Why Art Thou Cast Down, Oh My Soul?
“Why art thou so cast down, oh 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
We are not to expect the sunshine of joy all the way through this vale of tears. Comfortable frames and feelings, though sweet and delightful, are not always so profitable to the soul. Were we always on the mount of joy, alas, we should forget that we are strangers and pilgrims on the earth; but should be for building tabernacles of rest in a polluted place, and cry out with the highly-favoured disciples, ‘It is good for us to be here; but they knew not what they said.’ Luke 9:33. It is the glory of a Christian to live by faith on Jesus; to judge of his Saviour’s love from the word of truth, more than by sense and feeling; yea under dejection and dis quiet of soul, then to hope and trust in God, to check and rebuke one’s self for doubts and diffidence; this is truly tho exercise of faith. Faith supports the soul, and lifts it above the determinations of carnal reason, and the suggestions of sense. The believer is to abide steadily by the word of truth, though in heaviness for a season; being persuaded that shortly he shall rejoice and praise God, even for this gloomy dispensation; concluding from the word of God’s grace and faithfulness, ‘Jehovah Jesus is the health of my countenance, and my God.’ This is the very joy of faith, and such was the sweet experience of David. Mark the frequent declarations to this purpose in the forty second and forty third psalms, which are recorded for our instruction.
Disciple, it is well for thee to learn wisdom hereby. Thy frame may vary, but the foundation of God’s love standeth sure; his promises cannot fail, the word of truth, yea the oath of Jehovah, are engaged for the salvation of all who have fled to Jesus for refuge. Thou mayest meet with many things, from within and without, to cast down thy soul, to distress and disquiet thee; but thou art called to look to Jesus, and not to stagger at the promises through unbelief. Like the father of the faithful, thou art called, ‘against hope to believe in hope;’ not to consider thine own corrupt nature, its lustings to evil, its enmity to grace, so as to give up thy hope. There is ever cause for humility, but none for casting away thy confidence in Jesus, under thy worst frames. Though thou sinkest to hell, in the view of thy deserts, yet through the righteousness of Jesus, life and salvation are procured for the hell-deserving. Encourage thy soul to hope in him, so shalt thou praise and glorify him. ‘I will bless the Lord at all times, his praise shall continually be in my mouth.’ Why so? ‘Because my soul shall make her boast in the Lord.’ Psalm 34:1, 2.
William Mason (1719-1791) was a High-Calvinist author. For many years he served as a Justice of the Peace, and in 1783 was appointed a Magistrate. He served as editor of the Gospel Magazine before and after the editorship of Augustus Toplady. He is best known for a morning and evening devotional entitled, “A Spiritual Treasury For The Children Of God.”
