Bible Studies for Life Sunday School Commentary for the week of January 11, 2009
Discover Fresh Hope Psalm 42:1-43:5
Statistically, more suicides occur during the holiday season than at any other time of the year. In our times, loneliness, a bad economy, job uncertainties, and many other dismal factors can combine to form what may seem like a hopeless situation. Such was the case with German billionaire Adolf Merckle (Click the link to read the New York Times article).
Believers can also experience anything from emotional lows to chronic depression. This is not an indicator of a lack of faith. Even those who have planted their lives on the solid rock can feel alone and even hopeless. What do you long for when hope seems fleeting? Deliverance? Escape? Relief? The Psalmist in our text this week felt such longings and knew where to fulfill them: in God.
The writer longs for God as an animal longs for water in severe drought. What a vivid image! Have you ever been thirsty? I mean really thirsty? Most of us have never experienced such a physical thirst as those who have suffered through extended drought. When we are struggling to find hope our spirit may be dry and shriveled up, feeling almost lifeless. That was the Psalmists condition; his souls desire was to again commune with God and receive refreshings from Him.
God, Your faithful love is so valuable that people take refuge in the shadow of Your wings. They are filled from the abundance of Your house; You let them drink from Your refreshing stream, for with You is lifes fountain. In Your light we will see light. Psalms 36:7-9 (HCSB)
Notice that the Psalmist did not place the blame for his condition on God. People may have mockingly asked Where is your God? (Psalm 42:3), but the writer never did. He knew he needed God. The fault of his condition may have been from outside circumstances, or even his own, but it was not Gods.
Therefore repent and turn back, that your sins may be wiped out so that seasons of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord. Acts 3:19 (HCSB)
God can use our times of struggle to bring growth for us and glory for Him; we but need to follow the Psalmists example and praise God our Savior, placing our hope in Him once again. Depending on the depth of our despair, we may need to do this many times a day, for many days, until hope is flourishing again.
One of my favorite passages memorized while a seminary student is below. It was not my favorite then; it has become a favorite as its truth became precious to me during dark struggles in ministry. I am thankful for the insightful professor that required us to memorize Gods Word!
Though the fig tree does not bud and there is no fruit on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will triumph in the Lord; I will rejoice in the God of my salvation! Habakkuk 3:17-18 (HCSB)
The Psalmist remembers the spiritual refreshment that brought hope and help in the past (vs. 6-7) and that Gods faithful love was always with him day and night (vs. 8). We are promised that God will never leave or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). Even when we feel He is not there, His love surrounds and keeps us. How could we ever escape the love of God?
Who can separate us from the love of Christ? Can affliction or anguish or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: Because of You we are being put to death all day long; we are counted as sheep to be slaughtered. No, in all these things we are more than victorious through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will have the power to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord! Romans 8:35-39 (HCSB)
As we have done in this commentary today, let Gods light and His truth lead you through dark times (Psalm 43:3). His assurances in holy scripture are there for us to cling to in hopeless times. Let Psalm 43:5 be your motto for hopeless days!
Why am I so depressed? Why this turmoil within me? Put your hope in God, for I will still praise Him, my Savior and my God. Psalms 43:5 (HCSB)