3.
Psalms 42 and 43
Songwriter:
downcast and faithful
What is the
biggest waterfall you have seen?
What did you
feel?
Use Psalm 84
– Everyone could take a verse or two and say a prayer of praise
based on their chosen verses, or simply read out the words. Take a
minute or two in silence to reflect on the words yourself first.
The same musicians who wrote Psalm
42-43 wrote this psalm.
These two psalms are best read
together. The writer was disturbed and downcast, yet held on to a hope
of restoration.
Some advice in bad times.
- Be
real with your feelings: 42v1-3, v7, v10, 43v2
and do
not bury the burden.
- Ask questions: 42v2, v5, v9,
v11, 43v2, v5
and confronting the problems head on.
- Look towards God: almost every
verse!
Read Psalms 42 and
43
Questions:
1. How many
times does the psalmist mention God? Write it down on a large sheet
of prayer in the middle of the group. What does this tell you about
God? How does this help ‘the downcast’? Hope in these psalms is not
based on vague optimism.
2. The
psalmist remembers encouraging times of worship (42v4). Can you recall
similar times yourself? What enabled you to worship God at that
time? As the psalmist now feels so alone – how can his memory help
him?
3. Despite
the feeling of being ‘downcast’ the psalmist still seems full of
hope? Why?
4. Psalm
42v1-2 What is ‘spiritual thirst’? How similar is it to being
thirsty for water?
5. “A person
can be happy when alone, but not happy when lonely”. True?
The sons of
Korah wrote these psalms and 11 others (Psalms 42-49, 84-88). They were
descended from Korah, the Levite priest who led a rebellion against God
and Moses. The children were spared when he died during his
insurrection (Numbers 16v1-3, 28-33, 26v11). This seems very unusual
for the time. The family became the temple doorkeepers
(1 Chronicles
9v17) others became singers or musicians, leading the temple worship (1
Chronicles 6v33). Psalm 43v4 gives us a clue to The Sons of Korah’s
profession.
Extra
Question:
Q How might
this information help you to understand the psalms as they were written?
Q Is it
essential for Christians to join in public worship?
Pray for
preparations for the Alpha Course.
You might like to
read Acts 4v13-31 before the next meeting.
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