What does Psalm 42:9 mean?

The psalmist's continued prayer mentions how enemy attacks tempt him to doubt God's faithfulness. Of course, God had not forgotten him. Yet his enemies dominated him so severely that he wondered if God had turned away and left him alone. His heart was full of sadness; he mourned. However, he recognized that the Lord was still his God and his foundation (Psalm 42:8). These verses express the psalmist's emotions, but also come back to the idea that God is perfectly faithful (Psalm 42:10¬–11).

The psalmist's question, "Why have you forgotten me?" is like Jesus' cry from the cross, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:46). Many scholars note that Jesus was likely quoting Psalm 22 when He spoke those words—connecting His suffering to the prophecies of the Old Testament. Jesus took on that sense of loneliness and abandonment, temporarily, to bear our sins on the cross. God allows this to happen, briefly, so He would not have to forsake eternally those who believe on Jesus as their Savior. Romans 8:1 affirms: "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."