God Promises a Song in Your Heart

Psalms 42:1, 8 A maskil of the Sons of Korah. As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God…8 By day the LORD directs his love, at night his song is with me – a prayer to the God of my life.
 
THIS psalm is from a Levite who was descended from Korah. Numbers 16 records Korah’s and others’ rebellion against Moses. God punished them with swift death as the earth opened and swallowed them, their immediate families and possessions. But the LORD was merciful. He allowed other relatives of Korah to live. Some became faithful priests and wrote a few psalms attributed to sons – descendants – of Korah.
   This psalm is a maskil, so it is a song written for instruction. Overall, it’s a difficult teaching. The psalm reflects one deeply thirsty for God’s care. Verse 1 is very familiar as it has for many years been sung in various forms among the Christian community. The writer represents a soul longing for God. Read through the psalm, and you may wonder, “What has caused the psalmist to be so sad, so thirsty for God?” It’s difficult to respond to one who asks, v 5 “Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me?”  Three times he refers to a downcast soul. Perhaps it is the psalmist’s technique to help us know how low our emotions can be when we do not focus on God’s magnificent mercy.
   But then the psalmist instructs you to know God is present, even when your soul is dry and downcast. Faithfully he confesses that by day the LORD directs his love, at night his song is with me – a prayer to the God of my life.
   Do you hear God’s song within you, even when troubles dry your soul? You do if you listen to the Bible reveal who God is.
   Who is God? He is Maker of heaven and earth. He has formed you into his likeness. (Genesis 1:26) He has created you to be new in his kingdom under Jesus’ redeeming blood. (2 Corinthians 5:17) God is Father, Son and Spirit, who direct your life into his eternal joy. (Ephesians 2) God’s songs are his many promises, some we’ve read these past few weeks. There are the songs of his comfort, peace and joy that are always present, even when he seems afar.
   When the psalmist lamented his sadness, he stopped to thank God. By day the LORD directs his love, at night his song is with me – a prayer to the God of my life. The night could be a literal night. Perhaps you are afraid of this time of day because the reasons for your downcast soul seem to deepen in the darkened sky. But you can make this a good way time to calm your soul from the day, so you have a quiet time to measure God’s gifts for your life.
   Night or day, sing thanksgiving songs to God. You will quickly discover your downcast soul will rise toward heaven’s throne. Sing, “Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done, and proclaim that his name is exalted. Sing to the LORD, for he has done glorious things; let this be known to all the world. (Isaiah 12:4-5)
   It is estimated God’s Word speaks 750 promises to you. Can you count the blessings he has bestowed upon you?