Psalms of Comfort 3: Psalm 42

Have you ever been in the doldrums?

There is an area around the equator where prevailing low pressure results in very little movement of air. Sailing ships were becalmed for weeks on end. This area is known as the doldrums and the term has been used when, in our lives, we find ourselves in a state or period of stagnation or depression. We may be glancing back to the good old days and wishing them to come again.

The Psalmist knows there is a way out of the doldrums and we should know that there is a way out of the doldrums too. It is through God’s presence in our lives, it is through letting His love be the rule of our lives and celebrating the promises with hearts that say: “God dwelled here once and He will dwell here again”. With that hopeful heart the Psalmist says to his soul finally, “don’t be downcast, put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Saviour and my God”.

Three times in the psalm we see the soul searching of the Psalmist, “why my soul are you downcast”. He knows he is flat and almost desperate, but he knows the way out of it and that is to remember God, put his hope in God and praise God. He recognises his need of God, the first verse speaks about his longing to get to the riverbank, the place of refreshing where he can drink in God’s grace and his goodness.

His circumstances threaten to overwhelm him and nostalgically he recalls the time when he was in a good place. That place of going to the house of God with Gods people, celebrating with shouts of joy and praise among the festive throng. We may long to be back in fellowship with our brothers and sisters in Christ, longing for a past where we enjoy Gods blessings on our lives but we are stuck where we are.

We take our example from the Psalmist, he recognises his condition but he knows that his hope lies in praising God. That is the solution for the downcast soul. So take heart and praise God, He will restore us.