Psalm 42 expresses the situation of a person who is in great trouble and despair. The Psalmist appears to be sinking; as he says in verse 7: “Deep calls to deep at the thunder of your cataracts; all your waves and your billows have gone over me.”

But as he lifts his soul to God, he finds the assurance of God’s compassionate care. As he says in verse 8: “By day the Lord commands his steadfast love, and at night his song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life.”

“By day” and “at night” – the Psalmist affirms that both in the bright moments and also in the dark times God is ever with us. He refers to God’s “steadfast love” – a phrase that translates the Hebrew word hesed, which means love that never quits and never gives up. It is because of this nature of God’s love that we know God will never abandon us. He also says that “at night God’s song is with me.” There is a very similar phrase in the book of Job which says that God “gives songs in the night.” (Job 35:10) In the darkest times, the Spirit of God “sings” in our heart and moves us to lift our spirit to God in prayerful trust. We may live in troubling times, but we journey in faith with our God who upholds us forever.

Prayer – We thank you, O God, for Your steadfast love, and for the songs in the night that You place within our hearts. Share on X

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About the Author

Dr. David A. Palmer has been the senior pastor at the United Methodist Church of Kent since 1995. He has a B.A. from Wittenberg University, a Master of Divinity from Duke University, and a Doctor of Ministry from Princeton Theological Seminary. A native of Wooster, Ohio, he has served three other churches in east Ohio before coming to Kent. He and his wife, Mavis, have three children.