O My Soul
Notes
Transcript
1 As the deer pants for the water brooks, So my soul pants for You, God.
2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God; When shall I come and appear before God?
3 My tears have been my food day and night, While they say to me all day long, “Where is your God?”
4 I remember these things and pour out my soul within me. For I used to go over with the multitude and walk them to the house of God, With a voice of joy and thanksgiving, a multitude celebrating a festival.
Are you ready for the message God has for us?
Cool, let’s dig in!
Some see this Psalm as a song of exile.
An exile caused by ones enemies who really are unconcerned about their faith in God, we see that in verse 3
3 My tears have been my food day and night, While they say to me all day long, “Where is your God?”
The Psalmist in the midst of this exile and the chasing of enemies cries out to God with such intensity because he knows that God cares!
Have you ever felt that way? — In biology class my first night
As the Deer
As the Deer
The image that the psalmists starts with in the dear — Psalm 42:1
1 As the deer pants for the water brooks, So my soul pants for You, God.
When does a deer pant? — develop
The deer exhausted from being chased seeks water to refresh
Like this deer the Psalmist is dried out a parched and longs for the presence of God
For us Jesus offers that life giving water!
37 Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink.
38 The one who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’ ”
My soul pants for God
My soul pants for God
2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God; When shall I come and appear before God?
“Soul” — the inner self the of a person that thinks, feels, will,,and desires.
Ever go for a run? — Develop my half marathon, tongue and throat dry
“pant” — to desire strongly , I think of it as out of breathe!
This is the first time Living God appears in the Psalms
So it isn’t just any God that the Psalmist desires
The Psalmist wants to be in the presence of the The Living God, the one true God!
In his exile he looks toward the temple and longs for the worship of God’s people at the temple — Psalm 42:6
6 My soul is in despair within me; Therefore I remember You from the land of the Jordan And the peaks of Hermon, from Mount Mizar.
which ties directly to verse 2 - Psalm 42:2
2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God; When shall I come and appear before God?
The area described in the Psalm is the same area to which David fled during the rebellion of Absalom — 2 Samuel 17.
Remember during covid how we all longed to be together again — develop
1 I was glad when they said to me, “Let’s go to the house of the Lord.”
Be thankful
Be thankful
The Psalmist is finding difficulty with the weeping and despair in his soul — develop
“Tears have been my food” — instead of eating he is weeping constantly
Why? Perhaps Psalm 43:1
1 Vindicate me, God, and plead my case against an ungodly nation; Save me from the deceitful and unjust person!
The appearance to those around his that his God is nowhere to be found!
The Psalmist struggled as he thought about better days!
18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.
It is easy to be thank for good things — examples
Bad things not so much — examples
Yet in all he reminds himself, his soul — Psalm 42:5
5 Why are you in despair, my soul? And why are you restless within me? Wait for God, for I will again praise Him For the help of His presence, my God.
Psalm 42:11
11 Why are you in despair, my soul? And why are you restless within me? Wait for God, for I will again praise Him For the help of His presence, my God.
None of this is forever!
Conclusion
Think of those times of exile in our own lives, it did not last forever
In the midst though it seemed it would never end!
In those seasons our soul pants for the presence of God and worship with His people
In those times — Psalm 42:7-8
7 Deep calls to deep at the sound of Your waterfalls; All Your breakers and Your waves have passed over me.
8 The Lord will send His goodness in the daytime; And His song will be with me in the night, A prayer to the God of my life.
Lent is a season of reflection and renewal — The Psalmists reflecting and seeking that renewal — Titus 3:5
5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we did in righteousness, but in accordance with His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit
Why not let the Holy Spirit bring those times of refreshing renewal!
Come and drink of the Water of life freely! — Develop the soul panting
What are you going to do based upon what God has said this morning?
Come to the altar!
But maybe you are in that time of exile, of difficulty and you long for the presence of God, then you too come to the altar!
