MONDAY, AUGUST 13
Psalm 42:1-11
Psalm 84:10-12

Our souls are restless
till they find rest in God.

WHY ART THOU CAST DOWN, O MY SOUL?

“Maschil”: This is an instructive Psalm. “For the sons of Korah”: Were they the surviving descendants of that miserable man who, together with two hundred and fifty of his adherents, perished, when “the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up together with Korah”? Korah was the ringleader of the two hundred and fifty “men of renown” against Moses’ leadership soon after they were sentenced to wander forty years in the wilderness.

But in Numbers 26:11 we read, “Notwithstanding the children of Korah died not.” These had taken the warning of Moses of impending judgment, and had fled from their rebellious father. So should we heed God’s warning and flee from the wrath to come. These sons of Korah were spared by the unsearchable grace of God. In the days of David the sons of Korah were chosen to sing in the choir. This Psalm, most probably penned by David, was given them to sing.

The circumstances under which the Psalmist wrote were his exile for a considerable period from the House of God. If it was David who wrote, it is thought these circumstances refer to his days as a fugitive, running from the spear of Saul. The Psalmist loves God and worships in His House but is now separated from it at a distance and for a time. We do not appreciate the freedom of worship today until we come under persecution and perhaps have to go underground to the house-churches as in China.

In such circumstances do our souls pant for God, like the hart for the cooling streams? If we thirst for God we will drink of the water of life. There is a bitter-sweetness in affliction. Our only way out is God! As the lugubrious thoughts keep chasing through the Psalmist’s mind, as we witness their refrain in this Psalm (vv 5 and 11), he does not give up, for in his God there is hope.

THOUGHT: Do I ever “pant” for God? Why?
PRAYER: Forgive me, Father, when I have lost hope in Thee. May I ever look to Thee and ever hope in Thee.