Psalm 42: Group Study Handout

How to use: read Psalm 42 aloud together, then take the questions in order. One page is enough for an evening.

Overview

The psalmist expresses deep desire for God's presence, comparing it to a deer thirsting for water (vv. 1-2). He laments his grief, noting that tears have become his food while others question his faith (vv. 3-4). Amid despair, the psalmist encourages his soul to hope in God, affirming he will still praise God for his help (vv. 5-6). He acknowledges God's sovereign care, describing how he remembers Him from the land of the Jordan and hears the sound of waterfalls (vv. 7-8). The psalmist pleads with God, questioning why he feels forgotten and is in mourning due to his enemies (vv. 9-10). Despite this, he repeats his call to his soul to hope in God, who he sees as the source of his countenance and help (vv. 11).

Key verse

“Why are you in despair, my soul? Why are you disturbed within me? Hope in God! For I shall still praise him, the saving help of my countenance, and my God.”
Psalms 42:11 (WEB)

Outline

Psalm 42:1–2 Desire for God's Presence
Psalm 42:3–4 Grief and Memory
Psalm 42:5–6 Hope Amid Despair
Psalm 42:7–8 God's Sovereign Care
Psalm 42:9–11 Continued Plea and Affirmation

Discussion questions

In v1, what animal is used to express the psalmist's longing for God?
What has been the psalmist's 'food' according to v3?
The phrase 'Deep calls to deep' in v7: what does it suggest about the psalmist's emotional state?
In v9, why does the psalmist question God's presence during their mourning?
When has your soul felt as though it 'pants' for something that feels distant?

Go deeper

Passages that echo Psalm 42: Psalm 63, Psalm 84, Psalm 119.

Before next time: read Psalm 43.