Taken from “Selected Ministry from the General meetings Oakbrook, Illinois July, 1986”
"As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God? My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God? When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday. 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. 0 my God, my soul is cast down within me: therefore will I remember thee from the land of Jordan, and of the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar. Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me. Yet the lord will command his loving-kindness in the daytime, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life. I will say unto God my rock, Why past 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."
In the afternoon address our brother spoke about waiting on the Lord; and now another brother has just spoken about that wonderful time when the Lord Jesus will take His rightful place, when He will be recognized as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. But this little Psalm brings before us the time in Israel's history when the Antichrist will have taken the place that really belongs to the Lord Jesus. I believe that we can apply it to ourselves in this way, that Satan now is the god and prince of this world; he has, so to speak, taken over―not that we, as believers, do not recognize that now the Lord Jesus has gone up into heaven, and that all power has been given to Him, both in heaven and in earth. We know, too, that He is now "head over all things to the church, which is His body." But, while we await that time when He will have His rightful place, we see the power of the enemy; and, perhaps, our thoughts in some way answer to what is expressed in this Psalm.
We know that the Psalms were not written about us; but they were written for us. This Psalm is the first in the second book of the Psalms. It prophetically looks on to that time when the Antichrist will rise up, and when the godly ones will have to suffer in a very special way. We read that there will be "a time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation, even to that same time" (Dan. 12:11And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. (Daniel 12:1)).
But, in applying it to ourselves: Perhaps there may be a time in our lives when it just seems as though the Lord had allowed things to take place as if He were not interfering on our behalf―not maintaining our cause; and our faith is really put to the test. It is very beautiful to see the spirit in the Psalmist, the feelings so natural to our own hearts in occasions just like this; feelings that the Spirit of God has given. For, when Israel in a coming day are brought into blessing, we read that the Spirit of God will provide words for them. It says in Hos. 12:22The Lord hath also a controversy with Judah, and will punish Jacob according to his ways; according to his doings will he recompense him. (Hosea 12:2): "Take with you words, and turn to the Lord..." So the Spirit of God provides words for them, and in those words He provides that which answers to us in so many circumstances in life.
Isn't it beautiful in this first verse? "As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God." The one here in this deep trial (the time of unparalleled trouble in this world, a time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation)―is he looking for deliverance? Is he looking to be taken out of this? It seems that he is just looking to a Person. And that is what we need, brethren. We may not be taken out of the difficulties in which we are, but we can be sure that there is One that we can turn to who promised that He will never leave us or forsake us. He is with us in the trial. In His wonderful ways He may see fit in His time to take us out of trial; but it may not be here. He may see fit to leave us in situations where it seems that he is not intervening. But He Himself is able to fill the heart! I am sure that some of us here can say that the very happiest times in our lives have been when we were in deep trial; but the Lord has been near us in a way that we had never experienced before―a way when He made Himself precious. You and I can ask our own hearts, are we just longing for deliverance, or can we join with the Psalmist and say, "As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee?" Are our hearts going out for more and more enjoyment of a Person? Even though He doesn't take us out of our difficulties―just to know that He is there, that He loves us, and that the day is coming when full deliverance will be granted; when God's rightful king will have His rightful place.
"My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?" The Antichrist is sitting there in the temple, and the godly ones have to flee. They look back on past days when they could enjoy going into the house of God, the time when the Lord could bless them in connection with His temple; but now they have to flee. And in our lives we may be deprived of many privileges. Some of our brethren in other parts of the world are not able to meet together as we are. Wouldn't they love to be in a situation like this, where they could come together and enjoy Christian fellowship, and meet with the Lord in the midst? Perhaps they are in prison, like John in the Isle of Patmos―when the Lord's day came, he couldn't gather with the saints to remember the Lord. Could he be happy? Yes, his soul thirsted for the living God, and he found that Lord came and appeared to him, made Himself exceedingly precious to his heart, and opened up the future before him. So, on that Lord's day, when he couldn't be with God's people, when he couldn't gather to remember the Lord, he could, and he did, enjoy precious things which have been a blessing to the Church ever since. We can see how those longings are in the hearts of the godly remnant here, and perhaps in the hearts of some of the saints today.
I have often thought that these verses are very lovely for a person who is shut in, one who would just love to be gathered with the saints to remember the Lord. And he has to say, "My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God?" What does this little expression mean? Who are "they that continually say?" Did the enemy ever whisper in your ear in a difficulty, and say, "Why doesn't God take you out of the difficulty―doesn't He have the power?" You knew that He did have the power, and you couldn't understand why―with all the power He has, for He said in Matt. 28:1818And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. (Matthew 28:18): "All power is given to me in heaven and in earth." And what really made the tears come was the enemy whispering and saying, "Where is thy God?" The Lord lets us have these kinds of tests; but He delights in our confidence―just putting our hands into His hand, as it were, and saying we trust Him, even when no deliverance seems to come.
