* The engraving titled "The Waterfall: Deafening" is from a book "Beschouwing der wereld : bestaande in hondert konstige figuuren, met godlyke spreuken en stichtelyke verzen / door Jan Luiken."
It is by Luiken, Jan (1649-1712) and is now in public domain. Two travelers are in front of a huge waterfall. One points to the waterfall, the other tries to protect his hears from the noise. The Dutch artist and poet Jan Luiken (1649-1712) was responsible for drawing this emblem and composed the poem that accompanies it. The etching was executed by Jan Luiken or his son Casper Luiken (1672-1708), who had used this image in an earlier work, which may be found in the Digital Image Archive under the call number 1699Weig. The attendant scriptures are Psalm 42:7 and Psalm 62:1, 5.
Courtesy of the Digital Image Archive, Pitts Theology Library, Candler School of Theology, Emory University: http://www.pitts.emory.edu.
The motto is "What sounds lovely, Does not stand out here." The accompanying poem is:
How the massive waterfall roars,
From the tumbling and swarming life,
From heaven's high driven down into the low valley,
Of earthly persuasion.
Here the Soul lives in the abode of flesh,
With crushed and scattered wits,
Through the ceaseless noise,
That doesn't allow it to deliberate.
All the good, that is heard elsewhere,
As food for the calm life,
Is here swallowed up and suffocated,
Disturbed and constantly driven away.
A new life, thou makest far from here,
From here, where thou thus lived a long time,
Near the large and terrible noise,
That never refreshed thee in rest.
Seek a quiet dwelling for the soul,
So that thine unoccupied ears would hear,
Salvation's voice, of eternal good,
As food for thy Soul.
Sit down near the quiet water,
That flowing out of God's fountain of love,
Makes a stream of the wished-for teaching,
That is projected along thy dwelling.
O Blessed stillness, where one hears,
The pleasant and friendly requests,
Of the Souls, through God's Holy word,
That is so generously offered to everyone.
Right then Life do become calm,
That now for so long and so many days,
Was an inhabitant of the Vale of noise,
A place that must displease life.
O Vale of noise, of all vanity,
Of the tumbling and swarming life,
Of the world-spirit in the realm of this time,
One must flee and abandon thee.
O Quiet region of the Valley of virtue,
Chosen by so many wise men,
So as to hear of the Salvation of eternal joy,
Instead of the earthly noise,
Thy pleasure draws us all,
From the World's massive Waterfall.
(Translation by Josephine V. Brown, with editorial assistance from William G. Stryker)
>1. Who wrote this psalm as well as the next one? Who are they? What does this mean? Consider the repeating theme of this Psalm found in verses 5, 11 and 43:5.
* Book II of the psalms starts with psalm 42. When people wrote on scrolls the scrolls could only be a certain length before they became to impractical to use and two expensive. Since the psalms were so many they were divided into five scrolls. This is the beginning of the second scroll.
* The title of the psalm is "For the director of music. A maskil of the Sons of Korah."
* Psalms 42 and 43 are a single prayer of the sons of Korah. The Korahite clans are descendants of Korah, a grandson of Levi the high priest of the Lord, the brother of Moses. (Exodus 6:16, 18, 21, 24, 26-27; Numbers 16:1) The Korahite clans along with the rest of the Levites are allotted forty-eight cities to live in amongst the tribes of Israel instead of a tribal inheritance. (Numbers 18:20-23, 26:62; Deuteronomy 10:9, 18:1-2; Joshua 18:7, 21:1-8) David appointed the Korahites to sing in choirs. (1 Chronicles 6:31-47) They called their choirs, "The Sons of Korah". (2 Chronicles 5:12) The leader in David's time was Heman. (1 Chronicles 6:33; 15:17, 19; Psalm 88 title)
The cities the Korahites lived in were frequently invaded by the nations, as was all of Israel. (2 Samuel 8, 10, 21:15-22; 2 Kings 2:17-18) During one of these incursions (43:1), the Korahites were oppressed by the enemy (9) and unable to serve at the tent of meeting that David had set up in Jerusalem. (42:4; 43:3-4; 2 Samuel 6:1-5, 17-19, 16:41-42, 25; 7:1-2) The enemy's incursion led to the writing of this psalm split into two.
