Psalm 42

A Bible Devotion from Psalm 42

Where is Your God?

As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God? My tears have been my food day and night, while they continually say to me, "Where is your God?"

I will say to God my Rock, "Why have you forgotten me? Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?" As with a breaking of my bones, my enemies reproach me, While they say to me all day long. "Where is your God?"

Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; for I shall yet praise Him, the help of my countenance and my God.
Psalm 42:1-3 and 9-11, NKJV

Does it seem to you that there are a whole lot more bad days than good days? When nothing seems to be going right, who do we blame? You've heard the questions before. If there is a God, why does He allow bad things to happen to good people? Is that what the Psalmist did here in the 42nd Psalm?

We see no blame expressed in this Psalm; instead, the Psalmist yearns for God. Even when his enemies taunt him by asking, "Where is Your God?" the Psalmist still does not complain against God. We see him remembering the days that he went with the multitude to the house of God in joy and praise. Then, he responds by saying, Why are you cast down, O my soul? . . . . Hope in God; for I shall yet praise Him, the help of my countenance and my God.

He pays no attention to those around him who mock and taunt him, but remembers the times of praise and joy in God. Instead of feeling sorry for himself, He looks to God and says, "I will praise Him again; He is my help and my God!"

Pray today that no matter what the circumstances, you look to God in faith and say, "I will praise you again; you are my help and my God!"

Next: Psalm 43, On the Harp I Will Praise You

More Devotions on the 42nd Psalm from my blog, Daily Bible Devotions

Thirsty Soul, verses 1-4

Deep Calls to Deep, verses 5-8

God My Rock, verses 9-11