The Prodigal Prince - The One Year Book of Psalms

Psalm 42:1-6A

For the choir director: A psalm of the descendants of Korah.

1As the deer pants for streams of water,

so I long for you, O God.

2I thirst for God, the living God.

When can I come and stand before him?

3Day and night, I have only tears for food,

while my enemies continually taunt me, saying,

“Where is this God of yours?”

4My heart is breaking

as I remember how it used to be:

I walked among the crowds of worshipers,

leading a great procession to the house of God,

singing for joy and giving thanks—

it was the sound of a great celebration!

5Why am I discouraged?

Why so sad?

I will put my hope in God!

I will praise him again—

my Savior and 6my God!

King David’s son rebelled against his father and “stole the hearts” of the Israelites. As Absalom gathered political and military power, he forced David to flee from Jerusalem (2 Samuel 15).

Imagine how David must have felt. While Psalm 42 was not written by David, it certainly presents emotions that fit this situation—and any situation in which we find ourself betrayed and hopeless.

Heading into exile, David wasn’t just leaving his capital city; he was barred from worshiping God before the Ark. “When can I go and meet with God?” was surely a question David was asking at this time.

As David crossed the Mount of Olives, he was “weeping as he went” and taunted by those who opposed him (2 Samuel 15:30–16:8), just as the psalmist was. Absalom was claiming to be God’s newly appointed ruler. Where was God in this time of hardship? Why was this happening? After all his battles, maybe David really was a “man of blood” and was simply receiving his just desserts.

No doubt David remembered his joyous times of worship before the Ark and longed to return to the Tabernacle. Would he ever know that joy again? Like the psalmist, David could only hope.

Do you have similar questions, similar hardships? Put your trust in God, just as the psalmist did in verse 5. Someday the clouds will lift, and you’ll be able to praise your Savior and God once more.

Jesus, the very thought of thee

With sweetness fills my breast;

But sweeter far thy face to see,

And in thy presence rest.

BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX

Fascinating Fact

The thirsty deer was a symbol used by the early church, denoting a Christian’s passion for God.

Notable Quotable

“[In verse 1] the psalmist’s craving is directly associated to his worship of God in his sanctuary. Those people, then or now, who are lackadaisical about attendance at church have never known what it really means to worship God.”

NORMAN SNAITH