Psalm 23 is probably the most well known out of the 150 Psalms in the Bible. It is a declaration of David’s confident assurance that God will be with him no matter what the circumstances, whatever valleys life brings. But not many are familiar with Psalm 42 which is also about the valleys of life. If Psalm 23 is about God’s faithfulness in the valley, Psalm 42 is what it actually feels like to walk through it.

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Psalm 42

1 As the deer pants for the water brooks,
so my soul pants after you, God.*
2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When shall I come and appear before God?
3 My tears have been my food day and night,
while they continually ask me, “Where is your God?”
4 These things I remember, and pour out my soul within me,
how I used to go with the crowd, and led them to God’s house,
with the voice of joy and praise, a multitude keeping a holy day.
5 Why are you in despair, my soul?
Why are you disturbed within me?
Hope in God!
For I shall still praise him for the saving help of his presence.
6 My God, my soul is in despair within me.
Therefore I remember you from the land of the Jordan,
the heights of Hermon, from the hill Mizar.
7 Deep calls to deep at the noise of your waterfalls.
All your waves and your billows have swept over me.

8 the LORD† will command his loving kindness in the daytime.
In the night his song shall be with me:
a prayer to the God of my life.
9 I will ask God, my rock, “Why have you forgotten me?
Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?”
10 As with a sword in my bones, my adversaries reproach me,
while they continually ask me, “Where is your God?”
11 Why are you in despair, my soul?
Why are you disturbed within me?
Hope in God! For I shall still praise him,
the saving help of my countenance, and my God.

Psalm 92

1 It is a good thing to give thanks to the LORD,
to sing praises to your name, Most High;
2 to proclaim your loving kindness in the morning,
and your faithfulness every night,
3 with the ten-stringed lute, with the harp,
and with the melody of the lyre.
4 For you, LORD, have made me glad through your work.
I will triumph in the works of your hands.
5 How great are your works, LORD!
Your thoughts are very deep.
6 A senseless man doesn’t know,
neither does a fool understand this:
7 though the wicked spring up as the grass,
and all the evildoers flourish,
they will be destroyed forever.
8 But you, LORD, are on high forever more.
9 For, behold, your enemies, LORD,
for, behold, your enemies shall perish.
All the evildoers will be scattered.
10 But you have exalted my horn like that of the wild ox.
I am anointed with fresh oil.
11 My eye has also seen my enemies.
My ears have heard of the wicked enemies who rise up against me.
12 The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree.
He will grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
13 They are planted in the LORD’s house.
They will flourish in our God’s courts.
14 They will still produce fruit in old age.
They will be full of sap and green,
15 to show that the LORD is upright.
He is my rock,
and there is no unrighteousness in him.

Psalm 142

1 I cry with my voice to the LORD.
With my voice, I ask the LORD for mercy.
2 I pour out my complaint before him.
I tell him my troubles.
3 When my spirit was overwhelmed within me,
you knew my route.
On the path in which I walk,
they have hidden a snare for me.
4 Look on my right, and see;
for there is no one who is concerned for me.
Refuge has fled from me.
No one cares for my soul.
5 I cried to you, LORD.
I said, “You are my refuge,
my portion in the land of the living.”
6 Listen to my cry,
for I am in desperate need.
deliver me from my persecutors,
For they are stronger than me.
7 Bring my soul out of prison,
that I may give thanks to your name.
The righteous will surround me,
for you will be good to me.

Passages from the World Messianic Bible