What does Psalm 42:2 mean?

The psalmist repeats his thirst for the Lord, whom he calls "the living God." The prior verse compared this desire to that of a thirsty animal who "pants" when desperately thirsty. This suggests a vital need which can only be helped in one way. The soul seeking restoration doesn't simply prefer God—it urgently needs Him. The psalmist longed to worship the living God in the sanctuary at Jerusalem.

Other nations in Old Testament times worshiped a variety of false gods, physical idols, and aspects of nature such as wind or fire. In contrast, the people of Israel were called to worship the living God. Abraham, the father of Israel, worshiped false gods in Ur of the Chaldees. Yet the Lord revealed Himself to Abraham, calling him to leave his homeland and travel to Canaan (Genesis 12:1; Joshua 24:3, 14). At Mount Sinai, God explicitly commanded the Israelites to reject all false gods and idols. He insisted they not make statues and carvings for worship (Exodus 20:2–6).