Devotionals for July 18, 2022
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READ
PSALM 42
As a deer pants for flowing streams,
so pants my soul for you, O God.
My soul thirsts for God,
for the living God.
When shall I come and appear before God?
My tears have been my food
day and night,
while they say to me all day long,
“Where is your God?”
These things I remember,
as I pour out my soul:
how I would go with the throng
and lead them in procession to the house of God
with glad shouts and songs of praise,
a multitude keeping festival.
Why are you cast down, O my soul,
and why are you in turmoil within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
my salvation
and my God.
My soul is cast down within me;
therefore I remember you
from the land of Jordan and of Hermon,
from Mount Mizar.
Deep calls to deep
at the roar of your waterfalls;
all your breakers and your waves
have gone over me.
By day the LORD commands his steadfast love,
and at night his song is with me,
a prayer to the God of my life.
I say to God, my rock:
“Why have you forgotten me?
Why do I go mourning
because of the oppression of the enemy?”
As with a deadly wound in my bones,
my adversaries taunt me,
while they say to me all the day long,
“Where is your God?”
Why are you cast down, O my soul,
and why are you in turmoil within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
my salvation and my God.
As a deer pants for flowing streams,
so pants my soul for you, O God.
My soul thirsts for God,
for the living God.
When shall I come and appear before God?
My tears have been my food
day and night,
while they say to me all day long,
“Where is your God?”
These things I remember,
as I pour out my soul:
how I would go with the throng
and lead them in procession to the house of God
with glad shouts and songs of praise,
a multitude keeping festival.
Why are you cast down, O my soul,
and why are you in turmoil within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
my salvation
and my God.
My soul is cast down within me;
therefore I remember you
from the land of Jordan and of Hermon,
from Mount Mizar.
Deep calls to deep
at the roar of your waterfalls;
all your breakers and your waves
have gone over me.
By day the LORD commands his steadfast love,
and at night his song is with me,
a prayer to the God of my life.
I say to God, my rock:
“Why have you forgotten me?
Why do I go mourning
because of the oppression of the enemy?”
As with a deadly wound in my bones,
my adversaries taunt me,
while they say to me all the day long,
“Where is your God?”
Why are you cast down, O my soul,
and why are you in turmoil within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
my salvation and my God.
REFLECT
There's strong evidence that this psalm was written by King David during a sort of exile when
he was being hunted and was not able to outwardly express his faith in the way that he
always had been able to. In that time, the temple was the most important meeting place to
worship God - God's presence, in the mind of the people, was very location specific - at the
temple. Without being able to go there, King David felt far away from God.
he was being hunted and was not able to outwardly express his faith in the way that he
always had been able to. In that time, the temple was the most important meeting place to
worship God - God's presence, in the mind of the people, was very location specific - at the
temple. Without being able to go there, King David felt far away from God.
APPLY
Q: What feelings and emotions does King David convey in this psalm?
Q: Have you ever felt any of those same feelings or emotions? What led you to those moments?
Q: Though in exile, David cared for others and relied on God. Why is it important to love others even in darker times?
Q: Have you ever felt any of those same feelings or emotions? What led you to those moments?
Q: Though in exile, David cared for others and relied on God. Why is it important to love others even in darker times?
SING
PRAY
*"Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy."*
Father, remind me you are in control and have complete authority over all! Help calm the storms I'm facing. Strengthen my faith. Help me stop and redirect my focus on you when storms come my way. Teach me how I should react and how I should believe and trust in you.
Father, remind me you are in control and have complete authority over all! Help calm the storms I'm facing. Strengthen my faith. Help me stop and redirect my focus on you when storms come my way. Teach me how I should react and how I should believe and trust in you.