Why are thou cast down (Quality: Very Good)

[0:00] I would direct your minds this evening to a portion you will find in Psalm 42, 42nd Psalm, Verse 11.

[0:46] Psalm 42, Verse 11. A psalmist here seems to me inquiring, inquiring into his own heart, into his own soul about the matters of eternity.

[1:12] There's two question marks in our text. So he puts the question, Why art thou cast down, O my soul?

[1:23] And why art thou disquieted within me? Doesn't this show to us, friends, the deep exercise in the heart of the psalmist?

[1:38] It's no small mercy to have our real exercise within, before the living God in the matters of eternity.

[1:52] All the matters of one's pathway. And it seems to me that the dear man had been, and we know he had been, many times cast down.

[2:11] In this very psalm we read, My soul thirsteth for God. If he was thirsting for God, he wasn't in the sweet experience of drinking in, shall I say, or tasting of the rich streams of the love of God.

[2:32] My soul thirsteth? My soul thirsteth. He wasn't in that sweet experience of it. For the living God, he tells us here in the second verse.

[2:47] None other would do but the God of Israel. I believe we have that thirst, have we not, for the living God.

[3:03] Many today are satisfied with the letter of the word, but the psalmist wasn't. And I trust you and I are not. We want something more than the letter of it.

[3:15] We want the reality of it. We want our souls to be in that exercise before God. A real thirst in our souls for the living God.

[3:27] If there's no thirst and no hunger, can there be life? And oh, how we are told so plainly in the scriptures that without a new birth there cannot be life, cannot be heaven.

[3:44] So the psalmist had been in somewhat sorrow. My tears, he says. So it brought him to tears. It brought him to weeping.

[3:55] And how true we can save, respecting David and others who wept in Zion. They that weep.

[4:08] They that sow in tears will reap in joy. Well, our text says, Why heart thou cast down? Why?

[4:18] Well, there's many things, as you know, to cast us down. In our day, in our life. In the house of God, in our nation.

[4:31] There's many things to cast us down. We look for a moment or two within our own heart. And what do you see there, friends? Is there something to rejoice about?

[4:41] I trust there's something to rejoice about. That is, what the Lord has given to us. But how often there seem to be the holding of these blessings.

[4:54] And therefore we are brought down in sorrow. The Lord shows his dear people, and I trust has shown us, what dwells in an earthly tabernacle.

[5:05] And you say, what is that? What a nature that is enmity to God. And out of that carnal nature, within our hearts, there's sin. And as you know, sin is an awful sight in the sight of God.

[5:20] An awful thing. For in prayer of the Lord Jesus on the cross, you know. Oh, what he passed through. Sin.

[5:31] Sin. Oh, thou hideous monster sin. What a curse has thou brought in? All creation's grown through thee, the plague and cause of misery.

[5:42] Well, David knew that. He knew what was in his heart by nature. He describes it in the Psalm 51. Create in me, he says, a clean heart, O God.

[5:53] Create. He couldn't. Yet he needed it. He's praying for it. Create in me a clean heart, O God. And renew a right spirit within me.

[6:04] Under that knowledge and that experience, no wonder the poor man was cast down. Therefore, I believe we know something of that pathway of the psalmist. And what he passed through in his own soul.

[6:20] Sin, as I've said, is an awful thing. Sin, it causes the frown of God upon us. God cannot smile upon sin.

[6:32] He can smile upon his dear people and bring them down to his feet. Then there's something to be seen and praised God for.

[6:42] So sin was one of the, I believe, deepest burdens that the psalmist had.

[6:54] And it is so, dear friends, with his dear people. If we're not a real mourner over sin and after God, we are in a sad place. Because he hasn't shown us, revealed to us, at least in some measure, what there is in our carnal nature.

[7:12] Then again, you who have known a little of the blessings of God.

[7:24] Hasn't there been times when the Lord has come and spoken into thy poor heart? Hasn't there been times when you felt a little of the presence of God?

