Desire for God

2021-11-07 Ft Greely

Theme – Desire for God

Text – Psalm 42

PREACHING OUTLINE

When we look at the changes that we’ve been through and the questioning of our future, I sometimes translate the things that i hear as, “ is how much longer until I lose what I have?

What is your deepest desire?

Mt 6:19-21 ““Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Luke 12:33-34 “Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

Matthew 13:44 ““The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.”

Isaiah 33:5-6 “The Lord is exalted, for he dwells on high; he will fill Zion with justice and righteousness, and he will be the stability of your times, abundance of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge; the fear of the Lord is Zion’s treasure.”

IMPRESSIONS

First of the ‘second’ book of Psalms, a psalm of lament that usually is paired with psalm 43 as a psalm of prayer and petition.

It is a slightly descriptive text of someone struggling with temptation towards depression, but looks to God for deliverance and assurance.

Song “As the deer panteth for the water, so my soul longeth after Thee. You oh Lord are my heart’s desire and I long to worship Thee.

Ps 42

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.

Desire for God is a great help during spiritual depression.

The word “pant” shows both devotion, dedication, and craving.

Vers. 1–11.—Spiritual depression. The scene of this psalm seems to have been on the other side of Jordan, near the shining heights of Hermon.

Here we may imagine the writer, probably a Hebrew exile, straining his eyes to catch a glimpse of the dear land of his fathers that was soon to pass from his sight. To him it seemed as if to be separated from Jerusalem was to be separated from God; as if losing the fellowship of the saints were losing God.

The heart panting for the water-brooks imaged the grief of his heart athirst after God. The Jordan with its winding rapids, “deep calling unto deep,” reflected the tumults of his soul, and reminded him of his distance from home and from the house of God. But he encourages himself by meditation and prayer, and the hope of better times. We may take the psalm as a picture of spiritual depression.1

1 Spence-Jones, H. D. M., ed. Psalms. Vol. 1. London; New York: Funk & Wagnalls Company, 1909. Print. The Pulpit Commentary.

2 Cor 1:8-11

2 Corinthians 1:8–11 ESV

For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again. You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.

Desire for God gives purpose during loneliness or advers

Psalms (Vol. I) Psalm 42

Ver. 6.—“The hill Mizar.” Association is a potent factor in life. Here it may have worked by contrast. “Mizar,” as a little hill, may have called to the mind of David, in exile, the mountains of Judah, and the far-off land of his fathers and his God. We may take “Mizar” to illustrate—

I. THE CHANGES OF LIFE. As with David, so with us, changes come. We may have rest or be compelled to wander. We may have the joys of home or we may be doomed to solitude and to exile. Wherever we are, let us “remember” God (Ps. 56:8; Dan. 9:3, 4).

II. THE RESTING-PLACES OF LIFE. We may be weary and sad, but God is able to give us comfort. Seated on some “Mizar,” we may rest and be thankful. Looking back, there is much to awaken, not only our penitence, but our praise. Looking on, there is much to inspire us with hope. There are heights before us to be won. Let us press on with renewed courage.

III. THE SACRED MEMORIES OF LIFE. The noblest and most inspiring associations are those connected with God. Jacob had Bethel, Moses had the burning bush, Daniel the lions’ den. So we too may have our holy places, to remember with gratitude and love and hope. The thought of what God has been to us leads us to remember what we should be to God. Past kindnesses and deliverances assure us of continued favour. Let us walk worthy of our high calling.

IV. THE UNDYING HOPES OF LIFE. Whatever happens, God is with us. He does not change. His purposes and his love are the same now as in the past. From our “Mizar” let us say, “I will remember thee.” Thus “Mizar” may be to us as “the Delectable Mountains” to the pilgrims, and though it be little in itself, by faith it may enable us to gaze upon the way before us with hope, and to gain glimpses of the glorious land which, though far off, is yet near, where we shall see the King in his beauty, and serve him in love for ever and ever.

Desire for God acknowledges who he is to us, and why we should be thankful.

Psalm 42 (ESV)

      1    As a deer pants for flowing streams,  so pants my soul for you, O 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 the day long, 

   “Where is your God?” 

      4    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. 

      5    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. 

         My soul is cast down within me;    therefore I remember you 

         from the land of Jordan and of Hermon,    from Mount Mizar. 

      7    Deep calls to deep 

   at the roar of your waterfalls; 

         all your breakers and your waves   have gone over me. 

      8    By day the LORD commands his steadfast love, 

   and at night his song is with me,  a prayer to the God of my life. 

      9    I say to God, my rock:   “Why have you forgotten me? 

         Why do I go mourning   because of the oppression of the enemy?” 

      10    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?” 

      11    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.

WORDS OF NOTE (Aka definitions, original language & English words for emphasis and highlights)

Deep

Pants (my soul)

Steadfast love

Salvation