Two verses to consider: Psalm 42:5 and Psalm 42:11. At first glance, they seem to be the same but we see they are not. And that is very important to see that difference.
Psa 42:5 Why 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.
Psa_42:11 Why 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.
“Cast down” = bowed down from every care/burden of life concerning you, [1 Peter 5:7]
“Disquieted” = troubled – an internal emotion
“Countenance” in v5 = His presence. His face is toward you! So many verses to encourage us, so worthy of our study, Num_6:25 The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: Rev_1:16 And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength. Psalm 4:6, Psalm 10:11.
I love music – all different kinds of music. Songs that are about the LORD. My children will on occasion send me a song by text and they will say, “Dad I like this song”. And I listened to those songs they send. Music that I was not accustomed to hearing but the words and the message was about the LORD and truth. One song I especially liked, “I am Who You Say I am”. In that song it says, “You are for me not against me.” Do you realize that The LORD is for you and not against you, Rom 8:31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? Rom 8:32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
So often we stay in our valley of despair when before us is His promise of life and His Word to give us faith. Just think:
In your mother’s womb, He formed you: “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee………..”
On the Cross, He remembered you: “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him”
From the future, He invites you:“…And let him that is athirst come. whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. It is given. You are invited to freely “take” it. “Take” means to accept/believe what is offered.
His presence in my life in V5 is the salvation of my life in V11. “…: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.
“Health” = victory, deliverance, healing, etc. In our life, there are many salvations [deliverances]. Being saved from eternal condemnation is one and there are many more, salvations needed in our life as a believer. Jesus is the help for your countenance. He can drive the clouds of sorrow from you and lift your burden and carry every burden you cast on Him.
“Health” is a vast term and covers much. It takes a balanced diet and a balanced life to have good health. And it takes a diet of faith in Christ, worship of Him, following Him, and having your mind renewed in His Word [That means reading and meditation] to have a healthy countenance.
You can live in your troubled soul, your world of unbelief, and ask why or you can listen to the Holy Spirit and believe and live or turn and live. 1Co 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 1Co 6:20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
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