RESOURCES — SHORT ARTICLES

 

SHORT ARTICLES BY TOM ELSEROAD
	2020-04-20	Hope in God — Remember the Past
		Hope In God — Remember the Past Psa 42:5 Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him For the help of His countenance. Here the Psalmist rebukes himself for his despondency (depression, state of low spirits). In this context the psalmist remembers the great times of worship, and wants to figure out why he is “disquieted”. This word has the idea of 'murmuring' and 'roaring'. He finds himself making outward sighs of frustration. So he is agitated and frustrated at the same time. He is now preaching to himself and exhorts his soul to “hope in God”. The best sermon you preach yourself this week may be only three words long: HOPE IN GOD! He wrestles, and struggles to maintain his hope in God. This, after all, is the normal Christian experience because we are still just saved sinners. Hoping in God does not come naturally for sinners like us. We must preach it to ourselves, and preach diligently and forcefully, or we will give way to a downcast and disquieted spirit. One exercise that may bring a challenge to us is to write a sermon specifically in the areas you know you need help with. So what you will be doing is preach to, or may better, at yourself. That is what this Psalmist is doing. He is asking a question “why” to refocus his soul toward God. He knows being “down” is not good! When you understand being down is not good, it is a good place to be. We may notice that when we are down mere reasoning does not get us out of the depression (Pr.3:5). Pro 3:5  Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  The world has a way of bringing us down. It is not a place to find encouragement. A good friend of mine used to often say, “praise the Lord anyway!” This is what the Psalmist is saying. He is still feeling “down”, but he says, “I shall praise Him”. He knows God will turn his countenance around, and he is applying faith to the situation. Remember, faith is never blind. But it is just outside the reach of reasoning. Faith is always based on evidence (He.11:1). His evidence are the times he fellowshipped with God and his spirits were high. It was real, and he knows it. God will restore him, delivering him from his brokenness, and will show His face once again. No matter what the message the world brings to your life, God smiles upon His children as we learn to trust in Him (Ps.147:11). Psa 147:11 The LORD takes pleasure in those who fear Him, In those who hope in His mercy. So today preach to yourself this three word sermon, “Hope in God”! Do not let the world's doom and gloom get you down. Think, as the Psalmist does, how God has been gracious to you. Meditate on that! Psa_77:12  I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings. Psa_143:5  I remember the days of old; I meditate on all thy works; I muse on the work of thy hands. Pastor Tom Elseroad

 

An Evangelical Free Church of America

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