Bible Reading Reflection from Psalms 42-49

 [Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (MPG) as a reading update (reflection) from one chapter of the Bible a day]

ℙ𝕊𝔸𝕃𝕄 𝟜𝟚:𝟙

"As the deer pants for the water brooks,

So my soul pants for You, O God."

We love to sing this song but do we mean what we sing? Do we really long after God as the deer pants for the water? Ever? When?

Have you even ever panted after real water? Have you been on some long, long journey under the hot summer sun, you have got exhausted, dehydrated, and longing for nothing but water? And have you ever thirsted God like that?

Footballers say that if they want to win the match; if they want to be successful; if they want to be at the top; they must hunger for victory. That's how many people have described Ronaldo. Though he has achieved almost everything and is old, he still hungers after goals and wins as if it's his first match.

We can learn about hunger even from that ‘proud’ footballer. Hunger after God. Thirst after God. When we thirst for water, we want nothing but water. Nothing satisfies our thirst more than water. That's the image this psalm is presenting us. To find sufficiency and satisfaction in God. BTW, that's my motto in life. You can verify/confirm it, at the bottom left in the "About Me" section, that’s cool, huh? ☺

 

ℙ𝕊𝔸𝕃𝕄 𝟜𝟛:𝟝

"Why are you in despair, O my soul?

And why are you disturbed within me?

Wait for God, for I shall still praise Him,

The salvation of my presence and my God."

Psalms 42 and 43 have a similar structure, mood, and theme.

Ps 42:5, 11, and 43:5 are identical! And Psalm 43 has only 5 verses. So many people think that Ps 43 is a fragment of Psalm 42. Having said that–

This verse is interestingly comforting. The psalmist was preaching to his own soul. His circumstances were not changed, but he chose to contemplate the power of God.

Do you preach to yourself? We are very good at giving counsel and advice to others, right? We should preach the power, goodness, love, and grace of God to ourselves too. That's what this Psalm is doing! 👍

 

ℙ𝕊𝔸𝕃𝕄 𝟜𝟜:𝟚𝟛, 𝟚𝟞

23. "Arouse Yourself, why do You sleep, O Lord?

  Awake, do not reject us forever."

26. "Rise up, be our help,

  And redeem us for the sake of Your lovingkindness."

Are you desperately in need of God's grace, mercy, and help? Learn to pray like this!

This is not an insult to God, neither ordering God nor blaspheming God when it's prayed by a contrite penitent sufferer. This prayer recognizes who God is and asks because of who He is. That's what we mean when we say, "In Jesus's name, Amen!"

 

ℙ𝕊𝔸𝕃𝕄 𝟜𝟝:𝟟

"You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness;

Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You

With the oil of joy above Your companions."

It's comely of leaders to be righteous. Davidic kings were. Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Davidic King is the most righteous one. So, v6 is to Him, not to a mere man, King Solomon, the son of David.

Followers of Jesus must be righteous just as He is. God will reward the just ones, both on earth and in heaven! Remember that!

 

ℙ𝕊𝔸𝕃𝕄 𝟜𝟞:𝟙

"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble."

Not just a help, but a present help; no, more than that, a very present help, Wow!

If you struggle to appreciate this Psalm, ask Martin Luther to take you to his time. Luther penned the famous hymn of Reformation from this Psalm, "A Mighty Fortress is our God!"

If you haven't heard that song, go to YouTube like a dog that hides its tails between its legs and listen to it tonight itself! Or else you would remain in embarrassment to have never heard that song till today!

 

ℙ𝕊𝔸𝕃𝕄 𝟜𝟟:𝟞

"Sing praises to God, sing praises;

Sing praises to our King, sing praises."

Not once, not twice; not even thrice, but four times in one verse telling us to sing praises. How many praise songs do we know? What's our favorite praise song?

Btw, What are the features of praise songs? Are the modern praise and worship songs really praise songs? What was the praise song you sang recently (if you did)?

Sing praises to God our King!

 

ℙ𝕊𝔸𝕃𝕄 𝟜𝟠:𝟙

"Great is Yahweh, and greatly to be praised,

In the city of our God, His holy mountain."

Another Psalm that tells us the appropriateness of praising God.

Not only what type of people is comely to praise God, but also where, the most appropriate place, the city of God. Comely people and a place to praise God.

We, Christians who are made righteous by the blood of the Redeemer must praise God, most appropriately in the church, the place of worship, the house of God.

And people aren't even coming to church... Let's think through that...

 

ℙ𝕊𝔸𝕃𝕄 𝟜𝟡:𝟙𝟞

"Be not afraid when a man becomes rich,

when the glory of his house increases."

Of course, this is talking about when someone who does not know God becomes rich, successful, or powerful. But, what about when our friends become successful and we are not? Even when the wicked are successful, we are not godly like the psalmist to stay calm.

Well, it doesn't matter who is successful: foes or friends, heathens or Christians; we should not be afraid of them nor be jealous of them. We put our trust only in God because He is our God; He will take care of everything!

Also, whether we are successful or not, our value, our strength, and our life is in God. So, we should not let circumstances and environment rob away our joy in the Lord!

You can be rich today and die of cancer, what good is that? You can be successful, and somebody could come up with strong accusations against you, will there be peace in that? You can be popular, and someone could dig up your past mistake on social media, and lose your reputation.

Rich, success, and popularity can come and go away easily. But those who trust in the Lord will remain strong!