Song Highlight: Lord From Sorrows Deep I Call (Psalm 42)
This week, our hymn highlight is Lord From Sorrows Deep I Call. This hymn, written by Boswell & Papa, is a hymn of lament based on Psalm 42. Now you may wonder why we sing songs in church that are laments or are in a minor key. Some may ask, “Shouldn’t we be happy because of the work that Christ has done to redeem us?” While our ultimate joy in Christ ought never be shaken, we do realize that in this life we will face many difficulties and trials which may bring about much sorrow. It’s in those times we ought to bring our prayers and petitions to God, crying out to Him for help. The Psalms are a great model for this. Oftentimes the Psalmist will be going through a trial and will cry out something like, “Why have you forgotten me?”(Psalm 42:9). In that moment, the Psalmist is not doubting God, but is expressing his heartfelt grief to God. And He lifts up this cry of anguish not to whine or complain but rather because he knows that God hears our cries and answers us according to His will. That’s why almost all of these Psalms of lament resolve into something like “Hope in God; for I shall again praise Him, my salvation and my God.” (Psalm 42:11). The Psalmist comes to God in his grief, he pours out his sorrows before the throne, he remembers the goodness of his King, and he resolves to trust in the one whose steadfast love endures forever.
This is a great model for us to learn how to pray like this in times of trial. But again you may wonder why we would sing like this in church. One reason is because this is a way in which we can cry out to God and lift our weary hearts to Him in worship as a body. Even if you may not be going through a dark season yourself, there are likely many brothers and sisters standing right next to you who are. Sing this to God with them and commit it to memory so that when your soul is downcast and you are filled with grief, you can sing to God:
Oh my soul, put your hope in God,
My help, my rock, I will praise Him.
Sing, O Sing, through the raging storm
You're still my God, my salvation.
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