[7:36] Well, in the Son of Solomon's we read, read of the church, I have found him whom my soul loveth.

[7:47] Now perhaps he's withdrawn. He withdraws sometimes from his dear people. In this way we cannot see him, behold him, or feel his presence.

[8:00] And there's a hardness that comes into our hearts. And what does that cause? Well, it causes a casting down. David knew this casting down.

[8:13] Sometimes you come to the house of God, and perhaps the word has been made fruitful, powerful, food to thy poor soul. And perhaps another time you've come and you can't find the Lord.

[8:25] And there's no movement in the preaching of the gospel. And you are cast down. So there's many things to cast the Lord's dear people down, traveling along through the wilderness.

[8:42] The way is rough. And dark often. And you often wonder where the scene would end. With this dear man, he had a path away to walk.

[8:53] That path we know but little of. The path of persecution. Now the poor man was persecuted. He was threatened by Saul and Absalom.

[9:05] And death. Well, it looked as if he had to face death. No hope of anything else but death. No wonder the poor man do this pathway of sorrow.

[9:17] And a casting down. So it was with Jeremiah. Read, as you have done deathless many times, the third chapter of Lamentation. You'll find where Jeremiah was.

[9:30] Sometimes in the dungeon. And I do believe, dear friends, this is the pathway of the Lord's dear people. Yes. He was only trying to speak last evening.

[9:44] A little. From the epistle of Paul to the Peter. The epistle of Peter. Breathing. Why the dear man couldn't understand.

[9:59] Why these trials. These dark places. These casting downs. That we came to this. It was to draw his dear ones to his feet.

[10:10] And therefore he lays the burden. And brings us and lays us low. To bring us. To look to him. Knowing there's nothing in us. Nothing in the creature. Cannot put confidence in man.

[10:24] Therefore we come unto the Lord. In prayer. And seek. So the Lord casts his dear people down often. To bring us. And draw us. To his footstool.

[10:35] In prayer. God moves a mysterious way. His wonders too perform. He prances footsteps in the sea. And rides upon the storm.

[10:46] Why? The text says. Why art thou cast down? I'm only trying. In a my poor way. To set forth. The reason. Why the Lord's people.

[10:56] Are often cast down. When they have to walk alone. Cannot find him. Cannot hear his voice. May not be a crumb dropping from his table.

[11:09] No sweet streams flowing into thy poor heart. And you are cast down. As I've mentioned with David. He knew the path of persecution.

[11:23] And it cast him down. So it was with all. I believe all of those dear prophets of old. In various ways. Various experiences. And they were cast down.

[11:35] Again and again. And in the New Testament. As with those disciples. How often they were cast down. And Jesus saw their hearts.

[11:47] On one occasion. Many occasions. But on one occasion. He speaks of it. We have it in the 16th of John. And Jesus said to those disciples. Why art thou cast down?

[12:00] Or in other words. Ye now have sorrow. But I will see your gain. And your heart shall rejoice. And your joy. No man taketh from you. All the casting downs.

[12:13] That the Lord's dear people have. In their own experiences. In their own soul. And to do with the house of God. How often no doubt.

[12:24] Some of you have been cast there. You've come. And you've seen so many. As you do tonight. Lay it aside. Can't come. Isn't it a casting down? Isn't it causing the cry out of your heart.

[12:36] On their behalf. That they might be restored. And affliction may be sanctified. And brought again. In their seat. In the sanctuary. Aren't these the things.

[12:47] That cast us down? In Zion. What an earth withholding. Of the anointing. Those dear men of old.

[12:58] The prophets. Oh. They went forth. With full of the gospel. And now the Lord used them. To his honor. And to his glory. Where are they today?

[13:09] I believe it's the prophet Micah. Speaks of the fruit. The summer fruits. They're gone. Alluding.

[13:20] I believe. To those dear men. That he knew. In his day. Who was unable to preach the gospel. Under the Holy Spirit's aid. But they're gone. Poor man felt to be alone.

