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Longing Desperately For God

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Psalm 42

While we do not know the exact reason this was written, we do know the purpose for Psalm 42: it is a maschil psalm, a song of instruction, and teaching. Whatever his circumstances, the author has been suffering through a period of intense trials, trials so severe that they have plunged him into a deep depression. God’s Spirit inspired Psalm 42 to teach us what to do when we find ourselves in the same pit of despair.

The psalmist uses a vivid image to express his need for God: Like a deer searching desperately for water in the wilderness, his soul craves the energizing strength, hope, and joy found only in the Lord. Emotionally and spiritually dehydrated, he cries out to God from the bottom of his heart. The psalmist desperately longs for the Lord to rejuvenate his spirit. But he was far from Jerusalem and the temple where God’s presence dwelt. Because of this, he felt unable to connect with God.

Under the old covenant, God’s presence dwelt in one specific place: the Most Holy Place in the tabernacle (and, later, the temple). The psalmist feels alienated from God because he is away from this sacred place. Therefore, he asks God how much longer it would be before he is able to return to Jerusalem to stand before Him. Under the new covenant, God does not abide in a specific place but in His people. Through His Holy Spirit, the Lord lives within every true believer. Although God’s presence is always within us, we may feel distant.

The psalmist’s spiritual suffering is compounded because he can do nothing to change his distressing situation. He cannot return to Jerusalem to worship with God’s people. Memories of “better days” – past celebrations in God’s house – only intensify his craving for the Lord’s presence. There had been a time when he was the most excited of worshipers, leading the joyous procession to God’s house. Now, lonely and depressed, he yearns to be among the congregation again as they march to the temple on the holy days, the days of celebrating the feasts ordained by God under the law. How he aches to be with the people of God, dancing and singing in praise and worship to Him!

  • During the lockdown for COVID-19, have you felt emotionally and spiritually dehydrated?
  • What are some ways you can remind yourself of God’s nearness?
  • What does this Psalm teach us about the communal aspects of worship?

Download the free PDF of this section of Psalms in the The Preacher’s Outline & Sermon Bible to continue your study:

Download the PDF

    In memory of Renee Bottoms

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    Yesterday, many LMW folks, past and present, gathered at the graveside of a beloved colleague, J. Renee Bottoms. We at Leadership Ministries Worldwide mourn her passing yet rejoice that she is in the presence of her Lord. Renee worked at LMW for seventeen years on the editorial staff until her retirement in January. Her keen eye for detail was a great asset to the ministry. Originally from Texas, Renee worked as a family practice attorney for many years. When she moved to Chattanooga with her husband Rick, she began working for LMW. Her legal background and meticulous nature served her well at LMW; her skills were invaluable during the creation of the NIV collection of The Preacher’s Outline & Sermon Bible. Renee’s sweet spirit of encouragement along with her devotion and love for Jesus were hallmarks of her personality.

    Please pray for Renee’s husband, Rick, and other loved ones she is leaving behind. Pray also for her colleagues at LMW who carry on, encouraged by her faithful example.

    EveryWORD Gospels sent to Avenal State Prison

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    We have just sent 24 copies of the everyWORD gospels of John and Luke to the Avenal State Prison in California. Would you pray with us that these materials would be used for the Kingdom? This prison houses about 4,000 men, many of whom need to be strengthened in their faith. Many more of the inmates need to hear about Jesus! Please pray for Chaplain Enrique Castro and his work as he ministers to the inmates. 
    As Hebrews 13:3 says, Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering. New Internation Version

    The Gospel in Zimbabwe

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    Power struggles, economic disaster, corrupt politicians, unjust imprisonment . . . These are just a few of the issues that the people of Zimbabwe live with every day.

    Alistair Croudace is a native of Zimbabwe, one of the few white landowners remaining in the country. His wife Shelley has served there with him for more than 25 years. They have experienced trials, conflicts; the government has even tried to forcibly remove them. But through it all, God has been faithful. Shelley says, “it is in our darkest hours when God shows up in the most phenomenal ways, and He calls us to step out in faith in the most dramatic ways. And then He gets all the glory. We can’t take the credit, because there’s just no human way possible that we could do it.

    Their home and mission, “Lasting Impressions,” covers 450 gorgeous acres. Students throughout Zimbabwe come there to experience the beauty of the countryside and hear the life-changing gospel message. Their mission is “to make a positive impact on the hearts and minds of the people of Zimbabwe for Christ through educational camps, inspirational retreats and community events in a picturesque setting.”

    School groups representing all faiths and ethnicities come to Lasting Impressions to enjoy the outdoors, have fun, and build community. “We provide a unique opportunity to shine a light in the darkness,” Alistair says. “All the students who come hear the gospel message. We incorporate the gospel into everything we do.”

    The Croudaces also shine a light in the community where they live. They have taught a local man how to farm. Now he grows vegetables that they buy to feed the people who come to Lasting Impressions. They feed hungry children in their community, help orphans, and provide jobs – they set an example of sharing Christ’s love with everyone they touch. They are known throughout the area by their fruits.

    In November, they put a well in their community and dedicated it at a special gathering. Shelley tells us, “We just shared the gospel message at the dedication service, and 11 people dedicated their lives to the Lord at that service. We have a couple of little churches that meet under the trees, or in the bush, and they joined us at the dedication. The Lord is on the move and we are getting more opportunity because we are serving and showing the gospel through our actions. We are praying for true transformation throughout Zimbabwe.”

