Psa 42-44 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Ps 42:1-43:5: Pss 42–43 These psalms, like Pss 9 and 10 , form a unit comprising a lament with a bittersweet refrain of hope (42:5 , 11 ; 43:5 ). In many Hebrew manuscripts these two psalms are combined as one. The historical context is uncertain; these psalms might be the voice of God’s people in exile, confessing their loyalty to God as he punishes them for their prevailing apostasy. The psalmist longs for fellowship with God such as he enjoyed in Jerusalem (42:4 ); his memories only make him more discouraged. As the psalmist cries out to God, he recalls God’s love and faithfulness (42:8 ), which moves him to plead for vindication (43:1-4 ). 42:title The descendants of Korah were members of a Levitical choir appointed by David to serve as Temple singers (see 1 Chr 6:22-38 ; 9:19-34 ; 2 Chr 20:19 ). Their ancestor Korah was the apostate who had rebelled against Moses and whom the earth swallowed up (Exod 6:24 ; Num 16 ). Summary for Ps 42:1-4: 42:1-4 The psalmist’s longing for God comes from being geographically distant from the Temple as he remembers the past. • The verb translated longs is found only here and in Joel 1:20 (“cry out”); in both cases it refers to extreme thirst in a waterless desert (see Pss 63:1 ; 143:6 ; see also 84:2 ).

Summary for Ps 42:1-43:5: Pss 42–43 ^a These psalms, like Pss 9 ^b and 10 ^c, form a unit comprising a lament with a bittersweet refrain of hope (42:5 ^d, 11 ^e; 43:5 ^f). In many Hebrew manuscripts these two psalms are combined as one. The historical context is uncertain; these psalms might be the voice of God’s people in exile, confessing their loyalty to God as he punishes them for their prevailing apostasy. The psalmist longs for fellowship with God such as he enjoyed in Jerusalem (42:4 ^g); his memories only make him more discouraged. As the psalmist cries out to God, he recalls God’s love and faithfulness (42:8 ^h), which moves him to plead for vindication (43:1-4 ⁱ). 42:title ^j The descendants of Korah were members of a Levitical choir appointed by David to serve as Temple singers (see 1 Chr 6:22-38 ^k; 9:19-34 ^l; 2 Chr 20:19 ^m). Their ancestor Korah was the apostate who had rebelled against Moses and whom the earth swallowed up (Exod 6:24 ⁿ; Num 16 ^o).
Summary for Ps 42:1-4: 42:1-4 ^p The psalmist’s longing for God comes from being geographically distant from the Temple as he remembers the past.

• The verb translated longs is found only here and in Joel 1:20 ^q (“cry out”); in both cases it refers to extreme thirst in a waterless desert (see Pss 63:1 ^r; 143:6 ^s; see also 84:2 ^t).
42:3 ^u Having tears for food speaks of great grief (80:5 ^v; 102:9 ^w; see 6:6 ^x; 56:8 ^y; 119:136 ^z; 126:5 ^aa).

• The wicked try to hold God to their timetable and deny his power to intervene.
42:4 ^ab The psalmist recalls leading a great procession as a member of the Levitical choir, possibly during the high holy days.
Summary for Ps 42:5-6: 42:5-6 ^ac The psalmist encourages himself with questions and answers. 42:5 ^ad The psalmist feels depressed, but it does not incapacitate him. He remembers that the living God is his Savior. This verse is repeated in 42:11 ^ae and 43:5 ^af.
42:6 ^ag Mount Hermon is a high mountain range northeast of Israel. The source of the Jordan is by Dan at the foot of Mount Hermon.

• Mount Mizar might be a peak in the Mount Hermon range.
42:7 ^ah The raging seas, waves, and surging tides conjure images of God’s wrath (see 88:7 ^ai).
42:8 ^aj The psalmist sees rays of hope. A life oriented to God includes songs of joy and praying for justice and vindication (42:9-10 ^ak; 43:1-4 ^al).
Summary for Ps 42:9-10: 42:9-10 ^am The psalmist brings his many doubts, discouragements, and questions directly to God.

‏ Psalms 43

Summary for Ps 43:1-4: 43:1-4 ^an The psalmist turns to the Lord for rescue from his troubles, for guidance, for restoration, and for vindication.
43:2 ^ao tossed me aside: Other psalms similarly ask whether God has rejected his people (44:9 ^ap, 23 ^aq; 60:1 ^ar, 10 ^as; 74:1 ^at; 77:7 ^au; 88:14 ^av; 89:38 ^aw; 108:11 ^ax).
43:3 ^ay In this prayer for God’s redemption, light and truth are viewed as guides (see 18:25-29 ^az; 27:1 ^ba; 85:10-13 ^bb; 89:14-18 ^bc; see also 119:105 ^bd; John 3:19 ^be; Eph 5:8 ^bf; 1 Thes 5:5-7 ^bg).

• The Temple on the mountain in Jerusalem symbolized God’s holy presence among his people (Pss 15:1 ^bh; 43:3 ^bi; 99:5 ^bj, 9 ^bk; 132:7 ^bl).
43:5 ^bm This verse is repeated in 42:5 ^bn, 11 ^bo.

‏ Psalms 44

Summary for Ps 44:1-26: Ps 44 ^bp This national lament after defeat in battle continues the tone of the previous two psalms, including reflecting on an unspecified moment in Israel’s history and calling on God for salvation. The people recite God’s past acts of rescue (44:1-3 ^bq), acknowledge God’s power to save (44:4-8 ^br), describe their humiliation in exile (44:9-16 ^bs), claim their innocence and lament the injustice of their current situation (44:17-22 ^bt), and cry for vindication (44:23-26 ^bu). 44:1 ^bv we have heard ... of all you did: The story of redemption encompasses the story of God’s favor and power in his past acts of rescue (see 78:1-4 ^bw; see also Pss 105–106 ^bx).
44:2 ^by God drove out the pagan nations during the conquests recorded in Joshua.
44:3 ^bz Though the Israelites used swords and other weapons (44:6 ^ca), they would have lost their battles without the light of the Lord’s favor (see 18:25-29 ^cb; 27:1 ^cc; 89:15 ^cd).
Summary for Ps 44:4-8: 44:4-8 ^ce God’s people feel confident about his mighty acts; he was with them in the past, and he is their king in the present.
Summary for Ps 44:9-16: 44:9-16 ^cf The people have experienced defeat (44:9-12 ^cg), so they understand suffering and disgrace (44:13-16 ^ch).
44:11 ^ci scattered us among the nations: This probably refers to the Exile (see 51:18-19 ^cj; 89:38-51 ^ck; 106:40-47 ^cl; 137 ^cm).
44:22 ^cn Paul quotes this verse as a parenthetical aside in his list of things that cannot separate us from Christ’s love (Rom 8:36 ^co).
Summary for Ps 44:23-26: 44:23-26 ^cp In the end, God’s people can turn to the Lord and trust him for rescue. Their petition for God to remedy their situation is as strong as their lament about God’s rejection. 44:23 ^cq Wake up: Biblical authors often call for God’s attention in a crisis (35:23 ^cr; 44:23 ^cs; 73:20 ^ct; 80:2 ^cu; Mark 4:38 ^cv).