Utumishi Blog

Psalm 42-43

It’s probably a double Psalm (note the lack of title for Psalm 43 and repetition of the refrain (Ps. 42:5,11; 43:5)).

It’s often taken as a Psalm of spiritual depression but it’s also one of great spiritual intensity. This the perfect response to spiritual depression. A soul panting for God. Desperate for His presence. Reminding himself again and again to hope in the God who is his salvation, his life, his exceeding joy.

I’m sure this Psalm has been a great help to many in the darkness of depression. But I suspect for some it has been a discouragement. In my darkness I might well say, “My sadness is not the result of persecution for the sake of the Lord and being away from his presence. It’s got more to do with a personal despair and a general feeling of rubbishness and self-hatred and overwhelming tiredness. And to be honest I don’t feel that burning desire and thirst for God. I’m not continually talking good Bible truths to my soul and pouring out my heart to God. I just want to sleep and cry and be on my own. So I don’t think I can appropriate this Psalm.”

But what if this Psalm isn’t first about me? Like the next few Psalms it’s “To/for/of the choirmaster, a maskil [something to do with wisdom/teaching/revelation], to/for/of the Sons of Korah.” It seems likely the sons of Korah were the guys mentioned in 1 Chron. 6:33-38 who include Heman (cf. Ps. 88). Two important things come out of this context: 1) Heman and co. were singing prophets in the days of David (1 Chron. 25:1,4-6); 2) The “choirmaster” (or “establisher” or “shining/pre-eminent one”) mentioned in the Psalm superscription was either Heman, Chenaniah or quite possibly King David himself (1 Chron. 15:16; 25:7). So already we’re prepared for a Psalm of royalty and prophecy.

Then in the Psalm itself, we might ask ‘Who went with the throng and led them in procession to the house of God?” Surely it makes us think of David bringing the ark back into Jerusalem (2 Sam. 6 / 1 Chron. 15). (And perhaps, bearing in mind this is the first of the Exodus Psalms (Ps. 41-72), there might also be an allusion to Moses or even the Lord himself leading the throng out of Egypt (Ex. 13:21-22)). And who is the one with exceeding joy, praising God with a harp? (Ps. 43:4) Well it could be Heman and co. (1 Chron. 25:1) but The Harpist of Israel is David (1 Sam. 16). As a Psalm of David all the stuff about the oppression of the enemy (Ps. 42:3,9-10; 43:1-2) starts to make more sense.

But, once again, it is in Jesus, the Greater David, that the Psalm makes the most sense. It is, as many of the Psalms, a window into Jesus’ head as he hangs on the Cross – his soul cast down, the breakers and waves of judgment crashing over him (cf. Ps. 88:7,16-17; Jonah 2:3,5; Mark 10:38), crying out to God, “Why have you forgotten me?”, his bones in agony as his enemies taunt him.

And the amazing thing we learn from Psalm 42/43 is that even at that moment of Godforsaken agony Jesus maintained his perfect devotion to the Father. Not for a moment did he stop seeking Him, thirsting for Him, trusting in His love, looking forward to praising Him. Isn’t that amazing!!

Where am I in the Psalm? Well first and foremost I’m with the enemies.

Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice
Call out among the scoffers.
It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished;
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished.

First and foremost Jesus is my substitute. He maintained perfect devotion even in the depths of anguish and hell. When no other would ever have maintained it. When there was nothing but darkness above him. When the human race was pouring out the very opposite of devotion on him. It is first and foremost for me simply to receive that great exchange – His righteousness for my sin, His perfect devotion for my anti-devotion.

I will not always be panting for God, longing for him. But I am IN CHRIST. In the one who is perfectly devoted to the Father. So as the Father looks at me he loves me as much as Jesus and he sees reflected back the perfect devotion of the Son.

And as I start to get that. That objective truth. Then maybe. Maybe. My affections might start to catch up with reality. And I’ll start to long for the Father as the Son does.