HOPE THOU IN GOD!

 

Thursday, February 18, 2021

 

HOPE THOU IN GOD!

 

Ps 42:5

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.

 

Ps 42:11

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.

 

           Only twice do we find the phrase “hope thou in God” and both times we find it in Psalm 42. Adam Clarke says that these sentiments belong a period of time when Israel was in the Babylonian captivity. “Bad as the times are, desolate as Jerusalem is, insulting as are our enemies, hopeless as in the sight of man our condition may be, yet there is no room for despair. All things are possible to God.”

 

           The Psalmist begins by relating a sight he has seen. A female deer, a hind, struggles toward a ripple of water to quench her thirst. The land is dry, and she has been forced to run for her life ahead of her pursuers. This was the Psalmist! This was Israel fleeing from her enemies. 

 

           Difficult times strain our confidence in God. We prefer ease and comfort. When these are taken away, we whine and complain but the Psalmist comforted himself by remembering God’s mercies in past situations. He HAS rescued and WILL rescue again. How else can we learn the constancy of God?

 

Ps 37:7-9

7 Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. 8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil. 9 For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth.

 

Dear Lord, We prefer good times and abundant supplies but it is in the valley you restore our souls. AMEN