CHASING AFTER GOD
Psalm 42:1-5, 11
A young teenage boy had just gotten his driver's license. When he got home, he asked his father, who was a minister, if they could discuss the use of the car. His father took him into his study and said to the boy, "I'll make a deal with you. If you bring up your grades, study your Bible a little, and get a haircut, then we'll talk about the use of the car."
After about a month, the boy came back and again asked his father if they could discuss the use of the car. They again went to the father's study where his father said, "Son, I've been so very proud of you. You have brought up your grades, you've studied your Bible diligently, but you didn't get your haircut." The young man waited a moment and replied, "Dad, I've been thinking about that. You know, Samson had long hair, Moses had long hair, Noah had long hair, even Jesus had long hair..." His father interrupted him at that point and said, "Yes son, and they walked everywhere they went!"
He was so close, but so far, from getting what he wanted. The boy was willing to pay most of the price, but not all of the price. The boy knew what he wanted. His desire was strong. But, there was a problem: he wasn't willing to go all the way. He wasn't willing to pay the entire price.
Listen to me carefully. Most of us know what we want in life. Most of us have goals, objectives, and dreams. Most of us want a good job. Even though the salary is important and pays the bills, it is just as important for us to be happy in the job we have. Most of us would say that what we want in life is for our kids to grow up to be healthy, happy, and well- adjusted. Most of us want our marriage to work. And yes, most of us even know what we want in our relationship with God and the church. In most of those situations, we will do just about whatever it takes to make them work, won't we?
Unfortunately though, when it comes to our relationship with God and to His church, we sometimes allow other things to hinder that relationship. We are willing to go only so far with God. We are willing to go only so far with the church. When we get to that point, and I might add that that point is different for each person, when we reach that point, we stop. At that point, we find ourselves backing up, pulling away, or being unwilling to get any closer to God or to our church family. We want to get close, we just don't do it.
I want you to understand something this morning. God has a desire for you. God's desire is to have a close, personal relationship with you. God wants to be the driving force in your life. God wants to be the Lord of your life. Listen to me carefully. God wants to be more than just involved in your Sunday life. God wants to be involved in your every day life. That's God's desire for each of us.
However, here's the question for us. Are we going to let God be in control of our life? Let me ask that question in a little different way: when you think about control in your life, what controlled your life last week? Was it your schedule that controlled you? Was it your job that controlled you? What about your family? What about your free time? What controlled you? What was the driving force behind what you did last week?
When we look at Psalm 42, we quickly see an individual who had one driving force in his life—he had one focus—he had one desire—worshiping God. Everything in his life seemed to revolve around his desire to worship God. For that writer, the greatest priority in his life was worshiping God. Period. That's it.
That's an amazing priority, isn't it? It is really amazing when we read further in Psalm 42. As we continue to read, it becomes painfully obvious that the writer was not in a good situation. The writer was lonely. He was separated from everyone else. He felt abandoned. His entire life seemed to be crashing in around him. However, the writer was determined not to let those things drag him down. His focus was certain—his hope was secure—no matter what came his way—he was determined to worship God.
But, notice what the writer tells us. He was so far away from the Temple or from any house of worship, that he just did not see how he could worship God. Because he could not worship God and without genuine worship in his life, he was afraid, he was alone, he did not see how he could keep going. He wanted to worship, he just didn't know how he could worship.
Can you identify with those emotions? Maybe a better question would be, who can't identify with those emotions? Unfortunately, we are so often overwhelmed by our thoughts of loneliness, by feelings of being separated, or by feeling abandoned by those we love that we can't seem to keep our focus on God. We want to focus on God, we just hurt so much that we can't. When that happens, we find ourselves in desperation, feeling as if there is no hope whatsoever. It's almost like we think it is us against the world.
Now, notice how the writer of this passage responded to his problems. As we examine these verses, we see three ways that the writer kept his focus on God. The writer found that these three things would endure no matter what the activities of the week, no matter what the emotion of the moment, and no matter what happened in his life that day. The writer found that these three things kept his focus on God and on worshiping God.