[13:33] And isn't it so today. With many of us. As the Lord has taken. And is still taking. One and another. From her midst. Those who feared God. In the ministry.

[13:45] And in the pew. One after the other. Doesn't it bring us. To be cast down. Sometimes we wonder. What yet is to be faced in Zion.

[13:57] I know many. Of our young people. Sad to say. Brought up under the sound. Of the truth. And yet. They've departed from it. Gone in some other.

[14:07] So called religion. Something more easy. Doesn't it cause. A deep concern. In your soul. And a casting down. As we find. Zires.

[14:18] Minishing. And brought low. As I said. With holding of the Holy Spirit. Isn't there a casting down. Dear friends. In your soul. And mine.

[14:30] And if we go a little further. What about our nation. And where. Where are we. As a nation. Today. I've often wondered. What the nation.

[14:41] Must appear. In the sight of God. We look upon the nation. Hear of the nation. And read of the nation. And all the casting down. It's a wonderful thing.

[14:52] The Lord hasn't destroyed us. Under his rock. As a nation. But still. The Lord has been with us. And preserved us. And preserved us. From their enemies. In the days that have passed.

[15:04] We have much to be thankful for. But as we look at it. Even from death. In these days. What a casting down. Will the Lord again.

[15:15] Appear for England. Will he come and revive us again. Or the casting down. As we look at the whole world. We wonder. Well it's a wonderful thing.

[15:27] The Lord has had patience. With us. As a nation. And throughout the world. Amidst all the wickedness. Blasphemy. Murder. Bloodshed.

[15:38] On every hand. Well there's a casting down. Let us look at the other side.

[15:50] I've often said. And possibly in your hearing before. There's two sides to a true religion. There's the days of sorrow.

[16:01] There's the days of rejoicing. Days of darkness. Days of light. There are times when the Lord shines upon. Maybe dark.

[16:13] Days of adversity. Days of prosperity. Days of prosperity. Now. In this exercise. In the heart of the psalmist.

[16:26] He says. Why? Why art thou cast down. O my soul? As if he might be saying. Now look back.

[16:38] And it's good sometimes. To be able to look back. And to remember. All the way the Lord our God. That led us. These many years. Forty years. Forty years.

[16:49] May not be so long. Some of us longer. Now why art thou cast down. To be a man.

[17:00] He looked back. And he is saying. There's some of the mercies of God. You can. You can look back. Some of you. Many years.

[17:11] And you remember. When the Lord called you. By divine grace. Yes. The man. The psalmist. He could look back. To those days.

[17:21] Yes. He could remember. When there was a change wrought. So can you. Some of you. Why art thou cast down. The Lord began the work.

[17:34] The work of grace. Quicken thy soul. Gave thee a heavenly calling. Brought you to a concern. Made you feel the weight of your soul.

[17:46] On the matters of eternity. There the psalmist began to look. Within. And he says. Why? Why my soul? Not speaking to some other.

[17:58] Not to look into others. No. It was his soul. Why then. My soul. What a question. The difference. Well this would seem very foolish to the world.

[18:10] Would it not. That a man should speak to his own soul. But not in the things of grace. There is the inner man of divine grace. In the earthly tabernacle.

[18:22] Which God has planted there. And he seems to be looking away. From his self. To the grace of God. And say. Why?

[18:33] Why my soul? Look back. See what the Lord has done for you. Give me one of their calling. Brought you out of darkness. Put a deep concern in thy soul.

[18:45] Respecting the matters of eternity. Then why? Why poor sinner? Why? If the Lord has command.

[18:57] What have you sung in that hymn? This evening. If my. Did Jesus once upon me shine? Then Jesus is forever mine.

[19:09] Why? Have you had a little of the sweet. Experience the events. Of the shining of God's face upon thy heart? Did Jesus once upon thee shine?

[19:22] I remember yet many years ago. Now over sixty years ago. Going into Folkestone Chapel one Sunday morning. To the prayer meeting. And our dear man Mr. Hayder gave it at him.

