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Recently, I chose Psalm 42 to study. It was raining outside, it had been for over a week, raining off and on, sometimes real deluges. As I was reading vs. 7, when the author spoke of the roar of the waterfalls, I found I could relate. Listening to the rain rush through the gutter and pelt on my roof, I studied this Psalm and could feel the anguish that David felt. I felt his sadness, too.
I believe that David authored this Psalm, although there is no proof; it seems to mirror his writing style. There was a time in his life when he had sought refuge in the hills, safely hiding away from public persecution. Whomever wrote this, and let’s assume it was David, he was tormented at the time. Deeply discouraged and saddened, he listened to the water rushing down and spoke of the waves and surging tides sweeping over him. That’s how depression comes to us sometimes. Like a “surging tide sweeping over”.
But David had chosen this hideout at “the little hill”, “the land of Mount Mizar” when he sought sanctuary in his flight from Absalom. This was the small hill at the foot of Mount Hermon, a holy mountain which means devoted/sanctified. And as David listened to the rage of the noise from the Benais Waterfall, the largest in all of Israel, he longed for closeness with God. As he sought shelter and safety behind those falls, the majesty and greatness of them were overpowering and seemed to mimic his gloom.
So, there he was, feeling heavy of heart; but yet he still knew his hope was in God! Praising him even in his darkest hours. The fear must have been so great for him. The loneliness and despair looming over him, surrounding him; an enemy to his calm.
And yet, friends, this is where God meets us. At our darkest hour. At our lowest moments. We can call out to him. For He is our rock. Our shelter. An ever-present help in trouble.
David, in this Psalm, is longing for God. Full of despair, he’s remembering another time, when God felt so close to him. A time when David himself had led a great procession to the house of God, singing and rejoicing and giving thanks. A time when he was euphoric with worship; praise constantly flowing from his lips. So he wonders, “Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad?”
And then, he claims victory! “I will praise him again – my Savior and my God!”
And on and on his woes continue as he first cries out with discouragement and then when his pain and misery seem to be all he can take he again shouts out with praise! And so, all through the night he sings his songs of praise.
Ultimately, God is there the entire time.
Even when we can’t feel his presence. Even when we’re deeply despondent, anguishing and filled with agonizing cries for release from our darkest nights of despair, He is there. And just like David, we can call out to him and he will hear us. He is our rock and our deliverer. Our shelter and our strong tower.
David was longing for that closeness and fellowship with God that can only come from constant prayer and supplication. Tossing and turning in the night. Waking up to shout out; wondering why he was left to wander around in grief. And yet sensing to also sing out his praise; to comfort himself with worship and prayer.
And to you who are reading this; may you find in your darkest hour, His presence. And may you also find rest and shelter in the shadow of the almighty.
