I shall yet praise him
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5 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? Hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him For the help of his countenance.
Psalms 42:
Psal
11 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, Who is the health of my countenance, and my God.
Psalms 43:
5 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? Hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, Who is the health of my countenance, and my God.
5 Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again— my Savior and my God!
To the chief musician...A Psalm of Instruction
To the chief musician...A Psalm of Instruction
The book of Psalms is a collection of poems, prayers, hymns and meditations. All the psalms are addressed to God, whether they are giving thanks for what he has done or begging for help in a time of crisis. The psalms give us an insight into the life and spirituality of God’s people and have been used continually in both Jewish and Christian worship. These adulating compositions share with us the intimate emotions and inner feelings that would otherwise never be recognized.
For example Psalms chapter 142 is a Psalm that was penned by the Psalmist David when he was in the cave at Adullam. The Biblical account of that stay in the cave of Adullam is recorded in 1 Samuel chapter 22 and spans 1 phrase of 1 verse and simply says “David therefore departed thence, and escaped to the cave Adullam”. We know that David is running from Saul, and he finds refuge in this cave…we might assume this David who wrestles lions and bears, kills giants and has commanded the kings army is undaunted. We might assume that his resolve is strong, his emotions unwavering and his faith undaunted. But then we read the 142nd Psalms and we find a David that is broken, hurting and overwhelmed.
This is what makes the Psalms so incredibly powerful. They speak to the real “us”. Outwardly, it may just be “Im in cave”, but inwardly its overwhelmed, searching for help, in need of strength. The Psalms connect with us in a deeper level than any of the other books of the Bible because they connect with the questions that we are afraid to ask and the emotions that we simply can’t express.
With that foundation in place, we look at the portion of the Psalms from which we read this morning. The 42nd and 43rd Psalms…Theologians, Bible scholars and commentaries all concur these 2 chapters were, in their origin, one Psalm…in fact more than just a Psalm…but a song that penned by David…to be delivered to the chief musician, for the sons of Korah. It is believed this song was written during his exile from Jerusalem in the overthrow of the Kingdom by his son Absolom…
each of them intended to by sung. Theologians, Bible scholars and commentaries all concur…and even the casual reader might conclude that
in the title it records that this Song was to be a Maschil…meaning an instructive ode. While many of the Psalms of David are Praise, others that are songs of thanksgiving and even those of lamentation…this is a song intended to provide learning, instruction and understanding. In other words David is saying this is more than just another song to sing…but in this song there is a lesson to be learned and instruction to be followed
The the chief musician…a Psalm of instruction
The the chief musician…a Psalm of instruction
If we study the format of this Psalms spanning the 42nd and 43rd chapters, we find this verse that I have highlighted as our text this morning, repeated three times.
“Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, Who is the health of my countenance, and my God.”
These words form the refrain or the chorus of the song…and surrounding the refrain are 3 separate verses.
Chapter 42 verses 1-4
Chapter 42 verses 6-10
and chapter 43 verses 1-4
That in songs where there is the construct of verses and chorus, the verses communicate the conflict, state the struggle, and pose the problem…and then the refrain or the chorus provided the contrast of the problem with the solution...the resolution to the conflict, the answer to the problem.
And so it is that this is the real David..the inner being of David. The emotions that are stirring, unseen beneath the stilled surface of the giant killer...
If we could summarize the first verse…it is a longing for the way that things once were…A lamentation of a soul that thirst for the presence of God…that longs for the the house of God during this time of exile.
If we might summarize the second verse…My soul is cast down within me…
Deep calleth unto deep…All they waves and thy billows are gone over me…I am not certain how to interpret that phrase, but one commentary said it this way…David was saying, I can relate with the bottom of the ocean…I feel like the waves and the currents have swallowed me and I am at the bottom of the ocean.
If David were sitting on the couch in the psychiatrist, they would have diagnosed him as clinically depressed.
And if we would give some summary to verse 3...
Deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man. God you are my source of strength…why do you cast me off? —> Oh God…don’t be far from me!
Im attacked by the ungodly, oppressed by my enemies....Please don’t be far from me…draw near to me…lead me…guide me!!!
Feeling distant…seeking direction…seeking guidance.
These verses reveal the turmoil of a giant killer, a lion slayer, a champion in battle…
2 Samuel chapter 15 deals with historical David and the chronicle of the account of David being betrayed by his son Absolom. The David that we see in 2 Samuel is the David that we might expect to see…the strong, stoic, emotionally stable David who had once stared down an armed giant while being armed with nothing more than a sling shot and a handful of smooth stones.
In the 2 Samuel vs. 25 as David is fleeing from Jerusalem, retreating from the rebellion of his own son, He simply states…If the Lord sees fit (New Living Translation) he will bring me back to see the Ark and the Tabernacle again... if he is through with me, then let him do what seems best…
- we don’t get to hear verse 1. No “my heart longs for presence of God, like a deer thirsty for water”.
- We don’t get to see the deep longing for the house of God and the joining with the multitude in the house of God...
Yes, vs. 30 tells us he wept and he clothed himself in clothes of mourning…but the giant killer is strong and the lion slayer is valiant...
Such strength…such courage.
To the chief musician, a song of instruction
To the chief musician, a song of instruction
Yes, vs. 30 tells us he wept and he clothed himself in clothes of mourning…but the giant killer is strong and the lion slayer is valiant...
Here in , we are introduced to the real David…the one that others cant see…the turmoil and the uncertainty that is stirring within....
Let me give you some instruction…if you are going to make it through blindsiding betrayal…if you are going to survive unexpected disappointment…You’re going to have to get real and you’re going to have to be honest!