    In a country where 85% of the citizens claim to be Christian, the name of Christ is often scandalized. Pastors have multiple wives and mistresses; they steal from their church; they practice an entitlement philosophy that enriches them at the expense of the sheep in their flock. “There is a crisis in our country now. The economic crisis, the wholesale theft, the lack of justice – the list is endless. I would say only a handful of people are practicing Christianity and living their faith,” Alistair tells us.

    Shelley adds, “We see just how broken the society is, because if the Word of God was really followed, lives would be different. You wouldn’t have pastors with multiple wives and mistresses and everybody having AIDS if they were following God’s Word.”

    “A friend brought to our attention that the mustard seed is an example of faith not so much because it’s small, but because it is pure. You can’t graft anything onto a mustard tree. That small, pure seed grows and multiplies. It shows how the holiness, the purity of what we share with others is so critical and if we really abide by God’s standards, that is going to shine so much brighter and have so much more impact.”

    The Croudaces are planting pure seeds of faith throughout Zimbabwe, serving God and the people of their country by living Christ’s example. Their deepest desire they tell us is, “to be salt and light to their community.”

    The Gospel in China

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    A young American man travels to a Chinese college on a mission to share Christ. A young Chinese woman travels to an American college, hears the gospel message and accepts Christ. Years later the two meet in China, where they are both serving Christ.

    They marry, start a family, and dedicate their lives to serving God in China despite the constant hardships. “We are always facing stress and obstacles and attack. But God is faithful through it all. We turn to God every day.”

    Matt and Anna* are serving in a large city as part of a house church of around 200 members, most of whom heard and accepted the gospel as college students. As parents of young children, Matt and Anna have made natural connections with these other young families who are seeking truth and meaning for their life.

    Being a Christian today in China can be challenging. But the believers who are faithful are fervent in their faith. Matt says, “There are no ‘pew-warmers’ in China. If you are in church, you really want to be there. There is no one going to church for social reasons or status, because being a Christian does not improve your social status.” 

    In Chinese society, Christianity is looked down on. The schools teach atheism, and the Chinese people in general are far more interested in self-advancement than in sacrificing self for the overwhelming value of accepting Christ. Matt tells us, “Most men see their job as making money. It’s the number one barrier to becoming a Christian. They say, ‘If I say yes to Christ, will that inhibit my ability to make money, to support my family?’ Because it might. To get the best jobs, you need to be a communist party member, and if you’re a party member, you shouldn’t believe in God.”

    Christian persecution is on the rise in China as the church grows. House churches are facing increasing pressure – some have been raided and their members imprisoned. Anna says, “Many people are awakened through persecution and come to love God more.” There is a government-sanctioned Christian church in China, but they are directly controlled by a department of the government. House churches resist government control as they recognize that Christ is the head of the church.

    While they are illegal, house churches in China are generally accepted. They preach the gospel,  teach the children, worship regularly, and have small groups for personal growth. But they are careful. House churches don’t keep a membership list, don’t keep the church’s money on hand, and they do have back-up plans for continuing even if the government tries to shut them down. Most house churches worship in homes or office buildings to stay off the radar of government officials.

    Many of the believers at Matt and Anna’s church have had to make sacrifices for their faith. They have a full-time pastor, which is unusual in China. That man gave up a secure professorship to become a pastor. “When he made a decision to quit his job, his co-workers and parents thought he was crazy. Why would he quit a stable and prestigious job to serve as a pastor? Being a pastor is basically viewed as being unemployed in China – a very shameful thing. But eventually he led his family to the Lord, and they understand his passion.” His job as pastor is doubly challenging as churches generally don’t plan to support a pastor. Matt says, “the concept of giving money is virtually unknown in China. Pastors are challenged to teach the concept of tithing to people who have never considered giving financial support to anyone outside of their immediate family. It’s hard. Christians really have to grow to be willing to give money away.”

    Virtually everyone in a house church is new to the faith. In the cities, they are made up of young educated people who heard the gospel in college. In rural areas, church members are older, often uneducated. Religion has been suppressed for so long in China, that there is very little remaining history of the Christian faith, particularly in the urban areas. A friend of Matt’s became pastor at a rural church at age 14. The congregation was largely illiterate, but this young man could read and the people in the church wanted to hear the gospel. God used this pastor in mighty ways, and now, in addition to pastoring a house church in an urban area, he leads a network of rural churches.

    “There is a great need for training of pastors in China,” Matt says. “While there are a few seminaries, they are operated by the government, which makes their teaching suspect. A few underground seminaries have been started, but they are quickly shut down.” In addition, there is very little access to quality biblical resources, and it can be difficult to find a Bible in China.

    In spite of the many years of persecution in China, God’s Kingdom continues to grow as the Chinese people are presented with the gospel message. It is estimated that there will be more Christians in China than in any other country in the world by 2030. God’s power and presence is being revealed to millions of believers in that country as the gospel message spreads.

    LMW invites you to pray for the gospel in China. Matt and Anna ask that we pray specifically:

    1. For their safety and health. China is very polluted, and their family has struggled with respiratory issues.
    2. For the Christian home school program they have started – that more parents will have the courage to send students to them, and for the safety of the school, students, parents, teachers.
    3. For a change in the mindset of the Chinese leaders, to see that Christians are good people who desire to influence Chinese society in positive ways.

    * The missionaries’ names were changed to protect their identity.

    NOTE: LMW has long been active in getting resources for teaching and preaching into China. Much of The Preacher’s Outline & Sermon Bible® has been translated into Chinese, and some of the volumes are available on the free Chinese Bible app, WeDevote. We anticipate having the Chinese language Preacher’s Outline & Sermon Bible available on the LMW App by 2020.