“His Song is With Me” - Psalm 42 (Day 5)

Happy Friday, and welcome back to the Summer Sabbath devotionals. Before we head into the weekend, we want to reflect one last time on Psalm 42 and how its author dealt with a downcast soul. So far, we've witnessed him engage in different habits that uplifted his spirits - recognizing his spiritual thirst, bringing his doubts and questions to God, preaching to himself, and acknowledging God's love by recalling His past faithfulness. Instilling these practices causes something to rise within us and spill out from us: worship. So, before we begin our time together, I want to provide space for you to pray and utilize this time to posture your heart in worship.

Psalm 42 says this:

1 As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God.

2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?

3 My tears have been my food day and night, while people say to me all day long, “Where is your God?”

4 These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go to the house of God under the protection of the Mighty One with shouts of joy and praise among the festive throng.

5 Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.

6 My soul is downcast within me; therefore I will remember you from the land of the Jordan, the heights of Hermon—from Mount Mizar.

7 Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me.

8 By day the Lord directs his love, at night his song is with me— a prayer to the God of my life.

9 I say to God my Rock, “Why have you forgotten me? Why must I go about mourning, oppressed by the enemy?”

10 My bones suffer mortal agony as my foes taunt me, saying to me all day long, “Where is your God?”

11 Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.

Throughout the book of Psalm, we witness individuals pouring their hearts out to God. Yet, amid their pain, worry, anger, anxiety, and trying circumstances, worship springs up to refocus their eyes and refuel their hearts. So, let's read Psalm 42 once again, but this time, just a single verse that compels us to keep God’s praises always on our lips. 

Psalm 42:8 says this:

8 By day the Lord directs his love, at night his song is with me— a prayer to the God of my life.

How does God advise us to respond to this madness of this world? Quite simply, He tells us to learn a new song. God urges us to be still, wonder, and reflect on His love. Amid the crisis, worship allowed the author of Psalm 42 to have confidence in God’s goodness. It was this tune that served as the soundtrack of his life - when he rose in the morning, and as he went about his day; this song brought him comfort at night. Worship is a weapon that pushes the darkness back to help us see beyond our circumstances and the heightened emotion of our current situation. Christ's love puts a new song in our hearts. We don't get filled with His love by working harder, promising more, or trying to earn it. Instead, we sit still, and we worship. We take in His love so it takes over our hearts. 

Take a moment and consider…Where do you need to use worship as a weapon? What would worship be battling against in this situation? 

Love doesn't politely invite fear to leave. Through singing a better song, love comes full force to drive it out. Yet, resting in His love does so much more. It enables us to not view stillness as a potentially scary proposition but rather as an invitation to align our hearts with what it has been searching for all along. Love always overflows in a creative expression. What happens in us can’t help but express itself.  His love for us empowers us to love, encourages us to worship,  and awakens us to see that God works everything for our good. .

So, as we begin to wrap up our time together, we want to provide you some space to respond to what we read and maybe to what God is trying to say to you through Psalm 42. First, take a moment to process this question…What soundtrack of fear, worry, and defeat do you need to silence? How can worship be a new song for your heart? 

Another question to consider is this…How can you display a posture of worship today by practicing stillness? 

PRAYER

Father God, 

When I'm worried, let me worship. 

When I feel restless, let me rest. 

When I struggle, let me be still. 

Allow a new song to arise in my heart. 

May I tune my ear to Your grace, forgiveness, and love.

Let Your song surround me day and night. Amen.