JUNE 9 PSALMS 42-49

June 9 BIBLE BLOG

Psalms 42-49; Welcome to BOOK TWO of the Psalms! It includes Psalm 42-72. While BOOK ONE was composed almost entirely of the psalms of David, BOOK TWO contains psalms produced by the Sons of Korah, Asaph and Solomon—as well as many more by David. 

Psalms 42 and 43 should be read as one psalm. Notice the repeated refrain, “Why are you downcast, O my soul…” in Psalm 42:5, Psalm 42:11, and Psalm 43:5; this unites to two. I have found much comfort and encouragement in these psalms; I call them, “My Depression Psalms.” I figure: if the Sons of Korah (worship leaders of ancient Israel) could have depression problems and question God about them, so can I. The main counsel I have received from these psalms about my own depression is this: never give up on God. I love the way the psalmists determine—in the end—to go to God’s holy hill (Zion) and praise Him. Praise helps heal the hurting heart!

Psalm 44 was written on behalf of Israel by the Sons of Korah; it is a national complaint during a time of relative faithfulness, when God’s people faced danger, disgrace and destruction. You have rejected us! (v. 9) You have made us turn back from the foe! (v. 10) You have sold your people for a trifle! (v. 12) You have broken us! (v. 19) And…all this has come upon us, though we have not forgotten you. (v. 17) Why would God allow bad things to happen to good people? We catch a glimpse of an answer in v. 22, which is quoted in Romans 8:36, in the midst of some of most glorious words in Scripture: Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? Then Paul quotes Psalm 44:22, and continues: No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us… When bad things happen to God’s people, we are walking in the footsteps of Jesus, who suffered as the only perfect person!

Psalm 45 is a love song composed, possibly, for a royal wedding. When describing the prince, there is a passage (vv. 6-9) that has been interpreted traditionally as messianic. It forms the basis for the great old hymn, “Out of the Ivory Palaces.”

Psalm 46 is the powerful exclamation of faith that no matter how tumultuous your life may be, God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble! By the end, we understand that the best thing to do in such times is to be still and know that God is God!

Psalm 47 is a call to exuberant praise: the Sons of Korah say, Clap your hands! Shout! Sing praises! These are commands. The psalmist doesn’t say: “Praise the Lord if you feel like it,” or “Clap your hands when things are going well;” we’re to sing praises whether we feel like it or not!

Psalm 48, also by the Sons of Korah, is an invitation to explore prayerfully the City of Zion, Jerusalem, God’s city. Walk about Zion, go around her, number her towers, consider well her ramparts, go through her citadels, that you may tell the next generation that this is God… (Psalm 48:12-14).

Psalm 49, this final psalm in an eight-psalm set by the Sons of Korah, is a wisdom psalm. The question of the psalm is, Why should I fear in times of trouble? (v. 5) The kind of trouble the psalmist is talking about here is the kind of trouble we experience when wicked, selfish people prosper all around us. The answer is simple: their prosperity is short-lived.

Your brother in the Word,

Pastor Gary