So the enemy reproached him; tears came day and night. Then it says, "When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me." That is a lovely expression. We also find it in Psa. 62:88Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah. (Psalm 62:8): "Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him." That is one of the precious verses in the Bible to me, because there are not very many people you can pour out your heart to. You start to tell someone; then you feel that they just do not really understand―they just do not know what I am talking about, or how I feel. But there is One who does. He knows our frame; He remembers that we are but dust. And He invites us to pour out our hearts, and to trust Him completely, even when there are tears; and even when we have to look back on the past like the Psalmist here, when he said, "for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday." He looked back on past joys, when he could meet with those who were dear to him in the Lord; and now he is deprived of that privilege. What comfort is he going to have? His heart is longing for the Lord.
These experiences, given to us by the Spirit of God in the Psalms, are written for our learning. Directly they refer to Israel; but, in their application, they refer to us, and they can be a comfort to us.
Maybe some of us here are looking back to brighter and happier times, and say, "why is it now that things have turned out the way they are?" Perhaps even in the Assembly where you are problems have come up, and coming to be with the saints doesn't bring the same joy. But, the Lord is there; and that is the important point. The Psalmist said that the one thing he desired of the Lord was that he might dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of his life. What for? "To behold the beauty of the Lord" (Psa. 27:44One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his temple. (Psalm 27:4)). Perhaps there was trouble; and we know there was. Our brother read to us of the times of the sons of Eli―what evil men they were. But Samuel found his joy in the Lord, and he could say, "Speak Lord, for Thy servant heareth." It was part of God's fitting process, to fit Samuel for a place of usefulness. Are there trials in your life?
Are there trials in the Assembly? It is part of a fitting process so that you can be a blessing to the people of God. If you never went through those things, how could you ever enter into the difficulties of others? So, if we see the hand of God in all these things, they turn into a blessing.
Then he says in the fifth verse (he is talking to himself here): "Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me?" Sometimes it is good for us to talk to ourselves. Do you ever talk to yourself? When a problem comes up, do you say, "What is the matter with me, why don't I seem to be able to rise above this situation, and why does it seem to get me so down?" This is exactly what he is doing; he is talking to his own soul. "Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me?" Then he answers his own question―"Hope thou in God." He tells himself, "I ought to be trusting in the Lord." "The God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing."
So, he answers his own question, and says, "Hope thou in God." Then he says, "for I shall yet praise him for the help if his countenance." He is not immediately taken out of the difficulty; but what is going to help him? what does help him? The help of His countenance. Were you ever in a problem, and you saw someone come along whom you loved very much; you knew that they had come there specifically because they felt for you, and that they were able to help you? Immediately your face brightened up as you looked at them-you knew that they were there to help you. That is what the Psalmist is thinking here, "for I shall yet praise him." Not yet taken out of the difficulty, but just getting help from His countenance. There are times like that, brethren, when the Lord says, "I am going to leave you in the problem, but I am going to help you with My countenance." In Psa. 32:88I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye. (Psalm 32:8) it says (n. t.): "I will counsel thee with mine eye upon thee." The Lord has His eye upon us. A little hymn expresses it so nicely, "The Father's face of radiant grace shines now in light on me." So he says, "I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance."
Is this the final deliverance―is it all over now? No, life is not like that. In the next verse he is down again. Is that your experience? You say, "I do get lifted up; I come to meetings like this, and I read the Word―I do get lifted up. But, soon I get down again. What is the matter with me?" God puts these very things in His Word to show us that His people went through these experiences in the past, and He has written them by the inspiring Spirit that we might be comforted. You would think that after the fifth verse it would be all over; but it wasn't.
Notice what he says in the sixth verse: "O, my God, my soul is cast down within me: therefore will I remember thee from the land of Jordan, and of the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar." Did you ever think of the three points that are mentioned here? The land of Jordan: we know that the Jordan was the river of death, it flowed into the Dead Sea. I am sure that when you read that, you think of how we get down pretty low sometimes, too. I think that I get down to the river Jordan sometimes―right down to the bottom. Then, "and of the Hermonites." Mount Hermon was the highest point. You say, "that is just what I find; sometimes I really get lifted up. The Lord helps me get right above the troubles, and I feel just like I am on Mount Hermon. I am just enjoying Him, and it seems that the troubles minimize when I get up there." Then there is another point in this verse. If you have a margin in your Bible, it calls the hill Mizar "the little hill." Doesn't that aptly represent the ups and downs of life―how you get up, and then you get down; and sometimes just halfway between? Not totally on the top or on the bottom, but just halfway between―you say, "I am on the little hill." But, isn't this nice, "I will remember thee?" No matter where you are―and I am sure that in this room this afternoon there are some who are lifted up; perhaps this conference has been a happy experience for you and you feel that you are going home really blessed. Then, for others, something may have happened even here at the conference that has brought you down a little, and you feel somewhat depressed; you feel "down." But you can still remember Him!
The Psalmist wanted to go to the house of the God; he couldn't. But he could remember the Lord where he was. And you can remember the Lord in the deepest trouble that you may be in, because He cares; He is interested in every detail of your life. There is not a thing that He doesn't know about. He numbers the hairs of your head! You haven't another friend who ever did that for you―that was ever able to take such an interest that he had numbered the hairs of your head. This is the kind of a friend that you have in the Lord Jesus. So, he said, "My soul is cast down." Then he answers, "therefore I will remember thee."
