Shalom 🙏
Blessed to be a Blessing to the Blessed People 👨‍👩‍👦‍👦

The book of Psalms is divided into five books 📚:
📖 I : Psalm 1-41
📖 II : Psalm 42-72
📖 III : Psalm 73-89
📖 IV : Psalm 90-106
📖 V : Psalm 107-150
📌 Each book has appropriate concluding doxology (Ps 41:13; 72:18-19; 89:52; 106:48; 150:1-6)

📕 PSALMS CHAPTER 42 & 43

Today we begin with Book II (Psalms 42-72). Originally Psalms 42 and 43 may have been one psalm. It is considered as one based on the same “refrain” : Why are you downcast, O my soul? (42:5, 11; 43:5).
These two Psalms form a single prayer : A prayer for deliverance from being ” oppressed by the enemy ” (42:9; 43:2)

CHEER UP MY SOUL

We do not know exactly what problems the psalmist is experiencing, but they are so acute that he is shedding tears… day and night (42:3). People surrounding him used to add fuel to his suffering by asking him : “Where is your God” ? (42:3b, 10b)). He knows worry, pain and loss of hope. He writes that his ” bones suffer mortal agony ” , he may be refering to some painful, life-threatening disease or physical, mental or emotional pain. Yet the psalmist refrain himself (42:5, 11;43:5) :
Why are you downcast, O my soul?
Why so disturbed within me?

📝 The psalmist did four things to overcome his pathetic situation :
1️⃣ He remembers who God is and testifies His good deeds in his life:
📌 The Living God who refreshes him (42:2)
📌 The Saviour who is his hope (42:5b, 11b;43:5b)
📌 The Rock who protects him (42:9)
📌 The Refuge who gives him shelter and comfort (43:2)

✅ Like the psalmist, we must tell ourselves what we know about God, remind ourselves of what He has done in our lives and trust Him to deliver us.

2️⃣ He rebukes his soul for being discouraged and losing patience (42:5a, 11a; 43:5a)
✅ It is good to react (rebuked the soul) when we become discouraged and depressed. Faith encouraging Faith is the best refrain 👏🏼

3️⃣ He exhorts his soul to trust in God and to praise the One who is both his Saviour and his God (42:5b , 11b; 43:5b)
✅ As the psalmist says, “My hope is in you, O Lord” (Psalm 39:7) , shall we declare it in the time of crisis ❓

4️⃣ He longs to be with God (42:1-2; 43:3-4)

💞 Beloved Church, it is easy to become discouraged and depressed when things are not going well in our lives. These Psalms tells us that we can boldly pour out our feelings to God. Like the psalmist we must tell ourselves what we know about God, remind ourselves of what He has done in our lives.

📌 Let us declare and remind ourselves in the time of crisis :
1️⃣ I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus Rom 3:22

2️⃣ I am bought at a price with the precious blood of Jesus Christ.1Cor 7:23; 1Pet 1:18-19

3️⃣ My God will supply all my needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus Philp 4:19

4️⃣ O my soul, do not be downcast : Put your hope in God and praise Him who is my Saviour and my God.

Glory to God 🙌
✍🏻 Mark Boje
Arunachal Pradesh, India 🇮🇳