Hope in God

Today is Monday, and it’s a beautiful day out today. Let the week begin! But I have an oppressive enemy who wants to bring distress to my soul. He finds some way to cause me to doubt daily where God is. He derails me. He wants to cast me down and toss me around. Satan is an agitator. He wants darkness to flood my soul because he is dark. It happens most days. It takes practically nothing to put me into this spiral.

I don’t think I’m alone. In fact, I know I’m not. Fortunately, one of the writers of the Bible was like me, and he penned his way out of oppression in 5 minutes or less. Want to know what he did? Let’s look at the passage as a whole first, then look at it phrase by phrase.

“I will say unto God my rock, why hast thou forgotten me? Why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy? As with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach  me; while they say daily unto me, Where is thy God? 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.” (Psa. 42:9-11)

“I will say unto God my rock,	Whatever comes out of his mouth next, he sure knows who he’s talking to! Start with acknowledging anything about God you love as you address Him.
Why hast thou forgotten me?	Wow. At least he’s honest with God.
Why go I mourning  because of the oppression of the enemy?	He gets his mental/emotional bearings. Why am I so down? He knows it’s due to the oppression (distress and pressure) of the enemy. Ah. Yes, we do have an enemy of our soul. Identify him.
As with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me; while they say daily unto me, Where is thy God?	He fully processes what’s happening in his derailed soul. His enemy is turning him into a practical atheist… one who says or acts like there is no God. This obviously can’t go on!
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.”	He takes himself in hand and reminds himself of God. There’s no reason to be cast down and unsettled inside. He encourages himself to hope in God and looks ahead to brighter days of praise.

David knew how to encourage himself in God (1 Sam. 30:6), and that’s how he did it. We can do it to. Let’s start the habit today. Let’s memorize this passage.

Jody

Grasp the Hope

When we know God, we have a sure hope for deliverance when we go through trials and anguish. Our two examples are David and Christ. David appealed to God's mercies, because he knew and walked with God. When Christ was anguished, he also prayed to God, also leaving us an example. His was a prayer of expectation, but also one of surrender. That's the balance.

We have a hope that others don't have. Let's learn to live in that hope. Here's something to pray for today:

Lam 3:21-26  This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.  (22)  It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.  (23)  They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.  (24)  The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.  (25)  The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.  (26)  It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.

Psa 119:153 Consider mine affliction, and deliver me: for I do not forget thy law.	Whenever I experience trouble and misery, I don't have to sink as low as others might. I have God. He is able to deliver. David expected deliverance because he didn't forget God's laws. He was walking with God. It reminds me of the continuous, unbroken relationship between father and obedient child. Here, he starts his plea as only an obedient child can dare pray. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. (Romans 8:15) Christ provides the balance of a prayer for deliverance: And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt. (Mark 14:36)
(154)  Plead my cause, and deliver me: quicken me according to thy word.	David continues his plea for deliverance, and it's interesting he asks God to plead his cause. We actually have an intercessor who can plead our cause, and it's Christ, who suffered like we did, only without sin (as in Mark 14:36 above).  For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.  Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. (Heb. 4:15-16)
(155)  Salvation is far from the wicked: for they seek not thy statutes.	Because God is my father, I can expect salvation or deliverance, unlike the wicked who don't seek God. Even if they do pray, God is not their father. They don't seek his statutes and He will not answer.
(156)  Great are thy tender mercies, O LORD: quicken me according to thy judgments.	What David knew best about God is his tender mercies. Ten Psalms, most of them written by David, either pray for or acknowledge God's tender mercies. Because that's a part of who God is (Ex. 34:6-7), we can appeal to him based on his mercies. Because God's tender mercies are great, David asks to be enlivened according to God's judgments, or his acts of deciding a cause.