2024-1-7 渴慕神 - 由「靈」開始 Thirst for God - starting from "spirituality" (詩篇 Psalm 42)
Psalm 42 – written by the descendants of Korah (Korah was a descendant of Levi who led a rebellion against God in the desert during Moses’ time). Despite his downfall, God's mercy spared his sons from death. Later, they became singers and gatekeepers in the Holy Temple and also authors of psalms, written at least 12 psalms.
v1-v2 – What kind of picture does this bring to you? Very romantic? Full of love and pursuit of God?
We were all deceived... all because of the background videos of the famous hymn “As the Deer”.
v3 – The psalmist's real situation - “My tears have been my food day and night”. Have you ever experienced this? Must be a very difficult situation. Adding to that was people constantly asking: "Where is your God?" e.g. Job in the Book of Job - facing great upheaval, losing everything, misunderstood by his wife and friends, accused of committing sin… It's just like being asked: "Where is your God?" In fact, finding water in the Palestinian land is not easy at all. Especially in the hot summer, there is little rain, and many river branches dry up. Unlike camels, deer can't store water, so they can actually die of thirsty when unable to find a water source. We, humans are the same. If we leave the source of life - God - for too long, we can also die of thirsty.
v4 – The poet suddenly recalls his past - as a Levite, he used to celebrate festivals in the Holy Temple and may also lead others to do that as well. He had an intimate relationship with God. However, these are all things he "used to" do. At the time of writing, he was probably an exile, no longer living in the Jerusalem area, just like us today - immigrants from other places who have moved to the UK. So, he couldn't celebrate festivals in Jerusalem’s Holy Temple as before and couldn't be close to God. When thinking of the past, the psalmist’s heart is extremely sad – “pour out my soul”. How about us? Do we feel like leaving our familiar church is like this psalmist leaving the Temple of God in Jerusalem?
v5 – describes the psalmist’s soul as "downcast" and "so disturbed". Even though he knows he should "put (his) hope in God" and "praise Him", he is in such internal conflict - whether to allow himself to continue to be "downcast" and "so disturbed" or to "put (his) hope in God" and ask God for help? The psalmist finally chooses to return to God, crying out to Him again:
v6 – Although his soul is still "downcast," and he has left the Jerusalem Temple to a faraway place - because the Jordan River, Hermon, and Mount Mizar are all in the northernmost part of Israel, far from Jerusalem. But, regardless of the location, the psalmist chooses to remember God at this moment.
v7 – This verse might be the psalmist’s personal reflection due to his location, as the waterfall of Mount Hermon is the source of the Jordan River. So, mentioning "waterfalls", "deep" and "waves and breakers have swept over me" could signify that the psalmist thinks of his own life as having experienced many of these "waterfalls", "deep" and "waves and breakers", all of which are not easy to face. However, the psalmist believes that behind all of this is God's arrangement or permission, and there must be a good reason.
v8 – Because of the above belief, the psalmist can make such declaration: By day… at night… If Psalm 42 ended here, it would seem perfect because the psalmist made a confident declaration of singing praises to God throughout his life. How beautiful, right? However, that will be unreal as life always has ups and downs, struggles, etc., and that’s why there is a need for daily spiritual practices, daily closeness to God, and relying on God to overcome difficulties.
v9 – The poet suddenly questions life again, just like us, who can suddenly make a 180-degree turn. Although the poet still believes that God is his "Rock," he genuinely feels that God seems to have forgotten him, and he genuinely mourns "constantly oppressed by the enemy."
v10 – Adding to that are the "taunt" from "my foes" and their continuous provocations: "Where is your God?" How can the psalmist face all these challenges? How would you face them?
v11 – So, the psalmist has to admit in the end that his soul heart is still "downcast" and "so disturbed". However, in the end, he once again resolves: "for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God." In fact, we Christians are all the same, sometimes weak, but strengthened by the Lord. However, the most important thing is to yearn to be close to God, not to stay away from Him. Just as a deer can avoid dying of thirsty by staying close to a stream, Christians also need to engage in daily spiritual practices, read the Bible, participate in Bible studies, make efforts to return to the church and listen to the preachings, all to prevent us from dying of spiritual thirsty.
The year 2024 has already started for a week; for those who have not started daily spiritual practices, let's get started.