The recurring refrain ending each of the three stanzas is, "Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God." The author is questioning and instructing himself. Self-rebuking faith encourages hopeful faith. As Apostle Paul who also found himself pursued by enemies encouraged the persecuted followers of Jesus in Rome, "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."
Praising God does not always involve a location or happy times. Praising God is a matter of faith. If my faith is tested during a time of troubles I need to instruct my soul to praise him. This is not easy, but it is necessary. This is an act that seldom becomes a habit but should be practiced as if it is a habit.
Listen to the above comments on Psalm 42:5, 11 & 43:5.
>2. How does the writer poetically reveal his soul's desire for the Lord? What does he call God? What question does he ask? (1-2)
* Psalm 42:1-2 "As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?"
* "O God" -"Elohim" in the original Hebrew.
* "soul" -"soul" is "nepesh" in the original Hebrew that appears 753 times in the Old Testament.
* "pants... thirsts" -"pants" is "arag" in the original Hebrew also translated "cry". "thirsts" is "same" in the original Hebrew.
* "When can I go and meet with God?" -A sincere question to someone who wants to meet God and so quench his thirst. Jesus told the woman by the well that anyone who drinks him will never thirst. In the temple courts during the Feast of Tabernacles Jesus said that he is living water.
* The relationship between the Lord Jesus and his people is the essence of absolute need. We need his love. We need his power. We need his life. We need his light. We need his discipline. We need his counsel. We need his compassion. We need his wisdom. We need him.
The relationship between the Lord Jesus and his people is the essence of absolute desire. We desire his love. We desire his power. We desire his life. We desire his light. We desire his discipline. We desire his counsel. We desire his compassion. We desire his wisdom. We desire him.
Our soul pants for Jesus. Our soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
Jesus said, "I am the bread of life. (John 6:35, 48, 51) I am the light of the world. (John 8:12, 9:5) I am the gate for the sheep. (John 10:7) I am the good shepherd. (John 10:11, 14) I am God's Son. (John 10:36) I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies. (John 11:25) I am in the Father and the Father is in me. (John 14:10, 11) I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. (John 14:20) I am the true vine; you are the branches. (John 15:1, 5) You are right in saying I am a king. (John 18:37) I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. (Acts 7:32, 52)"
When asked, "Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One? he answered, "I am." Jesus is the I Am that I crave.
Listen to the above comments on Psalm 42:1-2.
>How does he describe his emotions? How did people respond? Why would people say that to him? What does it show about their faith in God and love for the author?
* Psalm 42:3 "My tears have been my food day and night, while men say to me all day long, "Where is your God?"
* "My tears" -The author has had a very touch time. He does not feel complete, nor right. He is seeking God who apparently does not know his thirsts or if God does know but does nothing.
* "Where is your God?" -The author asks God this very same question.
* One person hears from strangers, "Where is your God?" Another hears from family and friends, "Where is your God?" A third hears from self, "Where is your God?" When troubled times flow like tearless infant cries the air fills with confused and faithless questions.
A righteous person such as Job may follow up with, "But I desire to speak to the Almighty and to argue my case with God. You, however, smear me with lies; you are worthless physicians, all of you! ...Would it turn out well if he examined you? Could you deceive him as you might deceive men? ...How many wrongs and sins have I committed? Show me my offense and my sin. Why do you hide your face and consider me your enemy?" (Job 13:3-4, 9, 23)
Though the love of God is not felt on a sick bed, yet God sees and knows. This promise I have, "And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you" (Matthew 28:20 Hebrews 13:5)
Listen to the above comments on Psalm 42:3.
