Why Cast Down?
As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God? My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God? When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday. Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance. O my God, my soul is cast down within me: therefore will I remember thee from the land of Jordan, and of the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar. Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me. Yet the Lord will command his lovingkindness in the day time, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life. Psalm 42:1-8 (KJV) emphasis mine
The Psalmist starts out hungering and thirsting for God. Next, he pours out his soul to God. Then, he talks to his soul and asks why he is cast down and disquieted within. His answer is to hope in God and give Him praise because our help comes from God’s countenance, or His presence.
He continues to tell God his soul is downcast. He then says that deep calls to deep, meaning God’s Spirit calls to man’s spirit. Then, he declares that the Lord will command His lovingkindness in the daytime and His song in the night, the Lord singing over him. Thus, he prays to God in continual communion with God, Who is his life.
Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God. Psalm 42:11 (KJV)
Here, we are back to the same thing he prayed in verse 5. He is reaffirming to himself that he has no reason to be cast down in his soul. We see why as we break down some of the key words in this psalm.
Cast down in Hebrew means bowed down. Disquieted means to be disturbed. Hope is confident and assured expectation. Praise means to give thanks. For the help of His countenance means His presence is salvation. This gives us the answer as to what to do when we are downcast.
When we are bowed down and feeling low, disturbed in our soul, we must continue to thirst for God, pour out our soul to Him, put our confident expectation in God, and be thankful, not bitter and complaining. When we get in God’s presence, seeking His face and drawing near to Him with thanksgiving, we find Him. We experience God’s divine presence. We see His face, hear His voice, and receive His answers. We receive wisdom, direction, provision, and comfort. Thus, what once cast our soul down or what stole our peace, does it no more. We find that His presence is salvation.
God loves and saves us from ourselves, our struggles, and our distress. His divine presence melts away depression, anxiety, and hopelessness. It empowers us with a fresh touch from God to rise up, speak up, and show up and be the person God planned for us to be. By spending time in God’s presence, seeking His face, we find that all is well with our soul and with our life.
