Prayer Guide: Psalm 42

By Justin Jeppesen

To the choirmaster. A Maskil of the Sons of Korah.

 As a deer pants for flowing streams,
    so pants my soul for you, O God.
2 My soul thirsts for God,
    for the living God.
When shall I come and appear before God?[b]
3 My tears have been my food
    day and night,
while they say to me all the day long,
    “Where is your God?”
4 These things I remember,
    as I pour out my soul:
how I would go with the throng
    and lead them in procession to the house of God
with glad shouts and songs of praise,
    a multitude keeping festival.

5 Why are you cast down, O my soul,
    and why are you in turmoil within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
    my salvation[c] 6 and my God.

My soul is cast down within me;
    therefore I remember you
from the land of Jordan and of Hermon,
    from Mount Mizar.
7 Deep calls to deep
    at the roar of your waterfalls;
all your breakers and your waves
    have gone over me.
8 By day the Lord commands his steadfast love,
    and at night his song is with me,
    a prayer to the God of my life.
9 I say to God, my rock:
    “Why have you forgotten me?
Why do I go mourning
    because of the oppression of the enemy?”
10 As with a deadly wound in my bones,
    my adversaries taunt me,
while they say to me all the day long,
    “Where is your God?”

11 Why are you cast down, O my soul,
    and why are you in turmoil within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
    my salvation and my God.

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

 

REVERENCE

God’s Praiseworthy Attributes:

  • Satisfier of our souls – v. 1
  • Living God – v. 2
  • Present and approachable – v. 2
  • Worthy of glad shouts and songs of praise – v. 3
  • Our hope – v. 6, 11
  • Our salvation – v. 6, 11
  • Steadfast love -v. 8
  • God of our life -v. 8
  • Our rock – v. 9
  • Sovereign over suffering -v. 3, 9-10

Possible Prayer Prompts:

  • Lord, my soul longs for You because You are…
  • Lord, thank You for satisfying my soul when…
  • O God, You are worthy of glad shouts and songs of praise even when…
  • Lord, thank you for fulfilling my hope for…
  • Because You are the God of hope, I will praise You even when…
  • Lord, thank You for saving me from…
  • I praise You for commanding Your steadfast love to me when I…
  • God of my life, thank You for being with me in my suffering of…

RESPONSE

  • Lord, I admit my soul is cast down about…and help me to hope in You!
  • Lord, when others say “where is your God,” I will remember that You…
  • I confess that I felt forgotten by You when…and say again that You are my rock!

REQUESTS

  • Satisfy my soul’s longing for…
  • Lord, bring Your hope and salvation to…
  • As I pour out my soul to You about…help me remember that I am not alone!
  • Lord, command Your steadfast love to me as I face the suffering of…
  • Help me see Your face today as I struggle with…
  • Lord, be my rock today when I feel overwhelmed about…
  • In my pain and distress, help me to hope in You for…

READINESS

  • Lord, I trust You today to be my hope, especially when…
  • Lord, help me remember Your steadfast today as I face the adversary of…
  • When my soul is cast down about…help me trust in Your salvation!
    • Antiphonal response: “Hope in God; for I shall again praise him!