Click on player below to hear a sample portion of this Psalm MP3:

The Psalm singing on this MP3 (digital download) covers Psalm 42:1-3 & 5, as sung to the tune Kedron from the 1650 Scottish Metrical Psalter.

1    Like as the hart for water-brooks

          in thirst doth pant and bray;

      So pants my longing soul, O God,

          that come to thee I may.

2    My soul for God, the living God,

          doth thirst: when shall I near

      Unto thy countenance approach,

          and in God's sight appear?

3    My tears have unto me been meat,

          both in the night and day,

     While unto me continually,

          Where is thy God? they say.

5    O why art thou cast down, my soul?

          why in me so dismay'd?

      Trust God, for I shall praise him yet,

          his count'nance is mine aid.

John Brown of Haddington's notes on Psalm 42 follow:

Perhaps this psalm was composed by David, when the unnatural rebellion of Absalom had forced him from the sanctuary of God, and to take up his lodging eastward of Jordan, 2 Sam. 15:13-19. We have in it, (1.) Ardent longings after nearness to, and familiar intimacy with God, in his public ordinances and sanctuary, ver. 1-2. (2.) Mournful lamentations and bitter groanings on account of God's withdrawing his comfortable smiles; of the want of the once-enjoyed ordinances of God, and fellowship with his saints; of the depressing impressions of God's wrath; and of his enemies' insolent upbraiding of him on account of the departure and distance of his God, ver. 3-4, 6-7, 9-10. (3.) Believing remembrance of God's former favours, ver. 6; and self-encouraging hopes of future ones, ver. 5, 8, 11.

Have I experimentally understood all these things? My soul, let me charge thee to beware of dissimulation with God, and of compassing him about with lies, under pretence of praising him. Dare not to sing these lines without inward, without ardent longings for the Lord; without earnest claiming of him as thy own God, upon the foundation of his new-covenant grant of himself to me in the gospel; without assured hopes of his future, his everlasting kindness to me-ward.

From: THE PSALMS OF DAVID IN METRE (The Scottish Metrical Psalter of 1650) by the Westminster Assembly, Covenanted Church of Scotland General Assembly and Francis Rouse (1646-1650), With Notes Exhibiting the Connection, Explaining the Sense, and for Directing and Animating the Devotion On Each Psalm by John Brown Of Haddington (from the 1844 edition of this Psalter published by Robert Carter, New York).

This Psalm MP3 digital download comes from the album Scottish Metrical Psalms, Volume 2 available on CD or as an album MP3 digital download.