* See a picture of Mount Herman Israel to the right.
>3. What did the author remember as he mourned himself? How does this further emphasize his God appointed occupation? How can we related?
* Psalm 42:4 "These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go with the multitude, leading the procession to the house of God, with shouts of joy and thanksgiving among the festive throng."
* "These things I remember as I pour out my soul" -Remembering the good days of the past only brings more sorrow.
* "leading the procession to the house of God" -The Levites lead the procession.
* The day that the ark of the covenant was brought to Jerusalem fits the scenario. However, some of the feasts also contained processions.
* "the house of God" -"house" is "bayit" in the original Hebrew indicating a physical structure was there. A tent would not be fitting for this word. Before Solomon's temple Shiloh was a place where Samuel and priests before him served before the Lord. The building was destroyed by the Philistines probably just before David was born. After that the ark of the covenant was placed in a tent and remained in a tent until Solomon build the temple in Jerusalem.
>4. What does he repeat in verse 6? Where was he? (Deuteronomy 3:8-10) Where did he want to be? Why?
* Psalm 42:5-6 "Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. My soul is downcast within me; therefore I will remember you from the land of the Jordan, the heights of Hermon--from Mount Mizar."
* Deuteronomy 3:8-10 "So at that time we took from these two kings of the Amorites the territory east of the Jordan, from the Arnon Gorge as far as Mount Hermon. (Hermon is called Sirion by the Sidonians; the Amorites call it Senir.) We took all the towns on the plateau, and all Gilead, and all Bashan as far as Salecah and Edrei, towns of Og's kingdom in Bashan."
* 1 Chronicles 5:23 "The people of the half-tribe of Manasseh were numerous; they settled in the land from Bashan to Baal Hermon, that is, to Senir (Mount Hermon)."
* See question 1 for commentary for verse 5, the refrain repeated three times in this psalm.
* Repetition marks importance in the Bible.
* Memory can bring hope and new life or it can stifle a once productive life. The Sons of Korah remember a far-back time of celebration, thanksgiving, and joy. The Israelites celebrated seven annual feasts established by the Lord God through Moses. (Leviticus 23; Deuteronomy 16:1-17) The Levites lead a great progression to the house of the Lord. In David's time, this was the tent of meeting David had set up in Jerusalem. The day the Ark of the Covenant was brought to Jerusalem and placed in the tent was indeed a great celebration. (2 Samuel 6)
Perhaps the Sons of Korah escaped the invading enemy by traveling to the northeast, to the headwaters of the Jordan River. Or perhaps they were captured and brought to Mount Hermon and Mizar (meaning little). From there they remembered the Lord their God. Though they once celebrated in Jerusalem, they could also remember and celebrate at Mount Herman.
Psalm 103:1-2 of David states, "Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits..." Remembering the Lord and all his benefits bring life to a captured soul.
Listen to the above comments on Psalm 42:4-6.
II. Put Your Hope in God (42:7-11)
* The top plate taken in 1862 by Bedford, Francis (1816-1894) is a view of the city of Jerusalem taken from the Mount of Olives. In the background on the right, the Dome of the Rock can be seen. The full page includes the attribution, "Photographed by Francis Bedford during the Tour in the East on which by Command he accompanied His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales."
The middle plate also taken in 1862 by Bedford, Francis is a view of the tombs of Absalom, Saint James (Benei Hezir), and Zechariah in the Valley of Jehoshaphat (Kidron Valley) by the Mount of Olives.
The bottom plate also taken in 1862 by Bedford, Francis is a view of the Mount of Olives beyond the Golden Gate looking east from the Temple Mount and the Dome of the Rock.
>5. What might verse 7 practically be referring to? What might it mean poetically? Spiritually?
* Psalm 42:7 "Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me."
