Psalm 42

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CALL Nehemiah 8:10-12

10 Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” 11 So the Levites calmed all the people, saying, “Be quiet, for this day is holy; do not be grieved.” 12 And all the people went their way to eat and drink and to send portions and to make great rejoicing, because they had understood the words that were declared to them.

Psalm 42 ESV
To the choirmaster. A Maskil of the Sons of Korah. As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God? My tears have been my food day and night, while they say to me all the day long, “Where is your God?” These things I remember, as I pour out my soul: how I would go with the throng and lead them in procession to the house of God with glad shouts and songs of praise, a multitude keeping festival. Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God. My soul is cast down within me; therefore I remember you from the land of Jordan and of Hermon, from Mount Mizar. Deep calls to deep at the roar of your waterfalls; all your breakers and your waves have gone over me. By day the Lord commands his steadfast love, and at night his song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life. I say to God, my rock: “Why have you forgotten me? Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?” As with a deadly wound in my bones, my adversaries taunt me, while they say to me all the day long, “Where is your God?” Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.
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historical context
consequences of sin
Amnon’s rape of Tamar, Absalom’s execution of Amnon.
do not lie with your father’s daughter - or you will be driven from the land. Lev 18.
ancient law made provision that he was to now provide for her, give her a home and safety and a life.
Amnon sent her away. It was Absalom who took her in to care for her.
at the very least he is to be cut off from his people
at the worst he was to be executed.
David did nothing.
SO - here we have David and his men with him, suffering the consequences of another exile.
this is not just vague bad times. Not just vague sadness. this is suffering due to sin.
and David is not new to this. David and Bathsheba, the resulting plague on Israel and the death of David’s baby.
BUT! The author of this psalm doesn’t despair. He doesn’t wallow is self defeat. He instead uses this time of discipline to anchor himself further in the Lord.
THIS IS AN IMPORTANT PRINCIPLE
When we are disciplined by the Lord, we need not mope. We, like the author that we see today, use it for our growth.
Don’t waste your discipline.
AND SO - how does this author do that?
FIRST - He remembers what actually sustains him.
v1 - as a deer pants for flowing streams, so my soul pants for you, O God
Have you ever been thirsty? Like… really thirsty… not many of us.
Well, David and his men are. Literally.
but in this the author remembers his spiritual thirst above all.
In the midst of this discipline of the Lord, he still knows what he needs.
IN OTHER WORDS - He is mature.
think about a family - AN IMMATURE CHILD sees discipline as a reason to throw a tantrum. They STILL aren’t getting what they want. And they begin to hate the one who disciplines them, who reminds them of the truth in the midst of their sin.
A MATURE CHILD knows the purpose of discipline. It’s a guide for their life. Loving guard rails that protect from death and hell itself. They remember the promises of the Lord.
that The Lord disciplines those whom he loves.
prov 10 - faithful are the wounds of a friend
IN OTHER WORDS - A mature child leans in to their discipline. They don’t want to waste it. They want to learn and never go through this again.
WE AREN”T SAYING IT ISN”T HARD.
no one looks at suffering like it’s a joyful day in the park.
but when you remember the larger purpose, the futher refining of your soul for eternal glory and God’s kingdom....
even the darkest seasons of your life are not without purpose.
You are being built. Honed. Sharpened. All for the glory of God and your ultimate good and the furthering of his kingdom.
NOW THAT is a purpose.
OK! So I understand the larger WHY - but what do I do IN THE MOMENT OF PAIN
SECOND POINT - you need to be brutally honest with yourself and God.
“God this is bad.”
v3 “my tears have been my food day and night”
the psalmist can’t eat. he can’t sleep.
and so he says it to the Lord… and himself… and he writes it down for all of the world to see it.
Christianity is not a religion of false-strength.
you don’t have to put your best face on here.
making sure the outside of the house is perfect and in order, so everyone thinks everything is just peachy...
while chaos and death are running rampant behind closed doors.
Christians need not feel the pressure of maintaining some kind of external “perfection” when in times of trial and discipline.
“how’s it going” “oh we’re great!”
“Good to see y’all! See you next Sunday”
stop.
Now, if things are great and the Lord is pouring his blessings out upon you then REJOICE! And do it with your brothers and sisters!
there are plenty of psalms of joy!
but when things are bad, say it. God can handle it, and so can your Christian brothers and sisters.
and when we know the trials you’re facing… we can help. when we know the sin you’re fighting… we can help.
and when we know the joy you’re experiencing… we want to be a part of that too.
Romans 12:15 - rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.
Isn’t that amazing? It’s almost as if God knew what we needed, and designed a community to sustain us and help us grow throughout this life.
Church membership matters.
SO! We remember where our life comes from / we are honest with God, self, others about what we’re going through...
THIRD - we preach to ourselves v5-6

