E. Griggs

Hannah E. Griggs is a teacher and author of primarily middle-grade Christian fiction from Texas. She loves card-making, history, and coffee. When she’s not writing, you’ll find her building her education business, reading Christian fiction and biographies, or improving her guitar skills.

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