The first thing the writer found was this. He found that a HUNGER FOR GOD BRINGS FOCUS TO LIFE. Too often, here's what we do as we think about worship. When we think about worship, we think that before we can worship that we first must try to get away from the world. Before we can worship, we think that we have to find the perfect place to worship. Before we can worship, we think that we have to get closer to the heart of God. We think that when we do those things, then and only then are we ready to worship God.
Somehow we have gotten the idea that we have to wait until the work week is over, that we have to wait until Sunday, so that we can gather in the appointed house of worship, at the right time, and with the right people. We think that we have to have a pastor, a choir, ushers, and a special building before worship can begin. We think that if we do all of that, then worship can and will take place.
But, here's what happens when we gather for worship with that frame of mind. We sit down and we wait for the action to begin. When the action begins, we simply sit and watch the action. Every so often, we glance at our watch to make sure that everything is staying on schedule. You know, the football pregame show comes on soon, the restaurant will fill up if the Methodists get out first, or the roast will burn in the oven if we are not home on time.
When we gather for worship like that, with that attitude, with that mindset, yes, worship is going to be comfortable. Worship is going to be easy. Worship will be somewhat satisfying and meaningful. But listen to me carefully. When we worship like that, we find that worship is not very demanding. That's the opposite of what the Bible says that worship should be.
The book of Psalms brings discomfort to that type of worship, it causes us to think, doesn't it? Look again at Psalm 42. Notice everything that is wrong with these verses. Psalm 42 was not situated in the Temple. The writer was no where near a worship place. He was not in a place where life was easy. In reality, the writer was far away from Jerusalem. The writer was so far away from the Temple that he could only look back to the good old days of worship. Happiness and joy from worship were in the past. All he knew in his present was tears and sorrow. Because he could not worship, he was in despair, in hopelessness, and in grief.
Notice how the writer responded to being unable to go to the sanctuary and worship God for so long. The writer was panting. He was dry. He was parched. He had a deep, painful, hunger to worship God. Now, the psalmist was not panting for air, thirsting for water, hungering for food, or crying from pain. The psalmist was not desperate for those things. His one desire, his one focus, was on God and on worshiping God.
Listen. That is what genuine worship is. Worship takes place when we focus on one need—our need for God. Worship takes place when we refuse to be content until we meet God in a real and personal way. Worship takes place when we admit that life is out of control until a relationship with God is restored. Could it be that you have the same need today, a need to meet God? Is that what brought you to church this morning? Are you searching for a real, strong relationship with God? Are you looking for God today? If you are, you have started in the right direction—by worshiping God.
Now, we must understand something here. Just because we have God as our focus does not mean that we are sitting on top of the world. Here's what having our focus on God means: we recognize our need and we know that there is only one source of satisfaction. The psalmist came to the conclusion that there was no hope that could be found in human solutions. The writer said that there is only one center of focus. God was the only source of hope for him. Only God deserved to be worshiped.
Secondly, the psalmist found that a MEMORY OF GOD LEADS A PERSON TO PRAYER. Listen. When we are focused on God as our only hope, He becomes the One we talk to when we pray. When we focus on God, He becomes the One that we turn directly to in prayer. When we go directly to God, as our only hope, we find something. When we pray like that, we find that we don't mince our words. We don't repeat what we think are the right words of prayer which will please God or will please those standing around us. When we go to God like that, we thirst, hunger, and pant after God.
Notice the verses again. The psalmist remembered the excitement of his hometown. He could still remember the days worshiping with his family. He could still see people marching in procession to the Temple in Jerusalem. He could still remember people expressing thanks for the good things God had given, people praising God for His presence, and people looking to God as the Savior of life. But those were the good old days. Now, there were no more praises, no more parades, no more talk of God. The only question he was asked now by his friends was this: "Where is your God?" His friends told him that God had forgotten him. All the writer heard was mocking— "If God loves you so much, where is He?"
