Today marks the eighth day of our journey through the Book of Psalms, where we will reflect with our daily devotional on Psalms 40-44. Have you ever experienced God’s Word speaking directly to your heart in moments of need? If you’re seeking His guidance in a life situation, let these psalms be a source of hope and encouragement. May you find comfort and clarity in these verses, and find peace in His promises today. Discover how to determine your heart’s desire by reading the daily devotional on Psalms 36-39.
Psalms 40-44 Commentary by Allen J. Huth
Today is day eight in our journey through the Book of Psalms. We will look at five psalms. A few of these psalms became very personal to me in a desperate situation in my life. Does God’s Word become very personal to you at times? Do you need to hear clearly from Him about a life situation today? Please read or listen to Psalms 40-44.
What to Do When It Feels like God Isn’t There?
In 2007 (NASB), I wrote about these five psalms, “There are times we feel God is not there. He has abandoned us. These psalms remind us to keep crying out to the Lord. Trust in Him. He has delivered us in the past and will do it again in His timing.” Then I quoted 40:13, “Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me; Make haste, O Lord, to help me.” And then the same line in 42:5 and 11, “Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him” and “O send out Your light and Your truth, let them lead me” (43:3).
How Do I feel God’s Presence Again?
Next, “All this has come upon us, but we have not forgotten You, And we have not dealt falsely with Your covenant. Our heart has not turned back, And our steps have not deviated from Your way” (44:17-18). As you read this, if you are discouraged, or if you think God has abandoned you, read through these Psalms again on your own and be encouraged. Continue to cry out to the Lord, and He will answer and deliver you.
Is God a Healer in Psalm 41?
In my journal in 2015, I wrote about Psalms 41 and 42 because it was very personal to me. In 2012, I had prostate cancer. I was reading through Psalms at the time. Psalm 41:2-4 was so relevant, “the Lord protects him and keeps him alive . . . The Lord sustains him on his sickbed; in his illness you restore him to full health. As for me, I said, ‘O Lord, be gracious to me; heal me’”. Then I wrote, “He did! Three and a half years later, undetectable and alive. Praise the Lord!”
What Are Some Ways the Psalms Are Relevant to Our Lives?
These psalms become relevant to us. We do not read them for the sake of reading them. They become relevant in our lives. Maybe this reading today is very relevant to you. Maybe you are downcast. Maybe you feel like God is not listening or He has abandoned you. Three times in Psalms 42 and 43, it says, “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” (42:5,11 and 43:5).
And Psalm 42:1 gives us hope today, “As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God.” If you are downcast, might your soul pant for the Lord, like a deer pants for streams of water. Pant for the Lord, and He will hear you.
What Do Cancer Patients Fear the Most?
At the end of 2011, I was diagnosed with prostate cancer. In January 2012, my daily Bible reading plan started with the Book of Psalms, pre-determined before I knew anything about cancer. As I went through the diagnosis and waited for bone and PET scans, my thoughts were consumed with, “Am I going to die?” “How bad is this?” “Will I recover?” “Why me?”
God spoke directly to me through Psalms. He could not have texted me more clearly in my most desperate time of confusion. I referred to a few of them in the comments above from my 2015 journal. Psalm 41:2-4, “the Lord protects him and keeps him alive . . . The Lord sustains him on his sickbed; in his illness you restore him to full health. As for me, I said, ‘O Lord, be gracious to me; heal me’”.
Does God Understand What We Go Through?
The application is God knows what we are going through. He knows what we need. If we are in His Word daily, He can speak directly and specifically into our life situation. He did for me through these psalms. He can for you. Trust Him and His Word. Listen for Him in your life situations. He speaks through His Word.
What Are the Signs of a Miracle?
I had my prostate surgically removed, went through thirty-nine days of radiation, and two years of hormone shots. I am healed in the name of Jesus. At my last annual checkup, the surgeon said, “I will never forget you, Allen Huth. You are one of my miracles!” Yes, God healed me, He restored me to full health, He protected me and kept me alive. He was gracious to me, as His Word promised. To God be the glory!
Prayer
Father, we thank you for Your Word. It encourages us when we are down, reminds us to keep crying out to You when we are confused, and touches us in our life situations. Thank You for communicating to us so clearly through Your precious Word. And thank You for loving us so much, You protect us, restore us, and heal us. You are gracious. We thank you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
