The Devotional – A look at Psalm 42:1-11 (Part 2)

The Devotional – A look at Psalm 42:1-11 (Part 2)

Comment: I remember reading a book called “Pilgrim’s Progress” written by John Bunyan. It is a wonderful read for anyone who struggles with the “inner life” (the soul) as we travel through time on our way to eternity. The world we live in, in Bunyan’s book is called the city of Destruction, while the world we are traveling to is called the Celestial City. The book is filled with characters of death and the circumstances of life, as of one person’s struggle with the burden of sin. Who without knowing that Jesus died and rose again to provide salvation for whosoever will come and be saved and also for the sin of the world carries his burden up a hill to the Cross. Eventually Christian becomes a believer and his burden of sin is removed from him. This inner struggle is in every person; it is called by God our “soul”, we must be willing to listen to our soul, but sadly many people chose to ignore the soul and follow the temporal satisfactions of sin, in other words, they willfully abide in the city of Destruction and perish eternally.

Devotional: Psalm 42:5-11 – As a child of God we are aware of Bunyan’s city of Destruction and we are also aware of the Celestial City. Our SOUL is more than a conscious conviction to draw us away from destructive things. Our soul is alive and when we are “SAVED” it is the home of the Holy Spirit who abides in us. We are sealed by God with the Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 1:22 and Ephesians 1:13). This partial indwelling of the God the Holy Spirit provides for a confident Hope of our future home.

The Spirit of God also guides us to the Word of God, who is the Living Word. When our soul is cast down (downtrodden) we have quenched or grieved the indwelling Spirit of God and our Hope in our soul is disquieted. It is the Spirit of God that keeps our soul in the Joy and Purpose of Living for eternity. (Ephesians 4:30 and 1 Thessalonians 5:19).

During the day time while in the Spirit the LORD commands His lovingkindness and in the night time He provides for His song to be with us. God the Holy Spirit comforts us twenty-four hours a day, from the point of being saved and throughout time. If our soul is upset, it is we who caused the problem.

Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you disquieted within me? (STOP!) Hope in God; for we shall still praise Him again, since the HELP (deliverance) of MY COUNTENANCE to praise God again comes from God Himself, when we are willing to acknowledge our sin. As this return to the LORD happens, our soul rejoices and fellowship with God returns. The joy of this Truth is of the LORD and your Soul knows this right well. Amen!