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 42:5, 11 and 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) 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?
3. What did the author remember as he mourned himself? How does this further emphasize his God appointed occupation? How can we related?
4. What does he repeat in verse 6? Where was he? Where did he want to be? Why?
II. Put Your Hope in God (42:7-11)
5. What might verse 7 practically be referring to? What might it mean poetically? Spiritually? What is the author consumed by according to verse 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?
7. How does the author practically feel as a result of his foes taunts? What does he question a second time? Why?
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? Did he put his faith in God? Does he still have faith in God? Did he ever get answers to his whys? 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?
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? Why might he ask the same questions a third time?