Now, you need to hear me. When we stop to think about God, when we focus on God, our thoughts will always lead us to prayer. But, listen, prayer does not bring automatic success. Prayer does not guarantee that God will grant our request or meet our needs. Now, does that mean that all of our hope is gone? No. When we focus on God, when we turn to God in prayer, many of our words will be cries for hope and help. But, here's what happens even when our prayers are cries for help: when we pray, our prayer reminds us that we can trust and know that God's love is still there. Even then, God can remind us that God is still our true source of comfort.
Okay, what is the result of our prayers? What is the result of focusing on God? That's our third idea this morning. The psalmist found that HOPE IN GOD DISPELS DESPAIR. Here's the reason we worship. Worship demonstrates our hope in God's future actions. Listen. We worship—not because we have all the answers. We worship, not because God has cleared all the obstacles. We worship, not because the right people invite us to join them. We worship God because we have a deep-seated need to know God. We worship because we know that God is the only source of hope for our lives.
That's why we worship God. We do not worship for some magical reasons. We do not worship to get our way in the world. We do not worship simply to appease God. We worship for one reason—God is our only true hope in this world! We worship, we really worship because we love God.
Pappy was a pleasant fellow. His face was quite drawn from age, but when he smiled, even his wrinkles seemed to smile with him. Pappy owned a pawnshop. Everyone who knew him respected and adored him. There was a room in the back of his shop where he spent time tinkering with his own precious items. He referred to the back room as "Memory Hall." In it were pocket watches, clocks, and electric trains. Pappy enjoyed spending time in Memory Hall. Sometimes, he would close his eyes to relive a sweet, simple childhood memory.
One day, Pappy was reassembling an old railroad lantern. As he polished his lantern, he heard the bell on the shop door. The bell had been in Pappy's family for over a hundred years. He cherished it dearly. Pappy left Memory Hall to greet his customer. At first, he didn't see anyone. His customer was shorter than the counter. Pappy said, "How can I help you?" The little girl looked at Pappy with her big brown eyes, then slowly scanned the room in search of something special. She said, "I'd like to buy a present for my grandpa. But I don't know what to get."
Pappy began to make suggestions. "How about a pocket watch? It's in good condition. I fixed it myself," he said. The little girl didn't answer. Finally, she walked to the door. She wiggled the door gently to ring the bell. The little girl smiled with excitement. "This is just right," the little girl bubbled. "Momma says grandpa loves music." Just then, Pappy knew what she wanted, his bell. He didn't want to break the little girl's heart. "I'm sorry, but that's not for sale. Maybe your grandpa would like a radio." The little girl looked at the radio and sighed, "No, I don't think so."
In an effort to help her understand, Pappy told her the story of how the bell had been in his family for many years and that was why he didn't want to sell it. The little girl said, "I guess I understand. Thank you, anyway." Suddenly, Pappy thought of how the rest of the family was gone—that was, except for his estranged daughter whom he had not seen in a decade. Pappy thought, why not pass the bell on to someone who would share it with a loved one. He said, "I've decided to sell the bell." The little girl, said, "Oh, thank you. Grandpa will be so happy." Pappy felt good about helping the child even though he knew he would miss the bell.
Later that evening, Pappy prepared to close up shop. He found himself thinking about the bell. He thought about the child and wondered if her grandpa liked the gift. He knew that any grandfather would cherish anything from such a precious grandchild. Just then, as he turned off the lights in Memory Hall, Pappy thought he heard his bell. But, he knew that was ridiculous, he had sold his bell. In a minute, he heard the bell again. He turned toward the door and there stood the little girl. She was ringing the bell and smiling. Pappy was puzzled, "What's this? Have you changed your mind?" "No," she grinned. "Momma says it's for you." Before Pappy had time to say another word, the child's mother stepped into the doorway. Choking back her tears, she said, "Hello, Dad."
Listen. God is waiting for you to come home to Him. He has done everything possible to let you know of His love for you. He gave His only Son, Jesus, to die on the cross for your sins. Now, He waits for you. Now, He waits for you to worship Him, to put Him first in your life, in every decision, in every avenue of your life. How about it? Will you do that today? Will you come home to God right now?
