Scripture is in bold.
1 As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God.
2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?
The psalmist is in a spiritual drought, crying out to God.
3 My tears have been my food day and night, while they say to me all the day long, “Where is your God?”
His tears mock him; his sorrow makes him (wrongly) question where God is.
4 These things I remember, as I pour out my soul: how I would go with the throng and lead them in procession to the house of God with glad shouts and songs of praise, a multitude keeping festival.
He remembers and recounts a time when he lead people in praising the Lord. He remembers the times God proved faithful, to encourage his soul to trust.
5 Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation 6 and my God.
The theme of this psalm. He knew a time would come when God would make him well again.
My soul is cast down within me; therefore I remember you from the land of Jordan and of Hermon, from Mount Mizar. 7 Deep calls to deep at the roar of your waterfalls; all your breakers and your waves have gone over me.
Now he is drowning, and acknowledges that God is allowing this trial.
8 By day the LORD commands his steadfast love, and at night his song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life.
God is with him even in the midst of trial, always providing “gulps of air” when the psalmist needs them most.
9 I say to God, my rock: “Why have you forgotten me? Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?”
10 As with a deadly wound in my bones, my adversaries taunt me, while they say to me all the day long, “Where is your God?”
People mock him and his pain, but as he calls on God to answer him, he also reminds his soul that the turmoil will not last forever.
11 Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.
Psalm 43 – the Psalmist continues his song
1 Vindicate me, O God, and defend my cause against an ungodly people, from the deceitful and unjust man deliver me!
2 For you are the God in whom I take refuge; why have you rejected me? Why do I go about mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?
3 Send out your light and your truth; let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling!
4 Then I will go to the altar of God, to God my exceeding joy, and I will praise you with the lyre, O God, my God.
5 Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.
I felt like these psalms really paralleled my husband and my’s journey concerning our children. One minute you’re spiritually dry, the next you’re drowning. Recalling all the times God has been faithful – He is always faithful – is a good way to strengthen the heart to keep trusting. And finally, I felt hopeful in realizing that the psalmist, too, believed brighter days would come, and praise would not always be this difficult. I really enjoyed understanding this psalm better; it has since become one of my favorites. I hope you have enjoyed it too. 🙂
If you are interested in a tool to help you study Scripture on a daily basis, I would highly recommend John MacArthur’s Study Bible. There are notes for most verses, which are easy to understand and have been a great help to me. 🙂
The Misplaced Mom 
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