* "deep calls to deep" -One affliction comes immediately after another, as if it were called for and invited by the former; which he expresses by a metaphor. (Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible.(Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible). "Deep calls unto deep, one affliction comes upon the neck of another, as if it were called to hasten after it; and thy water-spouts give the signal and sound the alarm of war." It may be meant of the terror and disquietude of his mind under the apprehensions of God's anger. One frightful thought summoned another, and made way for it, as is usual in melancholy people. He was overpowered and overwhelmed with a deluge of grief... (Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible).
* "in the roar of your waterfalls" -Such as the snow melt from Mount Herman at the mouth of the Jordan River.
* "all your waves and breakers have swept over me." -Job says the same. Going out in the ocean with heavy surf one can experience the relentless power that wearies even the strongest swimmer.
* The author continually experienced spiritual onslaught with no relief from God.
>What is the author consumed by according to verse 8?
* Psalm 42:8 "By day the LORD directs his love, at night his song is with me-- a prayer to the God of my life."
* "By day the LORD directs his love" -God controls who he sends forth love that is practically and physically experienced.
* "at night his song is with me" -This is not when he falls asleep, but when he is asleep. God sings to him at night.
* "a prayer to the God of my life" -It seems that the author is say the two former are a prayer. He is not. Instead, he is saying because he has experienced these two things in his past, he will pray to God now even though he remains with a thirsty soul.
* Still he relies on as constant a flow of divine mercy which will elicit his praise and encourage his prayer to God. (A Commentary: Critical, Experimental, and Practical on the Old and New Testaments).
* The author imagines themselves at the base of a dry waterfall in a deep mountain crevice or narrow valley. Above the Lord God has a great store of love and wealth. The Lord opens the floodgate a little releasing his cash onto the deeply depressed turmoil, the oppressed, the weak, and the weary. The bone-dry had a thirst for the Lord as the deer panting for water (1-2). Now comes the water. Now comes the relief. Refreshing Spirit to a dry soul. Deep calls to deep.
The Lord will send His endless love to the one who seeks his kingdom day and night, a song at night to comfort his soul, and prayer from dawn to dusk. All the Lord's waves and billows of affection and passion cleanse parched flesh. Tension releases to rest. Comfort replaces restlessness. Relief for the weighed down dejected. Spirit for the dispirited. Salty tears washed away with cool fresh well water. Stench begone downstream to the ocean's deep. The water will come. The sea brought home awaits a deep call to deep.
Listen to the above comments on Psalm 42:7-8.
>6. Why according to verse 9 does the author believe God has forgotten him? Is this a statement of faith, doubt, or something else? Is it wrong to question God like this?
* Psalm 42:9 "I say to God my Rock, "Why have you forgotten me? Why must I go about mourning, oppressed by the enemy?"
* Here is the request. Here is the author's problem. He is asking the same questions are others. They are asking to mock him and his God. He is asking because he is confused, but more so because he is so very desperate to regain what he had experienced before.
* He seriously does not know the answer to these questions. Job was the same way. Job wanted to know why. Prophets have also asked this question.
>7. How does the author practically feel as a result of his foes taunts? What does he question a second time? Why?
* Psalm 42:10-11 "My bones suffer mortal agony as my foes taunt me, saying to me all day long, "Where is your God?" Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God."
* "Where is your God?" -Repeated from earlier.
* "Why are you downcast, O my soul?" -He admits his emotions and state of mind show his lack of faith in God.
* "Put your hope in God" -He is telling his soul to repent. He is trying to encourage himself to respond in faith.
* "for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God." -Commentators state that faith one in the end. However, I find that it is not clear that he did at this time. I suspect he was in this mental and emotional loop over and over again. Hense, "deep calls to deep". The ending was not a quick turn around in 11 verses.
* Jacob wrestled with God physically, perhaps along with the soul's wrestling. The Sons of Korah wrestle with God and themselves mentally. When Jesus asked his disciples and the religious leaders questions he wanted them to struggle mentally with the hope they would come to logical and wise conclusions.
