Psalms 42 and 43 are a single prayer of the sons of Korah. The Korahite clans are descendants of Korah, a grandson of Levi the high priest of the Lord, the brother of Moses. (Exodus 6:16, 18, 21, 24, 26-27; Numbers 16:1) The Korahite clans along with the rest of the Levites are allotted forty-eight cities to live in amongst the tribes of Israel instead of a tribal inheritance. (Numbers 18:20-23, 26:62; Deuteronomy 10:9, 18:1-2; Joshua 18:7, 21:1-8) David appointed the Korahites to sing in choirs. (1 Chronicles 6:31-47) They called their choirs, “The Sons of Korah”. (2 Chronicles 5:12) The leader in David’s time was Heman. (1 Chronicles 6:33; 15:17, 19; Psalm 88 title)
The cities the Korahites lived in were frequently invaded by the nations, as was all of Israel. (2 Samuel 8, 10, 21:15-22; 2 Kings 2:17-18) During one of these incursions (43:1), the Korahites were oppressed by the enemy (9) and unable to serve at the tent of meeting that David had set up in Jerusalem. (42:4; 43:3-4; 2 Samuel 6:1-5, 17-19, 7:1-2; 1 Chronicles 16:41-42, 25) The enemy’s incursion led to the writing of this psalm split into two.
The recurring refrain ending each of the three stanzas is, “Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.” The author is questioning and instructing himself. Self-rebuking faith encourages hopeful faith. As Apostle Paul who also found himself pursued by enemies encouraged the persecuted followers of Jesus in Rome, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Praising God does not always involve a location or happy times. Praising God is a matter of faith. If my faith is tested during a time of troubles I need to instruct my soul to praise him. This is not easy, but it is necessary. This is an act that seldom becomes a habit but should be practiced as if it is a habit.
