Psalm 42 Dealing with Discouragement
1. The Psalmist's Dilemna
5 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me?
(a) A Time Of Spiritual Barreness 2 My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God? Hebrews 10:24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
(b) A Time Of Spiritual Bitterness 3 My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God?
The Scornful Doubters Are :-
1. Always Present (continually say)
2. Always Personal (say unto me)
3. Always Persecuting (where is thy God)
(c) A Time Of Spiritual Brokeness 4 When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday.
a. Remembered his Presence at the House of God v.4 (I went)
b. Remembered his People at the House of God v.4 (went with them)
c. Remembered his Praise at the House of God v.4 (voice of praise)
d. Remembered his Purpose at the House of God v.4 (with a multitude that kept holyday)
(d) A Time For Spiritual Boldness 6 O my God, my soul is cast down within me: therefore will I remember thee from the land of Jordan, and of the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar.
a. Remember His Countenance v.5 for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.
b. Remember His Chastening v.7 all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me.
c. Remember His Counsel v.8 Yet the LORD will command his lovingkindness in the daytime,
d. Remember His Consolation v.8 and in the night his song shall be with me, (Paul in jail in Philippi)
2. The Psalmist's Desire
1 As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.
(a) The Intensity Of It's Desire As the hart panteth after the water brooks
Nothing More Precious, Nothing More Pressing, Nothing More Pleasing, John 11:21 Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.
11:32 Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.
(b) The Intelligence Of It's Desire after the water brooks
The water brooks give Life, Light, & Liberty.
John 4:13 Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.
(c) The Intransigence Of It's Desire ie. Nothing but the water brooks could satisfy.
Now None but Christ can satisfy, none other name for me.
(d) The Integrity Of It's Desire so panteth my soul after thee, O God 2 My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?
His Desire For :-
The Person Of God, The Power Of God (for the living God) The Presence Of God (when shall I come and appear before God?)
Job 23:3 Oh that I knew where I might find him! that I might come even to his seat!
Philippians 1:23 For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:
3. The Psalmist's Decision 6 O my God, my soul is cast down within me: therefore will I remember thee from the land of Jordan, and of the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar.
v. 5 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? “downcast” and “disturbed”
He describes himself as downcast - floored - down and out!
He describes himself as disturbed - and why art thou disquieted in me? the picture now is like a piece of flotsam at the mercy of the waves. He describes himself as determined - 6 O my God, my soul is cast down within me: therefore will I remember thee Matthew 14:28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. 29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. When Simon Peter looked in to his own heart he saw only fear. When he looked around he saw nothing but the storm. His only safety lay in looking to the Lord!! “Good when he gives, supremely good, nor less, when he denies,
even crosses from his sovereign hand, are blessings in disguise.” Genesis 50:20 But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. (Joseph) 4. The Psalmist's Declaration 11 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God
1. Our Hope Is In God - hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him,
The Root Of Our Hope - hope thou in God, The Reality Of Our Hope - hope thou Hebrews 6:19 Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;
The Result Of Our Hope - for I shall yet praise him Malachi 4:2 But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.
The Right Of Our Hope - who is the health of my countenance, and my God Matthew 14:28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.
2. Our Help Is From God - who is the health of my countenance
3. Our Home Is With God - and my God 2 Cor 5:1 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
