Psalm
42:4-5 "When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in
me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God,
with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept
holyday. (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."
"I pour out my soul in me." Do you ever talk to yourself?
I find myself trying to remind myself what I'm supposed to be doing, where I'm
supposed to do it, and when I am supposed to do it. That is not what is under
consideration in this verse. David is talking to himself about how he feels and
trying to figure out why he feels that way. "I went with them to the
house of God with the voice of joy and praise." "I kept the
holyday." The holydays were the times when they went to Jerusalem to
observe the feasts which had been ordained by God. David is saying he has
done all the right things, but still he does not feel the joy inside. He used
the voice of joy, but the joy was missing. Have you ever experienced anything
like this?
"I pour out my soul in me." "Why art thou cast down, O my
soul?" Why do I feel this way? David had experienced many
struggles and trials in his life and he had experienced many victorious moments
in his life "Why do I feel this way?" Why do I feel so low in
my spirit? Let's bring this to a personal level. Why do we feel upset
within our spirits? There are many legitimate reasons when we feel the props
have been knocked out from under us, but many times we have that low feeling
because things didn't turn out the way we expected them. In other words,
I didn't get my way so I am going to be upset. I don't know, nor do I pretend
to know, why David was feeling so low. Apparently, he did not have the answer.
That's why he cried out to the Lord with the questions of today.
David knew the answer and he shared it with us: "Hope thou in God."
Don't just pour out your struggles to yourself, lay them down at the feet
of Jesus. Pour out your heart to the Lord. I'm thankful for good friends
and the privilege to be able to share, but the deepest source of help is found
in the Lord. David, while talking to himself, reminded himself of the
answer. It seems he was standing in front of the mirror and reminding
himself, "Things are going to get better." The Lord has a plan
for my life. He will show Himself strong on my behalf. "I shall yet
praise Him for the help of his countenance."
"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts
of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." (Jeremiah 29:11)
"The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee." (Jeremiah 31:3)