"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?" — Psalm 42:1-3
Circumstances not clearly specified have brought the Psalmist to a state not unlike that of Job when he said, "Oh that I knew where I might find him!…Behold, I go forward, but he is not there ; and backward, but I cannot perceive him: On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him : he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him… [Job. 23:3,8-9]." Every believer has those times when God seems far away and one feels as though he is carrying the burden of life all alone.
The situation is only aggravated when others, friends or foes, are inclined to say, "Where is thy God?" Not only to himself, but to those around him, the believer seems to be god forsaken, deepening the frustration and sharpening the pain. Yet from this barrenness one has called "The homesickness of the soul," several things become evident.
First, to this man, God is real and personal. We do not suffer from the absence of one who is not real to us. When something enters into our experience that makes God seem far away, it is a reflection of those times when He seemed personally present, and His fellowship enjoyed.
Second, this man has a passion for God. The sense of abandonment brings not anger or resentment, but a great yearning: "My soul thirsteth for God… " Spurgeon said, "When it is as natural for us to long for God as for an animal to thirst, it is well with our souls, however painful our feelings."
Third, he has a persistent faith. He does not ask 'whether,' but 'when;' "When shall I come and appear before God?" He retains an undying confidence that God, however far away He may seem, has not, will not abandon him. So, with tears his quest continues for a restored sense of His presence.
The Savior said, "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled [Mat. 5:6]." David's yearning here is the equivalent of that in an Old Testament setting, and it is a yearning that every believer should have, but, sadly, seems wanting in the majority. David could not get along without God. Most of us can get along without Him quite nicely, except in times of crisis, and are disenchanted if He does not come immediately to our relief if and when we finally do call.
By God's grace, may our relationship with Him become such that any seeming disruption of our fellowship might generate tears and send us immediately on a similar quest for a restored sense of His presence. We are on good ground when our passion for "the living God" surpasses every other desire of the heart. It will provide restraint in times of temptation and revival of hope in times of distress.
For a passionate faith,
"Pastor" Frasier
Circumstances not clearly specified have brought the Psalmist to a state not unlike that of Job when he said, "Oh that I knew where I might find him!…Behold, I go forward, but he is not there ; and backward, but I cannot perceive him: On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him : he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him… [Job. 23:3,8-9]." Every believer has those times when God seems far away and one feels as though he is carrying the burden of life all alone.
The situation is only aggravated when others, friends or foes, are inclined to say, "Where is thy God?" Not only to himself, but to those around him, the believer seems to be god forsaken, deepening the frustration and sharpening the pain. Yet from this barrenness one has called "The homesickness of the soul," several things become evident.
First, to this man, God is real and personal. We do not suffer from the absence of one who is not real to us. When something enters into our experience that makes God seem far away, it is a reflection of those times when He seemed personally present, and His fellowship enjoyed.
Second, this man has a passion for God. The sense of abandonment brings not anger or resentment, but a great yearning: "My soul thirsteth for God… " Spurgeon said, "When it is as natural for us to long for God as for an animal to thirst, it is well with our souls, however painful our feelings."
Third, he has a persistent faith. He does not ask 'whether,' but 'when;' "When shall I come and appear before God?" He retains an undying confidence that God, however far away He may seem, has not, will not abandon him. So, with tears his quest continues for a restored sense of His presence.
The Savior said, "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled [Mat. 5:6]." David's yearning here is the equivalent of that in an Old Testament setting, and it is a yearning that every believer should have, but, sadly, seems wanting in the majority. David could not get along without God. Most of us can get along without Him quite nicely, except in times of crisis, and are disenchanted if He does not come immediately to our relief if and when we finally do call.
By God's grace, may our relationship with Him become such that any seeming disruption of our fellowship might generate tears and send us immediately on a similar quest for a restored sense of His presence. We are on good ground when our passion for "the living God" surpasses every other desire of the heart. It will provide restraint in times of temptation and revival of hope in times of distress.
*****
"What is thy Beloved more than another beloved?… My Beloved is… the chiefest among ten thousand… yea, He is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem." (Song of Solomon 5:9-16)For a passionate faith,
"Pastor" Frasier
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