Psalm 42:11 Why are you cast down, O my soul? and why are you disquieted within me? hope you in God: for I shall yet praise him… Now, dejection is so — 1. WHEN THE SOUL IS TROUBLED FOR THAT IT SHOULD NOT BE VEXED FOR. As Ahab (1 Kings 21:1, 2). II. WHEN IT SPRINGS PROM SELF-LOVE. III. WHEN WE TROUBLE OURSELVES, THOUGH NOT WITHOUT CAUSE, YET WITHOUT BOUNDS. We may know when our dejection is excessive. 1. When it hinders us from holy duties. It was not thus with our Lord (John 19:26, 27; Luke 23:42). 2. When we forget the grounds of comfort that are given us. 3. When it inclines the soul to evil. Therefore inquire — IV. WHAT IS THE SWEET AND HOLY TEMPER OF SOUL THAT WE SHOULD SEEK FOR? 1. The soul must be raised to a right but yet a bounded grief. And to this end we should look at the state of the soul in itself and on what terms it is with God (Leviticus 16:29). And we should look outside of ourselves to note the causes of grief that are there (Jeremiah 9:1). 2. But our grief must be kept within bounds, and it is so, when it is ready to meet God at every turn in obedience and communion; and when reason approves our grief, and when our grief moves us to all duties of love towards others. Our concern for God's house cannot be excessive (Psalm 69:9; Psalm 119:39; Isaiah 59:19; Exodus 32:19). See, then, the life of a poor Christian in this world. He is in great danger if he be not troubled at all, and, when troubled, lest he be over-troubled. Let him ask the Holy Spirit's help (John 11:13). ( Sibbes, Richard.) Parallel Verses KJV: 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. |
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