Psalm 42 Hope is Found in God-Our Solid Rock on a Slippery Slope We were created in the image of God. Because we are created in His image, we were made to communicate with Him. God walked in the garden and talked with man and woman. After the fall, man and woman hid from God. Genesis 1 . 26 Then God said, “Let us make humanity in our image to resemble us so that they may take charge of the fish of the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the earth, and all the crawling things on earth.” Genesis 3 8 During that day’s cool evening breeze, they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden; and the man and his wife hid themselves from the LORD God in the middle of the garden’s trees. 9 The LORD God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” In the beginning of St. Augustine’s Confessions about the heart, St. Augustine states that God made us for Himself. He created us to communicate with Him. St. Augustine says that our ‘hearts are restless until it repose in Thee.’ from Confessions-St Augustine Great art Thou, O Lord, and greatly to be praised; great is Thy power, and Thy wisdom infinite. And Thee would man praise; man, but a particle of Thy creation; man, that bears about him his mortality, the witness of his sin, the witness that Thou resistest the proud: yet would man praise Thee; he, but a particle of Thy creation. Thou awakest us to delight in Thy praise; for Thou madest us for Thyself, and our heart is restless, until it repose in Thee. Psalm 42 describes this craving for God within the heart of man by comparing that crave to a deer which thirsts for water. A deer is used as a metaphor for the being of man when led by God. A deer is sure-footed. It can walk swiftly on land and climb mountains with ease. When the soul of man is grounded in God, it can rest in God. The soul at rest trusts God. When our body, mind, spirit and soul are grounded in God we can stand on the solid rock of God’s Word. Psalm 42:1-4-A Thirst for God Just like a deer that craves streams of water, my whole being craves you, God. 2 My whole being thirsts for God, for the living God. When will I come and see God’s face? 3 My tears have been my food both day and night, as people constantly questioned me, “Where’s your God now?” 4 But I remember these things as I bare my soul: how I made my way to the mighty one’s abode, to God’s own house, with joyous shouts and thanksgiving songs— a huge crowd celebrating the festival! In verses 5-11 the Psalmist is having a conversation with himself. We have the ability to reason within ourselves. God gave us free will. We can choose God’s way or our way. In the Psalmists self-talk he asks himself. ‘Why are you so depressed? Why are you upset inside?’ The answer he gives himself is to hope in God. God is the only source of hope. God is the solid rock on which we can stand. We can stand on the solid rock of God’s Word as sure-footed as a deer. Psalm 42:5-11 The self-talk of the Psalmist about his relationship with God. 5 Why, I ask myself, are you so depressed? Why are you so upset inside? Hope in God! Because I will again give him thanks, my saving presence and my God. 6 My whole being is depressed. That’s why I remember you from the land of Jordan and Hermon, from Mount Mizar. 7 Deep called to deep at the noise of your waterfalls; all your massive waves surged over me. 8 By day the LORD commands his faithful love; by night his song is with me— a prayer to the God of my life. 9 I will say to God, my solid rock, “Why have you forgotten me? Why do I have to walk around, sad, oppressed by enemies?” 10 With my bones crushed, my foes make fun of me, constantly questioning me: “Where’s your God now?” 11 Why, I ask myself, are you so depressed? Why are you so upset inside? Hope in God! Because I will again give him thanks, my saving presence and my God. My prayer for you today is that you stand on the solid rock of God’s Word. In God’s Word we can find God and He will give us strength and wisdom for each day. Love in Christ, Pat On Christ the Solid Rock I Stand Edward Mote HYMN HISTORY: Sometimes the grace of God penetrates into unlikely places. Edward Motes parents were hostile to religion, but while still a boy Edward became a Christian through the influence of a cabinetmaker to whom he was apprenticed. As a man, he became a skilled cabinetmaker with a successful business of his own. Regardless of the claims of his business on his time, Mote always found time to worship God. He was especially interested in Christian music, and one day felt inspired on the way to work to write down a verse that came to his mind. Before the day was finished, he had completed four verses. His new hymn began with the words, My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus blood and righteousness. Not long thereafter, Mote visited a friend whose wife was ill. It was a Sunday, and the friend mentioned that he and his wife liked to observe Sunday by singing a hymn, reading a scripture, and having prayer together. Mote had a copy of his hymn in his pocket, so they sang it. The friends wife was so taken with the hymn that she requested a copy for herself. Encouraged by her interest, Mote had copies printed –– and soon found himself the author of a beloved hymn Story of Edward Mote from: hishymnhistory.blogspot/2012/12/the-solid-rock.html youtube/watch?v=JZewoGpd-L0&list=RDJZewoGpd-L0&index=1
Posted on: Mon, 24 Nov 2014 12:01:05 +0000
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