Why are you cast down, O my soul,

and why are you in turmoil within me?

Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,

my salvation 6 and my God.

We take God’s truths, and we apply them to our current situation. We remind ourselves.
“wait - I talk to myself”
yeah, you’re doing it right now anyway.
“what is that preacher saying?”
Might as well do it armed with the hope of God.
This means - the author is so steeped in the truths of the Lord that they are his thoughts.
The author here is clinging to the promise that David will again return to the throne, that his exile isn’t permanent. 2 Sam 7.
In his despair, that’s his reaction. To go to God’s promises. That’s where he goes when he needs comfort. It’s right on the tip of his tongue.
And it ought be on ours as well.
We should be so steeped in the word, soaked in it, that it is our go-to.
It’s where our hearts and minds go first when we need it.
psalm 119:105

Your word is a lamp to my feet

and a light to my path.

james 1:22

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves

Psalm 119:9

How can a young man keep his way pure?

By guarding it according to your word.

Isaiah 40:8

The grass withers, the flower fades,

but the word of our God will stand forever.

Psalm 18:30

This God—his way is perfect;

the word of the LORD proves true;

he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him.

Matthew 24:35

Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

Jeremiah 17:7-8

7  “Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD,

whose trust is the LORD.

8  He is like a tree planted by water,

that sends out its roots by the stream,

and does not fear when heat comes,

for its leaves remain green,

and is not anxious in the year of drought,

for it does not cease to bear fruit.”

THIS is what I want for my family - for your families! To be a people so Bible-saturated that his words are our go-to. Our knee-jerk reaction.
that we could say with the apostles to Jesus “where else would we Go Lord? You alone have the WORDS OF LIFE!”... and feel it all the way down into our bones.
AND LASTLY - Away from the temple no longer able to worship he remembers it… the joy.
v4 “how I would go with the throng and lead them in procession to the house of God - with glad shouts and songs of praise - a multitude keeping festival.
He misses it. The joy, the celebration,
and he looks forward to his return
v5 - “Hope in God, for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God”
He’s looking forward to being at the temple again, leading the throngs, singing and praising with the multitude...
To put it in our context - he’s looking forward to Sunday morning.
in other words - YOUR WORSHIP IS A WEAPON.
against despair, against sorrow, against fear, against sin.
when we gather we aren’t just doing things that we’re supposed to. carrying on traditions.
we’re going to war.
and not a somber, fearful war… but a war that we already know the outcome.
a war that has already been won.
that Jesus already finished.
death has been defeated. the kingdom of God is at hand. the work of the Lord is being accomplished. and the gates of hell WILL NOT stand.
we go to war, marching side by side, with joy - with glad shouts and songs of praise
Neh 8:10 - the JOY OF THE LORD is our strength.
HOW? Because of Christ.
Jesus died our death for us… we have nothing to fear.
and in his death...
he gives us such power over our sin that even when we are being disciplined because of our failures to keep his commandments - we have hope.
SO I SAY TO YOU
those here today that are steeped in their sin. under the judgement of God because of your refusal to keep his commandments...
the anxiety, the fear, the pain, the distress … it all has always had a purpose.
and that is to drive you to the Lord. To the greatest joy you could eve possibly know.
don’t waste it. trust in him. repent and believe in the Lord Jesus, and join the joy-filled march.
See, that’s what Christians are... Joy-filled word-soaked warriors.
unshakable by the threats of the world.
moving forward for the kingdom of Christ.
So let’s get to work.
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