The inscription of this psalm leads us to believe it was written by the family of the Korahites unless it is read that it was written for the family of the Korahites to play during worship service. If the latter are valid, then David wrote this on his retreat from Jerusalem during the rebellion of Absalom (2 Samuel 15-19). If the former is valid, then it was written during the exile by a Korahite longing for Jerusalem. I prefer Davidic authorship due to the style and geographic locations mentioned in verse five. Whichever author is chosen, it reflects a genuine heart desire to be with God in the Temple/Tabernacle. If this were the heart attitude of Christians today, the world would be a much different place. The oddity for Christians is that we don’t have to go to the church to spend time with God, He indwells us. We are the temple of God. However, for true fellowship to occur we need to publicly worship Him as part of our growth toward Christlikeness (Hebrews 10.24-25).
This psalm and Psalm 43 (see our study) have a connection and many have placed them together as one psalm. The Septuagint combines them into one psalm. Each psalm has the same refrain and the same ending. However, if Psalm 43 was written during the Babylonian Captivity, it could have been inspired by Psalm 42. Psalm 43 and Psalm 71 are the only psalms in this section of the Psalms without an inscription (see studies on Psalm 9 and Psalm 10).
- Verses 1-3-David realizes that his life is in God. Without the ability to enter into the presence of God in the Tabernacle, his life was devalued, depressing. What is your heart attitude about being in God’s presence? As mentioned above, the only place we need to go to be with God is nowhere for He indwells us. This is Jesus discussion with the woman at the well in John 4.15-26. We only need to be in right relationship with Him (His child) and in right fellowship with Him (confession of sins) in order to be in His presence. Do you long for God more than for the sins of this world? This is the essence of the book of 1 John.
- Verses 4-8-David poetically presents his state without God’s presence in it (again, return to our discussion of Psalm 43 for thoughts on verse five). He misses the fellowship he had in Jerusalem with fellow followers of God and longs to see them and publically worship with them.
- Verses 9-10-David laments over his current situation asking God to deliver him not only for the sake of David but for the sake of God. Do you see your relationship with God as a public demonstration of whom God is? When people see you, they see a representation of God. Your words and actions either tell His greatness or belie who He is. How do people see you when they ask “Where is your God?”
- Verse 11-The ending of Psalm 43 is identical to this psalm. Our hope is not in others nor in things. It is solely in God.
God desires you to be in His presence with great joy more than you can imagine. How great is your desire to be in His presence? He gave His Son in order for you to go there? What have you forsaken for Him to be there?
Media
- As the Deer (Psalm 42)
- Deep Calls to Deep (Psalm 42)
We do not need to let the storms in life overcome us. We do not need to worry or be anxious about anything, or let our burdens destroy us. God knows all and He works through all circumstances. He knows and hears our afflictions. When we put our hope in Him, we can rest and find peace knowing that the Lord’s ways will prevail over evil, and that in every darkness, He will show us light.
(Sorry, I’ve been cheking on my phone and I can’t comment very easily)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nsw1kdLqfec
I just also want to say that this is one of the most amazing psalms to be set to music, its rythimc drive is incredible and the Latin translation is equally (if not more) stunning. In the first phrase “Sicut cervus desiderat ad fontes aquarum, ita desiderat anima mea ad te, Deus.” The word anima, dosen’t even have an equivelent in the English language! Roughly translated, it means absoultly everything out of my being!