Read the passage several times through, slowly and prayerfully. It might help to use your imagination to picture the scene. At the end of the text you will find helpful background information in our ‘Setting the Scene’ section.

As you read, look out for shockers and blockers.

Shockers – a phrase, word, image or something from the text that resonates, stands out or connects with you.

Blockers – something from the text that raises questions for you.

Psalm 42

As a deer gets thirsty for streams of water, I truly am thirsty for you, my God. In my heart, I am thirsty for you, the living God. When will I see your face? Day and night my tears are my only food, as everyone keeps asking, “Where is your God?”

Sorrow floods my heart, when I remember leading the worshipers to your house. I can still hear them shout their joyful praises. Why am I discouraged? Why am I restless? I trust you! And I will praise you again because you help me, and you are my God. I am deeply discouraged as I think about you from where the Jordan begins at Mount Hermon and from Mount Mizar. Your vicious waves have swept over me like an angry ocean or a roaring waterfall. Every day, you are kind, and at night you give me a song as my prayer to you, the living Lord God.

You are my mighty rock. Why have you forgotten me? Why must enemies mistreat me and make me sad? Even my bones are in pain, while all day long my enemies sneer and ask, “Where is your God?”

Why am I discouraged? Why am I restless? I trust you! And I will praise you again because you help me, and you are my God.

Contemporary English Version (CEV)

Setting the Scene

Psalm 42 is the prayerful lament of a musician who longs to return to Jerusalem to serve God at the Temple. The tone of the Psalm suggests captivity and permanent separation from his homeland.
The Psalmist faces taunts of ‘Where is your God?’ from those around him. He senses abandonment and discouragement deep down in his soul. But he comes back to God’s faithfulness and trusts God to help him.
In the ancient world many worshipped gods made of gold, silver, wood and stone – idols that did not have life. In contrast the Psalmist believes and trusts in a living God who is able to satisfy his longing.
Worship is a natural outpouring of our longing for God and an essential aspect of deepening our relationship with God.

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