By Greg Steele
Pastor, First Baptist Church, Jasper
Focal Passage: Psalm 42:1-3,6-8; 43:3-5
There is a question that we like to ask when the trials and storms of life gather. “Why do bad things happen to good people.” Has this question ever plagued your mind? Of course, it has! One day, a woman asked R.C. Sproul that particular question and his answer to her was a classic. Dr. Sproul said this, “I don’t know, I haven’t met any good people.” His answer accomplished two purposes. First, it was designed to remind the lady that we are all sinners. None of us are really good people! Secondly, he wanted her to understand that no one is immune from trouble. This second truth is what we are looking at in the Psalm.
It would seem that the author of this Psalm is going through a time of stress, personal attack and inner struggle. His life has brought him face to face with circumstances that are out of his control and they have brought pain and confusion to his heart.
The fact is, we have all faced times in our lives when we were involved in pain and heartache. Those are the times of life that define us as believers and confirm or deny our testimony concerning our faith.
Yet, the Psalmist clings to his faith in God as a man clinging to a life preserver in ocean waves. As this man lifts his prayer to the Lord, he cries out in despair, “Rescue me!” There are times when we all cry out, “Rescue me!” This Psalm offers us some reasons for encouragement in the midst of our troubles.
Do you ever feel trapped? I sure do sometimes, but I am thankful that our God is the Great Rescuer! The Psalmist calls on God because his circumstances are beyond his control. There are situations that he cannot fix! He calls on the name of the Lord knowing that God alone has the power to fix that which is broken in life.
The sooner we learn this truth the better off we will be; we can’t fix what is broken in our life! There’s no use in us worrying over things we have no control over. The best thing we can do is learn to bring it to the Lord, rely on His strength and watch Him work it out for you!
The Psalmist understands that the only way he is going to be led out of the hardship and confusion is if God leads him back to victory. So, he asks the Lord to lead him out of where he is and take him to where he should be. In verse 3, we see three things he desires.
(1) To be led by God’s light and truth. He wants to hear the voice of God telling him what to do! When we need direction and leadership in our life, look no further than the Bible. It holds the solutions to all of life’s challenges.
(2) He wants God’s way. He says he wants to follow God’s plan. Many of us hear the voice of God through His Word and see the path of truth, yet we refuse to walk in His ways. Only by consistently seeking God’s way from His Word and by living in what His Word tells us can we ever expect God to lead us from the place of trouble to the realms of peace.
(3) He wants to worship the Lord. It is hard to worship when there is trouble in your heart. It is hard to express the joy of the Lord when you are crushed under the burdens of life. However, if we seek His Word and walk in that path when it is revealed to us, He will lead us to the places of worship once again!