February 22: “When Emotions Run High” by Rick Owen

Matthew 11:15, NIV “He who has ears, let him hear.”

In Psalms 42 and 43 there is a thrice-repeated refrain: “Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so dis- turbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God” (Psalm 42:5, 11; 43:5, NIV).

We know neither the writer nor the precise circumstances of the two psalms. The title tells us that the writer was a Korahite, a singer/psalm-writer. Where was he? On a foreign battlefield, captive in Baby- lon, a refugee in a distant land? We don’t know, but he was in a bad time. His soul pants for God, he thirsts for God. He sheds tears, he pours out his soul. The waves and breakers of life have swept over him. Mourning and oppressed, he questions whether God has forgotten him.

What do you do when life deals terrible blows? When you pray, but God does not seem to be listening? When times are hard and you’re pretty sure that people are talking about you? What do you do when emotions run high? Or very, very low?

Notice a distinction between emotion and emotionalism. This fellow’s emotions were strong. We could say that he was emotional. But he held a commitment in his heart that always brought him home—back to the God of his faith. He would not—could not—deny the truth and reality of his God. Emotionalism would have carried him away from God and left him in a heap. But instead of falling prey to emotional- ism, the psalmist had his emotions and kept his faith—faith in the God he knew was powerful to save. In spite of the emotions of the day—or of the long season—he refused to let emotionalism lead him to give up, give in, or give way.

Instead of giving up, this son of Korah chose to take hope: “Put your hope in God,” he declared. Instead of giving in to despair, he gave praise to God: “At night His song is with me.” Instead of giving way to disillusionment, he stood on the ground of praise to God as creator and Savior: “I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God.” He is God Who Saves, and He will save.

Scholars tell us that the word “maskil,” found in the name of this Psalm, means something like, “he who has ears, let him hear.” i.e., The maskil is meant to impart wisdom. Wisdom trumps emotion, every time— if you will hear it.

Father, I bring all of my cares to You, and I receive in exchange, Your lovingkindness to be with me by day and Your song to be with me by night. My soul thirsts for You, O God. Send forth Your light and Your truth, guide me to Your altar where I may meet with You and offer praise and thanksgiving. You are my joy and my delight, O Lord, my God. Amen.