HOLY LOVE HOPING IN GOD

 ANCHOR OF LIFE DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE For THURSDAY, 25TH MAY, 2023.

TOPIC: EXPOSITION OF PSALM 42 – Part 5 

HOLY LOVE HOPING IN GOD

MEMORIZE: “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.” Psalm 42:5.

SCRIPTURE READING: Psalm 43:5

“Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; For I shall yet praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God.”

EXPOSITION:

David was in the mood of depression like anyone could be, at this time he asked himself “Why art thou cast down, O my soul?” His sorrow was upon a very good account, his physical distance from the ark due to his son’s rebellion against him. And yet it must not exceed its due limits, nor prevail to depress his spirits; he therefore communes with his own heart, for his relief. "Come, my soul, I have something to say to thee in thy heaviness." 

LET US CONSIDER THE CAUSE OF DEPRESSION. 

His heart is cast down as one stooping and sinking under a burden because he felt his absence from the ark equals God’s rejection. He allowed anxiety and fear of unknown to bring him down. Proverbs 12:25 says “Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, But a good word makes it glad.” Thou art disquieted, in confusion and disorder; now why are thou so?" This may be taken as an enquiring question: "Let the cause of this uneasiness be duly weighed, and see whether it be a just cause." 

"Why am I cast down? Is there a cause, a real cause? Have not others more cause, that do not make so much ado? Have not we, at the same time, cause to be encouraged?" Or it may be taken as a reproving question; those that commune much with their own hearts will often have occasion to chide them, as David here. Ask yourself this question: "Why do I thus dishonour God by my melancholy dejections? Why do I discourage others and do so much injury to myself? Can I give a good account of this tumult?" 

THE CURE OF IT:  HOPE THOU IN GOD, FOR I SHALL YET PRAISE HIM. 

A believing confidence in God is a sovereign antidote against prevailing despondency and disquietude of spirit. And therefore, when we scold ourselves to hope in God; when the soul embraces itself it sinks; if it catches hold on the power and promise of God, it keeps the head above water. Hope in God, 

 (1.) That he shall have glory from us: "I shall yet praise him; I shall experience such a change in my state that I shall not want matter for praise, and such a change in my spirit that I shall not want a heart for praise." It is the greatest honour and happiness of a man, and the greatest desire and hope of every good man, to be unto God for a name and a praise. What is the crown of heaven's bliss but this, that there we shall be forever praising God?  And what is our support under our present woes but this, that we shall yet praise God, that they shall not prevent nor abate our endless hallelujahs? 

 (2.) That we shall have comfort in him.  We shall praise him for the help of his countenance, for his favour, the support we have by it and the satisfaction we have in it. Those that know how to value and improve the light of God's countenance will find in that a suitable, seasonable, and sufficient help, in the worst of times, and that which will furnish them with constant matter for praise. David's believing expectation of this kept him from sinking, nay, it kept him from drooping; his harp was a palliative cure of Saul's melancholy, but his hope was an effectual cure of his own.

PRAYER POINT: Lord, let me find joy in you in the time of depression in Jesus name.

DAILY BIBLE READING IN A YEAR –  Job 36-38.