The Lighthouse: A Beacon of Truth - Psalm 42:6-43:5

A Ray of Hope

A Beacon of Truth

A Source of Strength

A Sanctuary of Protection

A House of Prayer and Praise

A Ray of Hope: Review

Written in reflection of Babylonian captivity

Went from the mountaintop to the valley.

Homesickness and Helpless

Despairing and Disturbed

Since Babylon captured Israel and took them away in captivity, it would be construed that Israel’s God was weak and a deserter, not able to protect His own people.

Babylonians mocking

Where is your God when you need Him most?

The Solution: Hope

He is here, even if I can’t see Him.

Hope in essence is waiting for God to act. There is a spirit of expectancy (faith).

Instead of focusing on the problem, focus on the solution - God.

We cry out to God and God will find us in the midst of our pain

A sacrifice of praise - tears and knees - a cry for closeness to God. When can I see Your face?

I Shall praise Him again! Hope in the coming restoration of all things

I Shall experience the help/salvation of God’s presence. Hope in the coming salvation of the Lord

Experience: Depths Of Despair (42:6-7, 9; 43:1-2)

My soul is in despair within me

Despair – crumbling hill or mountain; to stoop, bow down, to sink low.

Mount Mizar is unknown, but the land of the Jordan is the region beyond the Jordan to the north and east, where Mount Hermon is.

The peaks of Mount Hermon (9000’ above sea level) – Harney Peak (Black Elk peak) 7200+

Mount Hermon slide

Mizar means little hill, so is probably a lesser mountain in the Hermon range.

This area is pretty far from Jerusalem and if a captive were headed east in the direction of Babylon, this is the last point from which he might glimpse the familiar mountains of his homeland to the south.

Land of Jordan – Jordan River – crossing over into the Promised Land (God’s Promise: life, peace, rest)

I feel like I’m seeing God from afar.

Deep calls to deep at the sound of Your waterfalls

Metaphorically “the deep” is the opposite of heaven, and a symbol of chaos.

As if being taken captive wasn’t enough, he ties in all the overwhelming trials that he is feeling as a result of his deportation.

He’s feeling like the rock at the bottom of the waterfall.

All your breakers and Your waves have rolled over me.

completely submerged

Washing machine in Hawaii

His Questions:

Why Have You Forgotten Me?

Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy? (42:9-10, 43:1-2)

Mourning – darkness and gloom

Revile - to taunt or mock - Sticks and Stones…

Oppression - to afflict

What Is Faith?

Faith is speaking truth into an impossible situation. (43:3)

Psalm 43:3 (NASB95)

O send out Your light and Your truth, let them lead me; Let them bring me to Your holy hill And to Your dwelling places.

Then trusting God to act for our good and for His glory, in His timing.

This is why we want to be a beacon of truth.

Accept the truth

Hold on to the truth

Proclaim the truth

John 8:31–32 (NASB95)

So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”

Accepting The Truth: Your waterfalls, your breakers, your waves.

If God is sending it, it is for a purpose.

We can trust that God does not send these things to break us, but to refine us.

1 Corinthians 10:13 (NASB95)

No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.

1 Peter 1:6–7 (NASB95)

In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

Holding onto the Truth: Remembering What God’s Done (42:6, 8-9, 43:2)

So I remember…You

a. Instead of remembering and lamenting what you have lost...

Remember God’s Lovingkindness (hesed) - grace, mercy, love, kindness, goodness, sacrifice

Remember God’s Song will be with you in the night.

Remember God is my Life - God’s care and sustaining

Remember God is my Rock - God’s stability

Remember God is my Stronghold - God’s protection

Proclaiming the Truth: Declaring Who God is (43:1-4)

Holy vs. Ungodly nations - perfect, pure, and separate from

Ungodly nation - not kind, not benevolent, unmerciful. Have you been beat down?

Truth vs. Deceit

Deceit – intentional misleading of someone else through distorting or withholding the truth. Have you been lied to?

Truth also means faithfulness and God’s words and actions are characterized by this term.

Also carries the connotation of blessing and deliverance.

Just vs. Unjust – He will right all wrongs. He will vindicate us.

Injustice – deviating from the right way of doing things. Have you been treated wrongly?

Revelation 6:10–11 (NASB95)

and they cried out with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, will You refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” And there was given to each of them a white robe; and they were told that they should rest for a little while longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brethren who were to be killed even as they had been, would be completed also.

Strength vs. weakness (mourning and oppressed) – Refuge, Fortress, Shelter, Stronghold

Light vs. Darkness (rejection)

Light is the manifestation of His presence. Shekinah glory.

Light is the experience of God’s redemption.

Let Your Light and Truth Lead Me (43:3)

Very well may have been reflecting on the pillar of fire during the night through the wilderness journey

Let your presence and your redemption lead me.

John 8:12 (NASB95)

Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.”

1 John 4:4 (NASB95)

You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.

Let Your Loving-kindness Lead Me.

Romans 8:31–32 (NASB95)

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?

Romans 8:35 (NASB95)

Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

Romans 8:38–39 (NASB95)

For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

When I feel like I’m blind and can’t see, let your light lead me.

When the doubts start filling my head, let your truth lead me.

When I am helpless, let your light and your truth deliver me.

Let them lead me to

God’s Holy Hill – Jerusalem – Height or Foundation of Peace

God’s Dwelling places - tabernacle, sanctuary, glory, Presence

God’s Altar – sacrifices – Jesus, the cross, Promise

Peace in His Presence because of His Promise

Our Final Response: Joyfulness of Joy (43:4)

Hebrews 12:2 NASB95

fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Exceeding Joy: A happy state of affairs compared to a previous state of suffering

A time of celebration at the reality of the deliverance of God from one’s enemies.

A remembering again of festival worship in Jerusalem.

When, O God, will you remember me?

When, are You coming to save me?

When will we return home?

When can I go and meet with You?

When will You silence to mockers?

The Beacon of Truth (42:11; 43:5)

Hope says, “You are my God!” in anticipation of the fulfilment of His promises of deliverance (help).

Hope remembers God’s songs in the night.

Psalm 32:7 (NASB95)

You are my hiding place; You preserve me from trouble; You surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah.

Hope longs for the “praise” of God for the acts of salvation.

Faith speaks truth into impossible situations and sets us free from fear, worry, and doubt.

Psalm 119:114 (ESV)

You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in your word.

Descriptions Of God Used Throughout The Psalm

The Living God My Savior (Yeshua) My God (Elohim) The Lord (Yahweh) The God of my life God, my rock God my stronghold God my joy and delight

That Light and Truth, that Beacon of Truth leads us to praise Him

Once again, this is where music plays such a pivotal role. This whole Psalm was written for the choir to sing.

As we bask in the glory of God’s presence, it marinates us and like Moses we begin to radiate that glory

(My Countenance) That Beacon of Truth leads us into the throne room of God Almighty and allows to glow.

Numbers 6:24–26 (NASB95)

The Lord bless you, and keep you; The Lord make His face shine on you, And be gracious to you; The Lord lift up His countenance on you, And give you peace.’

It’s that glow of God’s glory even as it fades away that leads us to accept, hold on to, and proclaim the truth of Who God is, the great things that He has done, knowing that everything He does is for our good and His glory, regardless of the circumstances that surround us.

Close: Great Things

Benediction: May His Light and His Truth Lead You.

May you go and be a Beacon of Truth to the world lost in darkness!

May you proclaim the truth into impossible situations

And may you be a Ray of Hope to those who are despairing