“I Will Remember” - Psalm 42 (Day 4)

Happy Thursday, and welcome back to our Summer Sabbath devotionals. The persistent and desperate prayer from a downcast soul found in Psalm 42 has been our focus for the week. While riddled with grief, we've witnessed the author fight against his discouragement by engaging in five life-giving habits. First, he recognized his spiritual thirst; then, he brought his doubts and questions to God. Yesterday, we saw how he preached to himself and allowed God's truth to shape his perspective, not his dire circumstances. Today, we want to spend some time exploring how preaching to ourselves leads us to the fourth habit that battles a downcast soul - acknowledging God's love by recalling His past faithfulness. So, before we begin, I want to provide some space for you to center your mind and reflect on how you've experienced God's love and faithfulness over the years. Then, lift up a prayer of thankfulness. 

As you read Psalm 42, notice the ways in which the author describes God and recalls His faithfulness and love:

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.

Take a moment to reflect on what you just read:

• What were some names the author used to describe God? What are the implications of these names?

Living God. Mighty One. My Savior. My God. My Rock. In challenging times, the author didn't look within for resiliency and strength; he looked up and declared His security resided in God alone. So often, when grief and sorrow have a grip on us, we start naming our problems; instead, we need to rest in those powerful names of God. Take, for instance, Living God. Our problems attempt to convince us a detached and distant god has left us alone to fend for ourselves. However, He is living and active, working for our good - He's someone we can connect with, reach out to, and know in our times of trouble. Like the author says in verse 8, our Living God directs us during the day and provides us safety in the dark of night. Regardless of the depth of despair we find ourselves in, our discouragement is never so far removed that the depth of God's love can't not only reach but cover and consume.

Take a moment and consider…What name of God provides you with comfort, strength, and assurance? 

Reread verse 4 from Psalm 42 and catch a glimpse of the author’s habit of remembering:

Psalm 42:4 says this:

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.

We all fight with forgetfulness, especially with our faith. We suffer from spiritual amnesia. We get so caught up in the here and now that we forget how many times God carried us through challenging times. Forgetfulness rears its ugly head most often during these moments of struggle. 

When we come face-to-face with adversity, we forget all that God has done for us. When we have to pick up the piece of a shattered dream, we wonder if God is indeed good. When we encounter hardships and difficult circumstances, we overlook that He works everything out for our good.

When pressed to our limits, we forget that His strength is made perfect in our weakness. When darkness seems to be winning, we let His light flicker out and forget we can illuminate our situation with His love through our words and actions. When our prayers and our pleading feel like they're falling on deaf ears, we wonder if God is near and if He is, whether He cares. So, no matter where you find yourself today, stop and consider. Slow down and remember. Remember His faithfulness and how He's sustained, protected, and provided for you. Recall who you are and whose you are. Recognize that He has started a good work within you. Replace your forgetfulness with faith and assurance. 

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…Where is forgetfulness plaguing your faith? What circumstances are causing you to forget God’s love and faithfulness to you? 

Another question to consider is this…How can you keep reminders of God’s faithfulness before you as you go about your week? 

PRAYER

Father God, 

Remind me of Your ways and help me remember the joy of my salvation. 

Make clear the hope I have lost sight of and forgotten. 

May I set my mind to Your faithfulness and who I am in You.

In times of trouble, I will declare Your name and love over me. Amen.