Year 5, Day 188: Psalm 42

Theological Commentary: Click Here

Discipleship Focus: Protection

• Protection: In the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus teaches us to pray that God might deliver us from evil – even the Evil One.  Sometimes we need God’s protection from the sin around us.  Sometimes we need protection from the sinful people around us.  Other times we need protection from the sin that lies within ourselves. In any case, Jesus’ point is clear.  We need protection from the Father to make it through each and every day.

This is a very interesting psalm to view through the lens of protection.  Clearly this psalm was written in the midst of a bad time in the author’s life.  In fact, what makes this psalm interesting is that the author seems to be having difficulty focusing on the positive.  The author seems to be having difficulty seeing the silver lining.  The author seems to be having difficulty seeing a point in the future where life is enjoyable again.

We can tell this by the repeated refrain spoken with the psalm.  Why are you downcast, oh my soul?  Why are you in turmoil within me?

The author recognizes that his spirit is having difficulty.  What is interesting is that this psalm reads as an internal debate between one’s spirit and one’s reason.  Logically, the author knows to trust in the Lord.  Logically, the author knows that the Lord is capable of protecting us from our enemies.  Logically, the author knows that there is no reason to be downcast.  This is why the author asks himself, “Why are you downcast, oh my soul?”

However, spiritually and emotionally the author cannot help but look around him.  He cannot help but see his enemies around him.  He cannot help but see how they plot and scheme against him and look for his destruction.  He cannot remember the tears shed so often that they have seemed like his food.  His soul cannot help but ask God why God has abandoned him.

This is a profound psalm.  It lifts up the idea that the Lord is indeed our protection.  However, there is a difference between logically knowing that the Lord is our protection and genuinely living as though we believe it.  Anyone can know this fact logically.  All who know God should know this fact logically.  But it is difficult in the midst of turmoil to live as though God is our protection.

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