Today at work, Psalm 42:5 was written on the wall. It’s been tugging at my heart ever since then. I’ve wrestled, prayed, and cried verses from this chapter many times before. It is very dear to my heart. Today, I kept thinking about this particular verse in light of something we discussed at Kid’s Club last night.
Currently, on Wednesday nights, we are learning the catechism. The current series is on the fall and the various covenants and the two representatives. We just started talking about the impact Adam’s sin had on all those he represented.
Q. What effect had the sin of Adam on all mankind?
A. All mankind are born in a state of sin and misery.
We talked about the brokenness of this world, things that happen that God would not call “very good,” sin and misery both outside and inside. Then I asked them if Christians are in this state of sin and misery. They really wrestled with that question. They seemed to understand that Jesus had conquered sin and His Spirit deals with the sin inside of us, but they weren’t sure what to do with all the misery that remains outside of us because of this world so broken by sin. Finally one of the kids had an answer: the brokenness is still there, but the Christian has hope.
Back to Psalm 42, David wrestles with what sounds like the depths of misery. Yet he calls himself to hope in God. “I shall yet praise Him.” And so will we. Now, in the good things God does here, but even more so the because of Christ and the promise of eternity rejoicing with and worshiping Him. And that’s where we anchor our hope.
As the deer pants for the water brooks,
So pants my soul for You, O God.
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When shall I come and appear before God?
My tears have been my food day and night,
While they continually say to me,
“Where is your God?”When I remember these things,
I pour out my soul within me.
For I used to go with the multitude;
I went with them to the house of God,
With the voice of joy and praise,
With a multitude that kept a pilgrim feast.Why are you cast down, O my soul?
And why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him
For the help of His countenance.O my God, my soul is cast down within me;
Therefore I will remember You from the land of the Jordan,
And from the heights of Hermon,
From the Hill Mizar.
Deep calls unto deep at the noise of Your waterfalls;
All Your waves and billows have gone over me.
The Lord will command His lovingkindness in the daytime,
And in the night His song shall be with me—
A prayer to the God of my life.I will say to God my Rock,
“Why have You forgotten me?
Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?”
As with a breaking of my bones,
My enemies reproach me,
While they say to me all day long,
“Where is your God?”Why are you cast down, O my soul?
Psalm 42
And why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God;
For I shall yet praise Him,
The help of my countenance and my God.
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