Hope Thou In God
Charles Pennington

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. Psalm 42:11.

In six of these eleven verses the Psalmist laments the distress of his soul. Surely the language is that of David and the occasion seems to be when he fled from Absalom. The anguish of his soul is two-fold; his separation from the house of God and the assembly of the just (vs. 2); and, the taunts of his enemies (vs. 3). The sheep of Christ are no strangers to trial and trouble which casts down the soul. However it is the taunts of the wicked that is most disquieting - “Where is thy God?” When undergoing trial how often have we heard, “If he were a child of God would this be happening to him?” How do we deal with a distressed soul?

Hope thou in God - not church membership, ordinances, or a mere knowledge of doctrine, but God Himself. He is a good hope, and a sure hope, for Christ is our hope. He is God manifest in the flesh, the Lord our Righteousness, and all the promises of God are in Him, yea and amen.

I shall yet praise (give thanks to) Him - for the love, mercy and grace which chose, redeemed, called and revealed His Son in me. “I am the Lord, I change not, therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.” “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.”

Who is the health of my countenance, and my God - He is Emmanuel, God with us, and “His presence is salvation” (vs. 5 margin.). “I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.”