Lead me to the holy mountain!
struggling with discouragement and depression.
David was depressed
Thats real…
Can I say today...
If you aren’t battling thoughts and ideas of discouragement…there’s a good chance you have to charge your batteries at night..
You may be a giant killer…you may wrestle with lions and bears…
But its ok to be real....outwardly you may be saying, I’ll be alright if God is through with me…but internally you’re like a deer looking for a drink of water…I just need one touch of his presence to sustain me!
is good for the books of history…but thats not the real you and thats not the real me....
and these verses provide for us the struggle, the conflict…the reality of lives that aren’t always easy....Times when God feels distant. Moments when the fear and worry seem overwhelming...
To the chief musician a Psalm of instruction
To the chief musician a Psalm of instruction
It wasn’t long ago that I was involved in a conversation with James Wilson. Actually, I was more listening to a conversation with James Wilson and a few others in which he was discussing the development of a song...
That in songs where there is the construct of verses and chorus, the verses communicate the conflict, state the struggle, and pose the problem…and then the refrain or the chorus provided the contrast of the problem with the solution...the resolution to the conflict, the answer to the problem.
For example in the song that Bro. Wilson recently wrote that became an anthem for so many…the verses “there’s not a mountain too tall…not a problem so small”. “there’s not a night too dark, a journey too long to embark”
And then the refrain…the chorus...the resolution… Wait on the Lord.
And David said in this Psalm of instruction
The reality is I’m discouraged…the truth is I’m overwhelmed…The facts are I feel distant and uncertain...
But there is a resolution!
Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and Why art thou disquieted in me?
HOPE THOU IN GOD: For i shall yet praise him. For the help of his countenance!
I’ve got a Psalm of instruction for you today…HOPE though in God!
I’ve got a Psalm of instruction for you today…HOPE though in God!
I’m not ignoring the reality of what I’m feeling…but there is an answer…Hope thou in God!
Put your hope in the Lord!
In a song, it is the chorus that is repeated…it is the solution that is repeated...
Don’t let your verse become your chorus.
Don’t put your focus on the conflict. Don’t put your attention on the problem…Put your HOPE in the Lord!
For I shall yet praise him
A song of instruction…find your “yet praise”.
But don’t let your verse become your chorus!
In the english, the word yet can express a multiplicity of meaning.
Just a quick glance in the dictionary reveals 8 different applications of the word yet.
No different with the Hebrew word that was used in the original Psalm of the sons of Korah...
I shall YET praise him…I will praise him in spite of what I am going through.
I shall YET praise him…yes right now I long for his presence…yes right now, I long to be able to worship with the multitude…but its not over…i shall yet praise him again…Its not over…those moments of praise in the congregation will come again.
to the chief musician, a song of instruction.
If you are going to endure this time and make it through this storm…you’ve got to find a yet praise...
Don’t let your verse become your chorus…yes be real…yes be honest…but get ahold of your yet praise…in spit of what I’m going through…I will yet praise..and I may not be in the house of the Lord…and It may feel like I’m overwhelmed and under attack....but I will YET praise!
CLOSING....
A song is not known by its verse…it isn’t identified by its conflict…by the challenges…it is known by the chorus…but the resolution...
There are people right now…the verses of your life have been dark and discouraging…
The verses of your life have been distant from God...
Today is the day to put your hope in God!
Don’t let your verse become your chorus! Don’t let the song of your life be the struggle, the distance from God…the conflict of life...
But let the song of your life be that you chose to put your hope in the Lord!
That in the midst of coronavirus 2020, you found your yet praise!
A Psalm of Instruction
- These verses that build up to the chorus, share not necessarily different or separate events of what he is facing…but they share different compartments in the life of the Psalmist.
Don’t be the 2 Samuel version of you…be the version of you…be real…be honest.
The verse is real…this is the deep emotions that I am feeling.
Don’t let your verse become your chorus…its ok to be honest…its ok to be real…but put your focus on the resolution and not the conflict
Don’t let your verse become your chorus! Yes…these are the feeling that I am facing…these are the problems.
Get to the chorus.
- My hope is in God!
I shall yet praise him
No different with the Hebrew word that was used in the original Psalm of the sons of Korah
I shall YET praise him…I will praise him in spite of what I am going through.
I shall YET praise him…yes right now I long for his presence…yes right now, I miss “these things”…but its not over…i shall yet praise him again…Its not over…those moments of praise in the congregation will come again.
Closing
When your hope is not in the Lord, you have no chorus…all you have is the verse. All that you have are the troubles…if your hope has been the economy…all you have is another verse.
If your hope is low unemployment numbers…you have another verse.
If your hope is the assurance of health…you have another verse...
Put your hope in the Lord.
My Savior and My God
I have been able to look at the list of those that have watched our services and I know that there are many of you that have been watching that for whatever reason, you have distanced yourself from God…from the church…you might say no…i still have a relationship with God..its just the church that I am distant from…that is a fallacy…A Psalm that declares God as a savior is a Psalm that loves the congregation.
Its time to come back home!
It’s time to get a chorus back in your life!
Its time to put your hope in the Lord!
Put your hope in God!
ii. It also wasn’t as if he had not already given many reasons for his discouragement. Many things bothered him.
· Distance from home and the house of God (42:2, 42:6).
· Taunting unbelievers (42:3, 42:10).
· Memories of better days (42:4).
Find your yet praise!
· The present absence of past spiritual thrills (42:4).
· Overwhelming trials of life (42:7).
· God’s seemingly slow response (42:9).