Why Art Thou Cast Down, O My Soul? – Psalm 42 & 43

Outlines in Psalms

“As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.  My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?”

 I.  The Reasons for Discouragement & Depression (Psalm 42:3-4, 6-7, 9-10; 43:1-2)
II.  The Response to Discouragement & Depression (Psalm 42:1-2, 5, 8, 11; 43:3-5)

 I.  The Reasons for Discouragement & Depression

     A.  The tears of sorrow 

           Psalm 42:3-4 – “My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is
           thy God?  When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I
           went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday.”

     B.  The billows of trouble

           Psalm 42:6-7 – “O my God, my soul is cast down within me: therefore will I remember thee from the land of
           Jordan, and of the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar.  Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts:
           all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me.”

     C.  The reproach of the enemy

           Psalm 42:9-10 – “I will say unto God my rock, Why hast thou forgotten me?  Why go I mourning because
           of the oppression of the enemy?  As with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me; while they say
           daily unto me, Where is thy God?”

     D.  The apparent forsaking of God

           Psalm 42:9a – “I will say unto God my rock, Why hast thou forgotten me?” 

           Psalm 43:1-2 – “Judge me, O God, and plead my cause against an ungodly nation: O deliver me from the
           deceitful and unjust man.  For thou art the God of my strength: why dost thou cast me off?  Why go I
           mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?”

II.  The Response to Discouragement & Depression

     A.  Confront this attitude as wrong

           Psalm 42:5a-b – “Why art thou cast down, O my soul?  And why art thou disquieted in me?” 

           Psalm 42:11a-b – “Why art thou cast down, O my soul?  And why art thou disquieted in me?” 

           Psalm 43:5a-b – “Why art thou cast down, O my soul?  And why art thou disquieted in me?”

     B.  Command yourself to hope in God

           Psalm 42:5c – “Hope thou in God.”

           Psalm 42:11c – “Hope thou in God.”

           Psalm 43:5c – “Hope in God.”

           Psalm 42:1-2 – “As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.  My soul
           thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?”

     C.  Commit yourself to praise God.

           Psalm 42:5d – “For I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.”

           Psalm 42:11d – “For I shall yet praise him . . . .”

           Psalm 43:5d – “For I shall yet praise him . . . .”

     D.  Claim the faithfulness of God.

           Psalm 42:11d – “For I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.”

           Psalm 42:8 – “Yet the LORD will command his lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night his song
           shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life.” 

           Psalm 43:3-4 – “O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto thy holy hill,
           and to thy tabernacles.  Then will I go unto the altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy: yea, upon the
           harp will I praise thee, O God my God.”

     E.  Continue engaging in this process.

           Psalm 43:5d – “For I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.”

Posted in Outlines in Psalms, Depression, In Time of Trouble, Repentance of Sin, Trust in God, Praising Our Lord, Faithfulness of Our Lord

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