It is beautiful, then, how verse seven comes in. You might say, "why does this come in here. This is my thought: when he thought of his troubles, he thought of what the Lord Jesus went through. And, brethren, can we ever realize fully the sorrow that He went through? It says, "Behold, and see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow, which is done unto me, wherewith the Lord hath afflicted me in the day of his fierce anger" (Lam. 1:1212Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by? behold, and see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow, which is done unto me, wherewith the Lord hath afflicted me in the day of his fierce anger. (Lamentations 1:12)). Are you having a time of trouble? You will never have a time of trouble like Jesus had. You will never know the sufferings that He endured; and He endured them for us―it was because He loved us! So, when David thought of his troubles, he thought of Calvary; he thought of what we remembered this morning, what the Lord Jesus went through when, "deep called unto deep," and all the waves and billows of divine judgment rolled over His blessed and holy head in order that we might be blessed.
Then he contrasts that with his own position in the next verse, "Yet the Lord will command his loving-kindness in the daytime, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer to the God of my life." I am sure you can see immediately the contrast, when you compare it with the 22nd Psalm; because it says there (Psa. 22:22O my God, I cry in the daytime, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent. (Psalm 22:2)): "I cry unto thee in the daytime, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent." So, the Lord Jesus cried and was not heard. He said, "Why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?" When the Lord Jesus was in that deep trouble, He was forsaken; He cried, and there was no answer; He was bearing sin. But you will never have an experience like that as a Christian! The channel of prayer will always be open for you! He gives songs in the night; He helps you in those dark hours. When the Lord allowed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to be cast into the fiery furnace, He was with them. When Daniel was cast into the den of lions, the Lord sent His angel and shut the lions' mouths, that they did not hurt him. When Joseph was in the prison, the Lord was with him. But, if you are ever in trouble, you will never have trouble like Jesus had―and you will never be forsaken in your trouble!
What a consolation this was (verse eight). But, was this enough? No, he still gets down. You say, "That is just like me. I have listened to all these things, and I know all these lovely verses, but I still get down. Why is it?" I am so glad that God records things like this in His Word, or we would think, "My experience must be unique; other people don't have experiences like this." So God just records exactly these feelings in His Word; the Spirit of God puts them there, and gives us His answer. Notice the next verses: "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?" He says, "is it true that God has forgotten me?"
But there is a nice little thought here: I will say unto God my Rock. I like that expression, because there was a mixture of confidence and doubt. Do you ever find that in your life? I have often thought about the time that little Moses was put in the ark of bulrushes; Miriam stood there to see what would happen. But in Hebrews it says, "they were not afraid of the king's commandment." Is it a contradiction? No! Don't you find this in your own life sometimes? You seem to get real confidence; and yet you have doubts―they seem to go together sometimes, as though one could hardly replace the other. But it can! So, he said, "unto God my rock, why hast thou forgotten me?" Then he said, it hurts so much when the enemy says, "Where is thy God?" In other words, this comes back again, and the enemy whispers, "If your God is so mighty, and if He is able and has done it for other people, why doesn't He do it for you? Why does He leave you in the oppression?"
This was pressing in upon the soul of the Psalmist; and so he talks to himself again, in the last verse, "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." Notice the contrast between verses five and eleven. They are almost exactly the same, but there is a slight difference in the way they end. In the fifth verse he says, "I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance." Notice the little change in the end of verse eleven, "...for I shall yet praise him who is the health of my countenance, and my God." He looks up and says, "I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance." Like Psa. 34:55They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed. (Psalm 34:5): "They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed." He looks up to get help; and as he looks up, something happens to his own countenance. Just like Moses: the people had fallen into all kinds of sin, and Moses goes up to intercede for them. God gives him a pattern, showing how He could meet that failing people in grace. And, Moses, who went up to be enlightened by that countenance above, came down, and the skin of his own face was shining. And so the Psalm ends by a change in the countenance of the Psalmist. He started out sad and in tears. But at the end of the Psalm he says, "I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God."
O, may the Lord grant, brethren, as we leave these meetings, that we may have our eyes on Him. I am not saying to try and develop a smile; it just comes naturally if we are really in His presence. People are going to notice it. Moses didn't have to tell the people; they noticed it. They said, "Moses, the skin of your face is shining." May the Lord grant that as we lay hold in our little measure of these precious things, these real experiences of every day life that we all have to pass through, that we will be a proof to others around us that our God is able―"He is the health of my countenance, and my God." He is able for every situation. He is able to bring joy and gladness into your heart so that, without you having to tell anyone, it will show on your countenance and in your manner of life. Like the disciples in the early part of the Acts, persecuted as they were: they took knowledge of them, "that they had been with Jesus." May the Lord grant that we will look to Him. We do get up, and we also get down; these experiences are very real, and they are described to us in the Word. But, let us look to Him more, and we will find His help will never fail!