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Hope For The Downcast: Psalm 42

August 6, 2023

Psalms 42
42 As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. 2 My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God? 3 My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God? 4 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. 5 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance. 6 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. 7 Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me. 8 Yet the Lord will command his lovingkindness in the day time, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life. 9 I will say unto God my rock, Why hast thou forgotten me? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy? 10 As with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me; while they say daily unto me, Where is thy God? 11 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.

He does not surrender to the emotions of discouragement

He does not surrender to the emotions of discouragement
He remembers the “God” things

He does not surrender to the emotions of discouragement
He remembers the “God” things
He talks to himself

He does not surrender to the emotions of discouragement
He remembers the “God” things
He talks to himself
He talks to God

He does not surrender to the emotions of discouragement
He remembers the “God” things
He talks to himself
He talks to God
He thirsts for more of the Lord

Discussion Questions

  1. What “seasons of discouragement” have you gone through?
  2. How is discouragement different from depression?
  3. Pastor Gary spoke about the importance of being IN church like Hebrews 10:25 exhorts. How has being in God’s House with God’s people encouraged you?
  4. How did the psalmist describe his experience with discouragement in Psalm 42, and what can you relate to?
  5. What is the difference between perseverance in a biblical sense and a philosophy of “I’m going to pull myself up by my bootstraps”?
  6. Pastor Gary explained about Mount Hermon (the highest peak in Israel) and the Hill of Mizar (one of the lowest points in Israel). Do you seek the Lord in both the highs and the lows—when things are good, as much as when things are bad?
  7. Why is “talking to yourself” (literally, “talking to your soul”) actually a good thing to do at times?
  8. How much do you talk to God?
  9. Are you thirsty for more of the Lord?
  10. How has the Lord helped you through seasons of discouragement?