As you read Psalms 42 and 43 you can’t help but feel the despair of the writer. At
least three times in these two Psalms he asked the question, “Why are you
cast down, O my soul, why are you disquieted with me”? (vv. 42:5, 11; 43:5)
And he begins this section of verses with the statement, “My soul is
cast down within me” (42:6). He feels like God has forgotten him (v. 9). He
is hearing the enemies of God mocking him and his God by asking, “Where is your
God?” (vv. 3, 10).
This sounds a lot like the mockers and enemies of God in our country today! Whenever
there is a shooting or something bad happens and the Christians say they are
praying for our country and the situation, they mock and declare, “Where is
your God now”. “Your prayers didn’t help
at all!”. Basically, they are saying, “We don’t need God! We need more laws and gun control”.
So, what was the response of the Psalmist in these two chapters? He first expressed a deep longing and desire
for His God (vv. 1-2). He went on to say that when he remembered their mocking
and disdain, and what it used to be like when he was free to go and worship
with the multitudes that loved the Lord, he was overwhelmed with sadness (v.
4).
Now in verses 6 and 7, the emotional and spiritual landscape changes from drought
to a storm, with the writer feeling like he was drowning in sorrow and pain. The
Jordan River has its source in the Hermon range, and the rains and melting snow
would turn the rivulets into cascades of water and dangerous cataracts, a
picture of intense suffering (69:1-2; 88:7; Jonah 2:4). "Mizar" means
"littleness," and certainly the writer felt very small in the midst
of that storm.
But he made a wise decision when he decided to remember God and not "the good
old days" (v. 6). The cascades, cataracts, and waves were in God’s hands
and the psalmist had nothing to fear. This reminds us of the night Jesus walked
on the water and frightened His disciples, yet He was in full command of the
situation (Matt. 14:22-33). God was in command (v. 8; see Psalm 33:9; 44:4;
71:3; 91:11), a new day would dawn, and the situation would look different.
Like David's storm experience recorded in Psalm 29, we should see God on His
throne and anticipate the glory and peace after the storm.
Especially this week, believers should remember that the waves of God's wrath went over
Jesus on the cross when He experienced His Calvary "baptism" (Matt.
20:22; Luke 12:50). It might be “Friday”, but Sunday is coming!!!! Meanwhile, God can give us "songs in
the night" (v.8) as we wait for the dawning of a new day (Psalm 77:4-6;
Job 35:10; Matt. 26:30; Acts 16:25). In verse 8, the writer used Jehovah
instead of Elohim, and this was a turning point in his difficult experience.
Jehovah is the God of the covenant, the faithful God who cares for His people.
He is the God who showers His people with lovingkindness, gives them promises
they can claim when they pray, and hears them when they praise and worship.
The writer didn't have to go to Jerusalem to worship; he could worship God right
where he was! The hand of God was with him in the daytime and the song of the
Lord in the long hours of the night. Everything might be changing, but the Lord
was still his Rock—stable, strong, and unchanging. (See Psalm 18:2, 31, 46; Ex,
33:22; Deut. 32:4; 1 Sam. 2:2.)
Today, may the Lord help us to remember how great and powerful our God is, despite how
bad the storms of ungodliness and evil rage around us! And we should always remember
that He never changes and has promised to always be with us and never forsake
us (Hebrews 13:5-8)!
God bless!
