A Disquieted Soul

Temple Baptist Church - 2-22-2026

Psalm 42

 

Introduction: “Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me?”

A.  This Psalm is one possibly written by David when Absalom came into Jerusalem and David had to flee for his life.

 

B.  It is a Psalm of sorrow and complaint as God’s man is overwhelmed within his soul.

 

DISQUIETED, v.t. To disturb; to deprive of peace, rest or tranquility; to make uneasy or restless; to harass the body; to fret or vex the mind.  Made uneasy or restless; disturbed; harassed.

 

1.  Many Christians doubt their relationship with the Lord.

 

2.  They feel that little nagging tug at the heart, though they know that they have accepted Christ. 

 

3.  There is a restlessness in their soul that becomes misinterpreted.

 

4. Oftentimes, they get caught up in an endless line of empty professions.

 

5.  It results in a loss of joy and usefulness.

 

C.  There are times when God’s people become overwhelmed with disappointment in circumstances, which causes a disquieted heart and soul searching.  Let us break this Psalm down into four distinct parts.

 

1.  Who the Psalmist is.  The first thing that David was to “check all the boxes.”  Am I in a disquieted place because of sinfulness?  

 

a.  Verses 1-2 - He is a saved man - panting and thirsting after God.

 

b.  Verse 4 - He is a faithful man - house of God.

 

c.  Verse 4 - He is a praising man - praising in worship.

 

d.  Verse 5 - He is a consistent man - yet praising amid problems.

 

e.  Verse 8 - He is a comforted man - lovingkindness ... in the night his song.

 

f.  Verse 8 - He is a praying man - in the daytime and in the night.

 

g.  Verse 9 - He is a trusting man - God my rock.

 

2.  What the Psalmist sees in life.  Overwhelmed by his circumstances.  Found in the Psalmist’s questions.

 

a.  Verse 2 “When shall I come and appear before God?”

 

b Verse “Where is thy God?”

 

c.  Verse 5 “Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me?”

 

d.  Verse 9 “”Why hast thou forgotten me? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?”

 

e.  Verse 10 “Where is thy God?”

 

f.  Verse 11 “Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me?”

 

(1)  From panting to pouting. 

 

(2)  From remembering to remorse.

 

3.  What caused the disquieting of the Psalmist soul.

 

a.  The disquieting of disappointments (Unbelief)

 

Mark 9:23-24  Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.  And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief. 

                    Psalms 6:3  My soul is also sore vexed: but thou, O LORD, how long? 

 

Psalms 13:1 How long wilt thou forget me, O LORD? for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me? 

 

Psalms 35:17  Lord, how long wilt thou look on? rescue my soul from      their destructions, my darling from the lions. 

 

b.  The disquieting of personal failures (Sin)

 

Psalms 51:12  Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. 

                    Psalms 85:6  Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee? 

 

c.  The disquieting of unforgiveness (Bitterness)

 

Mark 11:25-26  And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.  But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses. 

 

Hebrews 12:14-15  Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:  Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; 

 

d.  The disquieting of feelings (Lack of Joy) – It can be:

 

(1)  Caused by sin - Psalms 51:12  Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation;

 

(2)  Caused by not communing with the Lord - Psalms 16:11  Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. 

 

(3)  Caused by chastisement - Psalms 30:5  For his anger endureth but a  moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.  Psalms 51:8  Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. 

 

4.  The solution for the Psalmist’s condition.  Verses 5, 11

 

2 Timothy 1:12  For the which cause I also suffer these things:  nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. 

 

a.  You need to know Whom you have believed.

 

b.  You need to believe in Whom you know.