[19:34] Did Jesus once upon thee shine? And that word. Him my friends. With that verse. Those lights came right into my heart. Did Jesus once.

[19:45] Think of it. If he shine upon thy poor soul. Once. You belong to him. And he belongs to you. He's your God and saviour. Yes.

[19:55] It's the sun of righteousness. Shining down from heaven. Into thy poor benighted soul. Now the psalmist says. Why art thou cast it? Yes.

[20:06] Yes. Yes, the Lord has given you a few tokens as he died. He has turned thy feet, can I say, out of the broad way into the narrow.

[20:19] He has brought you to bear before him. He's brought you to the throne of grace. Sad if he hasn't. As he said, I will bring the blind by a way that they do not.

[20:32] I will lead them in paths that they have not known. Why aren't they who cast down? Show me, said the psalmist in that psalm not far from our text.

[20:49] Show me. Show me thy ways, O Lord. Teach me thy paths. Lead me in thy truth and teach me.

[21:00] For thou art the God of thy salvation. On thee do I wait all the day. That's a token, dear friends. That's a token for good.

[21:11] If we are unable to come to that place and know that the Lord is revealing his word, his truth, himself, the gospel, in our hearts. And to lead us in those paths of truth.

[21:23] And to teach us by his Holy Spirit. Now if we know a little then, can I come to the words of the psalmist? Why, poor soul? Why are thou cast down the sea?

[21:36] Why all this darkness? Why all this unbelief? Why thou this in thy heart? That seems contrary to the teaching of the Lord, of the Spirit.

[21:52] Why? You know what it is to turn sometimes from your daily occupation, it may be, from your work into a secret place and call upon God.

[22:05] Why? You've been unable to pour out, as it were, your very desires from the bottom of your heart to heaven. And hasn't there been times when he's hurt?

[22:18] Hasn't there been times when he's broke through those dark clouds? Heard thy prayer? Heard thy supplication? And given you the answer? You can't deny it, son of you.

[22:29] Oh, the Lord met me there. Why art thou cast down my soul? I remember taking the dear old gentleman, often on a Sunday evening, from Ethel to Uckfield, for the evening service.

[22:44] And when he went past a certain barn, he said, look, that's where the Lord met me. That's where the Lord pardoned my sin. Why?

[22:56] Why art thou cast down? Or so? Can you look back to a place? Can you put a finger, as it were, on a certain place, on a building, and say, there the Lord met me?

[23:09] It was there where he met with me. It was there where he heard prayer. It was there when my soul was blessed with the tokens for good. Why art thou cast down?

[23:22] And I believed and heard the voice of God. There has been promises, has there not? As you have received the same promise that Jeremiah had.

[23:32] Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love. Therefore, with loving kindness, I have drawn thee. Fear not, for I am with thee. Be not dismayed, for I am thy God. I will help thee.

[23:44] I will strengthen thee. Yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. Why, poor soul? Why are you there in that place tonight, feeling somewhat like Jeremiah in the dungeon?

[24:00] No way out, maybe. But look back. Oh, it's good sometimes, behavioural look back. And I believe it's God honouring. To remember those visits and those places.

[24:13] Touches, by the way. And those crumbs received. Why, poor soul? Have I won here this evening? Say, to be right down in the depth. In the miry clay.

[24:25] In the seas. There's no way out of it. In darkness. And you fear the consequence of it all. You fear, I was going to say, and I will. Hell for the eternity. Yet, friends.

[24:37] Oh, do look back. The Lord has promised to be our remembrance. And it's good to behave to ask the Lord. That he will cause us to remember.

[24:48] All the way the Lord thy God has led thee. And if he does. And feel a little of sweetness. You'll come into the text. Why art thou casting?

[25:00] After all what the Lord has done. After these many mercies. A few crumbs for the way. A help here. And more. Oh, have you felt your sins forgiven?

[25:14] Have you ever been led by faith to kill the break? Have you had a little faith in view of that dear man, Jesus Christ? On that accursed cross.

