Living toward the End: Psalms 42, 43 (2)

Opening Prayer: Psalm 42.4, 5
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.

Sing Psalm 42.4, 5
(Nettleton: Come Thou Fount)
Now I pour my soul out in me as these thoughts come to my mind.
And I long to once again be where true worship I might find.
Oh my soul, be not despairing!  Hope in God, and praise His Name!
For the Lord, your burden bearing, will restore your peace again.

Read Psalm 42.5, 11; Psalm 43.5

Preparation
1. How do the sons of Korah describe the condition of their soul?

2. Where will they turn for help?

Meditation
Psalms 42 and 43 are a pointed rebuke to the composers. They convict their souls of giving in to the troubles and pressures threatening them and losing sight of the greatness and faithfulness of God.

This is a good exercise to go through whenever you feel your soul is downcast or disquieted. For if we are faithful in looking to Jesus, setting our minds on the things that are above and not on the things that are below (Col. 3.1-2), we will always be thrilled and overjoyed at the majesty, beauty, compassion, closeness, and power of our risen Savior and King. Nothing will cause us to fear or doubt or fall into despair while we are gazing on the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 4.6, 16-18).

So whenever we, like the sons of Korah in these two psalms, find ourselves “cast down” or “disquieted” in our soul, the place to start is within, pouring out the contents of the soul (Ps. 42.4) to find out where the poison is that’s robbing us of our joy. Do an iventory of your thoughts, desires, and priorities. Look for anything harboring in your soul that might have the power to cut you off from the Lord (Ps. 66.18). Rebuke your soul for giving in to these contrary thoughts. Confess your downcast and disquieted condition; repent of any known sin; and turn to the Lord and His ways again.

None of us is above the need to keep a close watch on our soul (1 Tim. 4.16) and, when necessary, to rebuke it sternly.

Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
When we find ourselves in the same mindset as the sons of Korah, if we contemplate Jesus, we will surely find comfort there.

Through Jesus, God speaks to us (Heb. 1. 2).

Through Jesus, we understand suffering and the lengths to which He would go to comfort us. “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone” (Heb. 2.9).

Through Jesus, we see sympathy, empathy, and compassion. “For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin” (Heb. 4.15).

Through Jesus, we learn how to cry out to God. “…who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear, though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered” (Heb. 5.7, 8).

Through Jesus, we can contemplate a better way to calm our hurting and questioning hearts. “…looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls” (Heb. 12.2, 3).

Jesus, the very thought of Thee
With sweetness fills my breast;
But sweeter far Thy face to see,
And in Thy presence rest.
  - Bernard of Clairvaux (1150)

Reflection
1. What can cause us to become downcast or disquieted in our soul?

2. At such a time, what would you do to “pour out” your soul before the Lord?

3. How does looking to Jesus in His glory help us to stand firm and hold fast our faith during such times?

As he had first turned himself to his soul, now he turns himself to his God, and he lifts up his eyes and sighs, as it were, to him, opening up to him the sorrow of his soul. And he pours out his carefulness and solicitude on his bosom. Whosoever is endued with the Holy Spirit, will, as this man, sigh to God in his affliction and sorrow. Robert Rollock (1555-1599), Commentary on the Psalms 42

Closing Prayer: Psalm 42.9-11
What threats against the wellbeing of your soul do you expect to encounter today? Use these verses to prepare for them by setting your soul squarely before the Lord, looking to Him for help in your times of need.

Sing Psalm 42.9-11
(Nettleton: Come Thou Fount)
Lord, forget me not in mourning ‘neath my foes’ oppressing hand.
See their mocking, hear their scorning; help my weary soul to stand.
Hope in God, praise Him forever when despair on you has trod.
Look to Jesus; never, never doubt your gracious, saving God.

T. M. and Susie Moore

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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter (Williston: Waxed Tablet Publications, 2006), available by clicking here.