Now, we may be tempted to say, "This is a sorrowful Psalm" but does it not reflect what we all sometimes feel.
What I want you to remember is that our Lord Jesus was the Man of Sorrows acquainted with grief (Isaiah 53.3) who identifies with us so well in these times: "For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses . . . (Heb. 4.15). Think of His desert experience, think of Gethsemane, think of His abandonment by His Father on the Cross. You are not far from God when you are in such a low estate. One of my favorite places to go as a pastor is to Psalm 34.17,18. It speaks to the week-in and week-out situations that I face as a pastor:
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"The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit. Many of the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all." We have a second great insight in Psalm 42.
Now if all this Psalm did was to reflect the condition of even believers, we would be greatly blessed. But this Psalm will stay in the doldrums, but arises like a Phoenix out of the ashes and there is great hope where there is great darkness.
What is the response of this Psalm?
Christian soliloquy (v. 5)
The Psalmist talks to himself and does what David does in other places, "encourages himself in the Lord" (Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God. 1Sam. 30.6)). Note the Christian in spiritual depression is still under the power of the Holy Spirit and questions the forces conspiring against him) Martyn Lloyd-Jones says that great problem is listening to our emotions rather than speaking to our emotions. This is Christian soliloquy. This is the Christian singing, "Standing on the Promises of God." God comes to us as we repeat His promises back to us. This calls, of course, for each of us, while it is day, to saturate our minds and hearts with His truths, that when darkness may come, we shall be well armed for the struggle.