Trust . . . His Heart

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Psalm 42:5 (KJV)

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.

We come to a close in our series "The One Thing God Requires -- Trust . . ." by looking at what it means to trust His heart. The book of Psalms is really divided into five books and this chapter marks the beginning of the second book. Psalm 42 and Psalm 43 form one Psalm in the original and within it our text is repeated three times (Psalm 42:5,11 and 43:5).

1. God's child can often feel depressed . . . "Why art thou cast down, O my soul?"
   The common fallacy among Christians is that depression is an uncommon feeling. David, a man after God's own heart is feeling discouraged. What causes this despair?
   1. Dreams that are destroyed . . . (II Samuel 13-18).
      Spurgeon believes David penned this Psalm in the midst of Absalom's revolt. Absalom, David's third son, had murdered Ammon, David's eldest son, had fled for three years of exile, only to return to lead the people in a revolt against his father. A declaration of war was declared and David fled for his life. Absalom was anointed king and David had lost his throne, his family and his reputation.
   2. Friends that are faithless . . . (Psalm 42:3).
      David's friends continually said, "Where is thy God?" (v.3). There is nothing finer than a faithful friend, but nothing worse in life than a friend turned bitter. "Nothing is more dangerous than associating with the ungodly" John Calvin.
   3. Problems that are painful . . . (Psalm 42:5).
      The words "cast down" speak of the soul breaking ("bowed down") with a burden too painful to bear. "Disquieted" is a strong word meaning "to cry out." David is filled with horrible pain and agony, abandoned by family and friends.
2. God's child can always find deliverance . . . "Hope thou in God."
   This hope is what we call trust. In this midst of problems and fears, learn to trust Him.
   1. You are to trust His heart . . . "praise him for the help of his countenance . . ."
      The countenance of the face reveals the condition of the heart. In fact the word countenance in the Hebrew translates the word "face." David is saying that in the midst of all His troubles, the one thing that lifts his soul is God's face. God has only favor, love, grace, compassion, and pleasure toward David (Psalm 139). "How precious are thy thoughts unto me O God! how great is the sum of them!"
   2. You are to trust His heart . . . "hope thou in God . . ."
      It is not what others say about God that matters, it is what you believe about God that matters. Do you believe that God shines in His countenance toward you? Do you believe that He has a heart of love toward you regardless of your obedience?
   3. You are to trust His heart . . . "hope thou in God . . ."
      The word carries with it the idea of "waiting with a confident expectation." It means that a deliverer is near. The word "help" is plural and speaks of multiple salvations so that David knew His God would pull him through all of the tough problems he was facing. Our deliverance is found in this confident expectation. "Without faith it is impossible to please God at all!"

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   Questions? Comments?
   Pastor Wade
   
   

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