"Who do people say that I am?" "Why do you worry about clothes?" (Matthew 6:28) "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in you own eyes?" (Matthew 7:3) "Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts?" (Matthew 9:4) "Why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition?" (Matthew 15:3) "Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone." (Matthew 10:8) "Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?" (Luke 6:46) "Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds?"
Asking questions to self as the author is doing is not necessarily the action of some mental disease. Rather, self-imposed diagnostic questions can lead to mental healing. Asking, "Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me?" leads to a command to self, "Put your hope in God." However, telling one's self such wise things is one thing. Doing the right thing is another. I pray, "Increase our faith!" as Jesus' disciples responded to his teaching about forgiving our brother who sins seven times a day and asks for forgiveness seven times a day. "Give me the power and strength and love, whatever is needed, to do your will for me."
Listen to the above comments on Psalm 42:9-11.
III. Vindicate Me O God (43:1-5)
>8. What does he ask of God? Who is the ungodly nation considering his location? What kind of people was his foes?
* Psalm 43:1 "Vindicate me, O God, and plead my cause against an ungodly nation; rescue me from deceitful and wicked men."
* Psalm 43 was originally part of psalm 42.
* Another plea for God's help.
>Did he put his faith in God? Does he still have faith in God? Did he ever get answers to his whys?
* Psalm 43:2 "You are God my stronghold. Why have you rejected me? Why must I go about mourning, oppressed by the enemy?"
* Very similar to Psalm 42:9 "You are my Rock..."
>Why does he ask for light and truth? Are they the same or different? Poetry or reality? What is God's holy mountain for the author? Where does God dwell now?
* Psalm 43:3 "Send forth your light and your truth, let them guide me; let them bring me to your holy mountain, to the place where you dwell."
* This is turning around his memories of the past in Psalm 42:4.
* With prayers and petitions to the Lord God Almighty, I am transposed to the realm of the kingdom of heaven, standing in the court of Jesus the Messiah. Though my body remains where I pray, my immortal essence is brought to the court of the kingdom of God. A brilliant cloud of light envelopes all that I witness. The bailiff is standing behind me to the left. I await with others who are standing afar to my right to witness the entrance of the King. My soul is at peace.
My trial is not the reason for the summons. I am not to be put on God's scale of righteousness. Rather, I was brought to the court at the beckon of King Jesus who heard my petition after witnessing and accepting my acceptance of him as my absolute Lord and Savior.
The physical body is not aware of the reality transpiring in the heavenly realm as the Sons of Korah plead, "Vindicate me, O God, and plead my cause against an ungodly nation; rescue me from deceitful and wicked men. You are God my stronghold. Why have you rejected me? Why must I go about mourning, oppressed by the enemy? Send forth your light and your truth, let them guide me; let them bring me to your holy mountain, to the place where you dwell." "The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective."
Listen to the above comments on Psalm 43:1-3.
>9. Where was the altar of God at the time of this writing? What is praise to the author? Is that the only form of praise?
* Psalm 43:4 "Then will I go to the altar of God, to God, my joy and my delight. I will praise you with the harp, O God, my God."
* This is a continuance of the thought of verses 3.
>Why might he ask the same questions a third time?
* Psalm 43:5 "Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God."
* A repeat of Psalm 42:11. The mental and emotional loop of struggling with depressive melancholy thoughts continue.
* The author is searching for hope. Hope for a return to a time when he was happy. A time when he did what he desired. He desired to praise the Lord with the harp, his stringed musical instrument. He desired to be able to go to the altar of God as he had once before. The Sons of Korah turn to God for help. They put their trust in the Lord Jesus.
In this world, trouble comes at a sudden notice, an oppression from without persists to annoy. The enemy comes and removes us from the place where life was good. The enemy attacks are when I need to place my hope in the Lord my God.
Why am I downcast? Why am I disturbed within me? Put my hope in God. I hope in God. He lifts the oppressed. He comforts the disturbed. I will again be in a happy place serving the Lord. Hope in my Savior and my God.