[25:28] Upon that tree. Suffering. Bleeding. Dying. If so. Well might we come into this place.

[25:39] Why, poor soul. Art thou cast there. Jesus came for you. Jesus died on Calvary's cross. He opened a fountain. A fountain of his pure precious blood.

[25:52] Why, poor soul. Missed all your troubles and depths. Of darkness and so on. But why? I'm speaking to you who have received the heavenly calling. Not of the dead.

[26:05] Why? Why? If he's brought you to the throne of grace. To seek for those rich blessings. The rich blessings of the gospel.

[26:16] The rich provisions of the gospel. Why, poor soul. Why, the Lord has quickened you. Opened your eyes. Brought you to fear him.

[26:28] And in your heart isn't there a prayer? Remember me, it may be. With a favor. Dear friends, if we are able to pray that prayer. Remember me as a psalmist.

[26:39] Remember me with a favor that thou bearest unto thy people. Visit me with thy salvation. If that prayer cometh forth from their heart. May I repeat the text.

[26:51] Why, poor soul. Why? I'm sure if there's no spiritual life in your soul. You wouldn't want that prayer. Or any other prayer. And you wouldn't believe in God.

[27:04] But you have been, by the grace of God. Brought to fear him. Brought to love him. And why, poor soul. I've been asked. Why?

[27:17] As I've said, dear friends. There's two sides to a true religion. I know when we are first called by grace. There's a law to be faith. The holiness of God.

[27:29] Our sins. And we can't perhaps come to the text at all. But as the Lord leads us along. Littlely and little there.

[27:40] Line upon line. And precept upon precept. And shown us the way. Revealed the way. And given you a sweet touch. From time to time. Of his mercy.

[27:50] Of his love. Seen his face. And felt his presence. A touch of his precious blood. May I say. Well, why?

[28:01] Then, poor sinner. Art thou cast out? Why? And so our text continues. David says.

[28:13] Why art thou cast out? Oh, my soul. I have no doubt that David. He had concern of others. And so have we, I trust.

[28:24] So did Jabez. What did Jabez pray? Oh, that wonderful prayer. Very short. He called upon the God of Israel.

[28:37] What was his prayer? What was his prayer? Bless me indeed. Did he leave it there? No.

[28:47] The Lord blessed him. We do not hesitate to say it. We believe it. Because. At the close of that prayer. He says God granted him his request.

[29:01] But in that short prayer. Did he not pray for his coast to be enlarged? Coast to be enlarged. His heart to be enlarged. Not only for himself.

[29:12] My soul. Is in the text. But for others. But here in this text. David says. Oh, my soul. Dear friend. It shows to us. The weight of his soul.

[29:24] That is. He felt the weight of it. The weight of his spirit. Knowing. That the time would come when he did have to stand before a holy God. And give an account of the deeds done in the body.

[29:37] Same as you and I. Whether they be good. Or whether they be evil. Oh, my soul. Oh, it shows to us. That his soul was his deepest concern.

[29:48] And so it should be with us. Each of us are passing very swiftly. Through this life. To a never ending eternity. And how will it be with you and I?

[30:00] My soul. My soul. You know there is no way into heaven. But through the blood of Jesus Christ. We are all sinners.

[30:12] Come short of the glory of God. Every one of us. Must pass through the fountain. Otherwise there is no heaven. No heaven. No glory.

[30:23] No cleansing. Needless for me to tell you. There is nothing in heaven that defiles. Everything is pure and holy. So no wonder the psalmist felt the weight of his soul.

[30:38] O my soul. And then he says. And why art thou disquieted? So concerned. So cast down.

[30:52] Within me. Why? It was the same question as it were brought here. As in the former part of the text. I believe this.

[31:06] That David was in a good frame of mind when he came here. His faith was lifting at being lifted above the world. And the things of it.

[31:18] And I say and I will say above himself. Why my soul. Art thou disquieted within me. And then he says. Hope thou in God.

