Hope Thou In God

Hope Thou In God

Scripture Reading: Psalm 42 [Living Bible]

As the deer pants for water, so I long for you, O God. [2] I thirst for God, the living God. Where can I find him to come and stand before him? [3] Day and night I weep for his help, and all the while my enemies taunt me. "Where is this God of yours?" they scoff. [4] Take courage, my soul! Do you remember those times (but how could you ever forget them!) when you led a great procession to the Temple on festival days, singing with joy, praising the Lord? [5] Why then be downcast? Why be discouraged and sad? Hope in God! I shall yet praise him again. Yes, I shall again praise him for his help. [6] Yet I am standing here depressed and gloomy, but I will meditate upon your kindness to this lovely land where the Jordan River flows and where Mount Hermon and Mount Mizar stand. [7] All your waves and billows have gone over me, and floods of sorrow pour upon me like a thundering cataract. [8] Yet day by day the Lord also pours out his steadfast love upon me, and through the night I sing his songs and pray to God who gives me life. [9] "O God my Rock," I cry, "why have you forsaken me? Why must I suffer these attacks from my enemies?" [10] Their taunts pierce me like a fatal wound; again and again they

scoff, "Where is that God of yours?" [11] But, O my soul, don’t be discouraged. Don’t be upset. Expect God to act! For I know that I shall again have plenty of reason to praise him for all that he will do. He is my help! He is my God!

Scripture Text: Psalm 42: Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.

Introduction:

Sometimes, as a result of heavy and burdensome trials, a feeling of helplessness, hopelessness, and despair may set in upon the child of God. This is not uncommon and should not be viewed as such.

1 Cor. 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

1 Peter 4:12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:

1 Peter 4:12 [Living] Dear friends, don’t be bewildered or surprised when you go through the fiery trials ahead, for this is no strange, unusual thing that is going to happen to you.

1 Peter 1:7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

I. Scripture has many examples of those who experienced such things.

A. Moses - Numbers 11:15 And if thou deal thus with me, kill me, I pray thee, out of hand, if I have found favour in thy sight; and let me not see my wretchedness.

B. Elijah - 1 Kings 19:4 But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.

C. David - Psalm 42:6 O my God, my soul is cast down within me:

D. Job - Job 10:1 My soul is weary of my life; I will leave my complaint upon myself; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.

E. Jonah - Jonah 4:8 ....Jonah,... fainted, and wished in himself to die, and said, It is better for me to die than to live.

F. Paul - 2 Cor. 1:8 For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life:

II. But don’t despair! There is HOPE in God!!

Psalm 42:5 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God:

Psalm 31:24 Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord.

Psalm 33:18-22 Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy; [19] To deliver their soul from death,....[22]...according as we hope in thee.