​Summer In The Psalms
Part 3: Psalm 42

Psalm 42
 To the choirmaster. A Maskil of the Sons of Korah.
 
42 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?
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 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

Reasons for Discouragement
#1. Desperation (1-2a)
#2. Distance (2b)
#3. Depression (3a)
#4. Derision (3b)
 
Response to Discouragement
#1. He Seeks God (v.1-2)

#2. He Remembers (v.4a & 6b-8)
A. His Promises (v.4)
B. His Provision (v.7b)
C. His Presence (v.8)
D. His Power (v.9)

#3. He Asks Why? (v.5a,9,11a)

#4. He Preaches to Himself (v.5b, 11b)

While there are some valid reasons for discouragement, there are many more reasons for hope.