To assist us in preparing for worship this Lord’s Day, we come next to Psalm 42, a song (maschil) for the sons of Korah. It is another intensely personal and painful song, yet one filled with hope in God.
As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. 2My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God? 3My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God? 4When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday. 5Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance. 6O my God, my soul is cast down within me: therefore will I remember thee from the land of Jordan, and of the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar. 7Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me. 8Yet the Lord will command his lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life. 9I will say unto God my rock, Why hast thou forgotten me? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy? 10As with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me; while they say daily unto me, Where is thy God? 11Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.
This Word of God is specially fitting for our purposes because it is the cry of one who desires to be in God’s presence in public worship. It is clear from this passionate, pleading cry that the psalmist is unable to attend the house of God (v.2). He used to, but now he cannot, because of his difficult circumstances (v.4). God in His perfect wisdom and sovereignty is afflicting him, especially through persecuting enemies (vss.7,9,10). And so he is unable to join God’s people in public worship. And that pains his soul. Listen to him describe his discouragement in vss.5, 6, 9, 11. He even senses that God has forgotten him, in part because his foes keep saying to him, “Where is your God?” No wonder he is “cast down” and tears have been his meat day and night!
But the beautiful and blessed thing is that he longs for God and still has his hope in the Lord! Hear the psalmist’s passion for God: like the dear pants after the waters of a refreshing stream, so he pants after God! What he chiefly misses is not the people with whom he worshiped, though that fellowship is important. Not the music or the offerings, as necessary as these are too. No, he misses the Lord! And yes, of course, the Lord is still with him where he is, and he can worship the Lord privately and personally wherever he is (v.5, 11). But there is that special communion with God in public worship, that special place called “the house of God”, and that is what he longs for and cries out for! And so he speaks to himself in the quietness of faith, telling himself to hope in God, vss.5,11. And in that trust in the Lord, though he cannot attend the Lord’s house in public worship, he will still worship Him. He will praise Him (v.5); God’s song will be with him, and he will yet pray (v.8). In that way he will still find comfort and peace in the midst of his pain.
There are many such children of God in this situation today. Whether because of persecution or sickness or weakness, they are unable to “come and appear before God” in public worship. We pray for such this day. You remember the times you could go to the house of God, and it is painful to miss the opportunity this Sunday, and perhaps for many previous Sunday’s. Let this Word of God be your comfort and hope. Cry out to God like the psalmist. Let the Lord know how much you miss His presence in public worship. Tell Him you long for Him. And do so with trust in God and praise for Him, because though you may not be able to be in His house today, He is still with you. His face is still the help and health of your face. He has not forgotten you and He will never forsake you. Remember the cross of Christ, and know that He loves you, has forgiven you, and will always be near you.
And for those of us who are able to attend the services of public worship today, may we have such passion for the Lord’s presence as expressed by this psalmist too. Are we panting and thirsting for God in anticipation of being in His house today? Is God our single pursuit? May we find His fellowship, His Word, His Son our help and health this day. And with His people may we lift up hearty and holy praise and thanks to the God of our salvation in Jesus Christ.