When I cannot stand, I fall on You

Psalm 42:1 is such a common verse to quote, "As a deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, My God." Yet, are you like me, quoting this for worship, and neglecting to pay attention to the conditions from which that worship foments? Verse 2 begins to reveal a need, "My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?" The Psalmist begins to express a longing for God's presence. He desired to move toward God's in the place of worship, the tabernacle. Unlike him, we have that opportunity through Christ to meet with God at anytime. The wall of separation was torn. The psalmist had to wait to get to the presence of God, and until he could his "soul pants for God."

What was going on in his life? He appeared to be struggling, and emotionally he was in battle. This struggle brought forth mocking from others. Later he contemplates if God had forgotten him. He wrestled with the feelings of abandonment, physical agony, oppressed by those who mocked him and this seemed to have gone on for some time. Oh don't we all know this experience?

The question is, "how do you handle, when you cannot stand?"

This morning we worshipped to the song, "Lord I need you" by Matt Maher. The bridge says, "so teach my soul to rise to you. When temptation comes my way. When I cannot stand, I fall on You. Jesus, your my hope and stay." It begins with a sincere request for help to stay the course of righteousness. That is where the Psalmist begins. What if verse one is not only a declaration, but a sincere request, to Fall on God? Then he addressed in his circumstances there will be the temptation to doubt, to lose hope, to become angry, to fall away. The song writer and the Psalmist understand that on their own they will not be able to stand. Both, realize ONLY in Jesus can true rescue come. Not rescue from their circumstance, but rescue to handle it righteously.

Matt Maher sings, "Jesus, your my hope and stay." The Psalmist proclaims, "Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me?" As if to say, "Hey, emotions, you are not in control. I will tell you what to do, "Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God." In otherwords, "when I cannot stand, I'll fall on You. Jesus, your my hope and stay."