[31:30] You sing at him this evening. On hope. Great father of glory. How rich is thy grace.

[31:41] What wonderful love. Is displayed in thy face. In Jesus thy image. With brightness we view. And hope. To be formed.

[31:53] To that likeness. A new. And another dear man says. We travel through a barren land. With dangers thick on every hand.

[32:05] But Jesus. Guides us through the veil. The Christian's hope. Can never fail. Did David's hope fail?

[32:17] No. No. In heaven. Glory. Without a doubt. God. Why. Why. Art thou disquieted within me.

[32:28] Hope. What an encouraging word. Drunk from the lips. Of the psalmist. It is being handed down to us. Even this day. Oh many.

[32:38] Many years have passed. And yet. Hope. Thou in God. What are you hoping for this evening. Dear Thou in God. As you are hoping for something of this world's good.

[32:55] There are secondary things. I believe I've got some here. Hoping. Hoping. For another. Full assurance.

[33:06] Perhaps you haven't had one yet. Hoping for. Full assurance. That you are among the redeemed. In God's people.

[33:18] That you are in the covenant. That your name is written in heaven. You are hoping. You are hoping then as you travel along. That he.

[33:29] The God of Israel. Is your God. You are hoping for him. To appear for you. You are hoping. For him. To give the word. Forgiveness. You are hoping for him.

[33:41] To prepare you for heaven. You are hoping. To get to heaven. And as you journey along. You are hoping to know. That you are. On the good foundation.

[33:53] And in the right road. For heaven. My hope is built on nothing less. Than Jesus blood. And righteousness. For I shall yet praise him.

[34:06] He was cast down. As we read. But. Yes he says. I will yet praise him. What do we see here. Dear friends. Oh faith rising. Oh faith rising. Living faith.

[34:17] The faith that God gives. You see. Once the Lord is given. Life spiritual. There is a fear of God. In their heart.

[34:28] And faith is implanted. Sometimes we fear that faith is dying out. But he never will. If there is a gift of God. And the psalmist knew it. Now he is cast down.

[34:40] He says. Why art thou cast down? I shall yet praise him. There will be a turning of the tide. Turning of the experience in my heart. There will be praise.

[34:52] And he may have even gone a little further. From his earthly tabernacle. For I shall yet praise him in heaven. In glory. As a redeemed soul.

[35:06] Amongst the redeemed in heaven. For I shall. Shall he says. Oh how sweet it is. To be able to build their hope for eternity. On good ground.

[35:17] And as I have said. Christ is the only foundation. For his dear people to build on. Whilst they are travelling through the night. This world. For I shall yet praise him.

[35:31] Who is the health of my countenance. And he closes with this. And so will I. My God. My God. Some of you long to be able to say.

[35:45] Maybe. My God. I remember in my early days. Oh I did long to be able to say. My God. And so did the hymn writer.

[35:56] My God. My Father. Blissful name. Oh may I call thee mine. May I with some assurance claim. A portion so divine.

[36:08] Amen. Don't you read. number 919 to Adoration 276 In 919 June 276 we sing the praise of him who died of him who died upon the cross the sinner's hope let many rise for this we count the world of dross the cross it takes our guilt away it holds the faith in spirit up it cheered to hope the gloomy day and sweetens every bitter cup the stanton city of the night

[37:25] May the night squevas раск combined.爱'lls sinned primero en fliones hieles tan mergen.

[37:43] Ope Ready to shake up my holy Esteban. Of the Cross we dig the middle Martha's anderselENEigsmerij A estatal

[38:45] Oh oh oh He is still on the grave, and you shall be with your will in Christ.

[39:16] For the whole life of the earth of the earth, the rich of the earth of the earth, the world's in our grave, and you shall be with your will, the angels be a king, and you shall be with your will.

[39:58] May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God the Father and the sweet communion and fellowship of the Holy Spirit abide with us and all that fear thy name, now and forevermore. Amen.

[40:28] Amen. Amen.