Listen up, little ones
Listen for the words soul and hope.
Reading
Psalm 42:1-11—When Things Go Bad.
Optional Reading
Luke 7:18-23
Keys for kids
- Things sometimes go bad, even for those trusting God.
- When that happens, God still cares.
- God is always worth hoping in and praising.
Questions
- Do severe difficulties mean God is not caring for us? Why/not?
- What must we do instead of just listening to ourselves?
- What should we remind ourself when we are downcast?
Catechism
WSC #90
How is the Word to be read and heard, that it may become effectual to salvation?
That the Word may become effectual to salvation, we must attend thereunto with diligence, preparation, and prayer; receive it with faith and love, lay it up in our hearts, and practice it in our lives.
Children's Catechism 114-115
What is the third petition?
“Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.”
What do we pray for in the third petition?
That men on earth may serve God as the angels do in heaven.
Notes
(See Saturday for authors.)
John the Baptizer, in prison, is discouraged and wonders if Jesus is truly the promised Messiah. Surely if He is the Messiah, those who trust Him, like John did, will have life go well. Right?
The Psalmist here is in a similar situation. He is desperately thirsting for God’s presence. He was probably wanting the presence of God with His people in worship. But so far his thirst was not quenched. His soul was downcast. Forced or voluntary separation from worship will often lead to downcast souls.
His troubles continue. Though he remembers and hopes for God’s care, he is not experiencing right now. Rather than being lifted up, he is drowning under the waves—God’s waves.
Sometimes we are cast down, even depressed, yet we pretend. We pretend to each other, and we pretend to God. How silly we are! The Psalmist tells God just how he feels. Forgotten by God. Abandoned to his enemies who taunt him all day long. Where is your God? they scornfully say. You wouldn’t be in this difficult condition if He cared about you. Our great Enemy, the Devil, says that to us whenever we face trouble.
In his distress, the Psalmist talks back to himself. Instead of just listening to his soul, he calls his soul to listen up! And he reminds his soul that God is worth hoping in and praising—even when things go bad.
Swedish Method questions
Praise
Psalm 42d, 22c
Prayer
- Commit to talk to your soul, especially when downcast.
- Give thanks for something from last Lord’s Day’s sermons.
- Pray for a member of our church, for your family, and for a non-Christian friend/family member.