Psalm 42 was written by a leader who is dried out and thirsty. This leader has been through a truly exhausting season, the kind every leader can go through in the course of their development. Nothing feels exciting anymore, and motivation is at rock bottom. In verses 3-5 he says that he himself does not even know where God is - even though he has had many truly outstanding moments with God.
Psalm 42:3 My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?
4 My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God?
5 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.
Then the leader begins to speak to himself and tell himself the truth.
Psalm 42:6 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.
The sheer humanness of this is what makes this psalm so special. This leader has understood that he can only lead others as far as he himself stands. "Fake it till you make it" is not an option. It is not about showing on the outside that everything is fine when it is not fine on the inside. So before he leads people again, he cries out for God's help and asks for renewal and refreshment. Leaders who have understood the Law of the Example behave this way.
- They are honest with themselves and about their current status.
- They cry out to God in times of exhaustion and ask for his refreshment and rebuilding.
- They refuse to present themselves as better off than they currently are, and they embody the truth for others.
- They speak the truth over their life and their future.
Psalm 42:1-12
Longing for God
1 To the chief Musician, Maschil, for the sons of Korah.
2 As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.
3 My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?
4 My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God?
5 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.
6 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.
7 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.
8 Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me.
9 Yet the LORD will command his lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life.
10 I will say unto God my rock, Why hast thou forgotten me? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?
11 As with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me; while they say daily unto me, Where is thy God?
12 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.