O My Soul

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Psalms 42 & 43

What is the suggestion being made when God chooses to open up the second book of the Psalter with not 1 but 2 Psalms which speak about depression and depressive feelings and emotions? I believe there are 2 important reasons the Lord does this:

1. These are common experiences for God’s people throughout every age and dispensation.
2. God wants to help to remedy our depressive thoughts and emotions through the Psalms.

Psalms 42 and 43 open up the 2nd book of the Psalter, and they are about depression. If you have ever found yourself downcast and downtrodden, you can turn to Psalms 42 and 43 and ask the same question the Psalmist when they said; “Why are you downcast, o my soul?”-42:5.

Let us come therefore, to these great Psalms so that we may answer the question in our soul “why are you downcast?” in 42:5 with the wonderful words; “Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God” in 42:11 and 43:5!

If you have ever been depressed and discouraged in your life then these Psalms are for you. Let us come to understand some of the causes of these dark emotions and then may we rejoice at the cure presented for us!

1. Who are these “Sons of Korah?”
   1. The Korahites were Levites, descended through Kohath, Korah’s father. (1 Chron. 6:22-48; 9:17-32 and 2 Chron. 20:19). These were a family of Musicians employed to play music in the Temple. Korah led a rebellion against Moses and perished by God’s judgement along with all who joined him in mutiny. (See Numbers 16 and Jude 11). For some reason, God spared the Sons of Korah. It seems these children were so thankful for God’s mercy and grace in sparing them from the ill demise of their fathers they became special musicians, performing in both the wilderness tabernacle and later on in the Temple (See Numbers 26:11). Herein are a at least 3 preliminary applications:
      1. One of the most depressing things is when we come from sinful and rebellious families. We are predisposed to darkness already.
      2. Just because you come from a reprobate family, that does not mean you have to follow in their footsteps. No parents or children are kept from the service of God because his or her children or parents’ sins.
      3. Some of most God-fearing children and parents had sinful children and parents and yet they went on to do wonderful things for God.
2. What are the Causes of Spiritual Depression? —There are at least 7 causes of depressive emotions in this Psalm:
   1. Homesick Depression in 42:6
      1. Interpretation—The Psalmist is far from home and consequently feels far from God. Nothing can cause depressive emotions more than feelings of alienation from God Himself. The Temple represented the presence of God on the earth and being isolated from that precious place the Psalmist is going through a period of darkness in their life.
      2. Application—WE must be careful to not let ourselves get too far away from God or God’s people. Amidst feelings of loneliness and isolation we must be growing ever closer to God!
   2. Dead-End Depression
   3. Taunted Depression
   4. Stuck in the Past Depression
   5. Deluged Depression—In 42:7
   6. Impatient Depression—In 42:9
   7. Oppression Depression—In 42:9 & 43:1
3. How shall we be Cured?
   1. Beware of False Cures
   2. Taking-Control is a Cure in 42:5 & 43:5
   3. Challenging Yourself is a Cure
   4. Great Certainty is a Cure in 42:8
   5. Reversing the Course is a Cure

When we are down in the dumps and singing the blues while being held in captive by this present evil world, these great Psalms call us to envision our pilgrimage back into the presence of our God!