When shall I come and behold the face of God? (Psalm 42)

We want to know God better. We want to sense God more deeply involved in our lives. Our soul thirsts for God. Deep within us we sense that we were made and born for a reason. Just as that really thirsty deer seeks that beautiful flowing stream, so we long to connect with God … to truly know God. The question is – “when shall I come and behold the face of God” (verse 2)? God is available – but when will I come … “and behold the face of God”. We are struggling. Things are not going so well. Each day is tending to be even more difficult than the one before. There are certain issues and concerns getting on top of me. The question remains, “When shall I come and behold the face of God”?

This psalmist was confident in God’s help and provision, yet it didn’t stop him wondering at times what God was up to and whether God was still around. In fact, it was through actively dealing with his doubt, that this psalmist became so strongly convinced of God’s availability and provision. It is when we bring our troubles, doubts and fears to the bible and to the place of prayer, that we gain reassurance, wisdom, guidance and strength. “When shall I come and behold the face of God”?

As we read through Psalm 42, we see that this psalmist had to deal with scoffers – those that laughed at his faith (please refer to verse 3). And there are those who seem to delight in this psalmist’s difficulties (refer to verses 9-10). While being known for his faith, this psalmist had come to be in a very low place, which became public news. Do such tears disprove God? Certainly not! Does the person of faith have to be superhuman? No!! Others might mock us, but they will never depreciate God’s love for us. And God’s benevolence and glory is proved and shown … as tears lead to understanding … and troubles lead to new perspective and growth.

In fact, times of challenge and distress become opportunities to seek God out more significantly and deeply (and thus reveal his worth)! We learn to rely on God more, and trust worldly endeavours or material possessions less. We also begin to more closely experience God’s presence in our suffering … God joining us in the dark places and drawing us through towards the light. In times of sorrow and repentance we can pause to clearly remember the good times we have had with God – enjoying the company of God’s people and being out in public about God’s business (verse 4). Even leaders, maybe especially leaders, in the Jesus-following community can feel jaded and tired and broken. But the experience of this psalmist is … “Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my help and my God” (verse 5).

Remembering, as part of the process of growing, is a clear theme in this psalm. God’s mighty acts of creation and his loving presence everywhere, are in view in verses 6 to 8. It is a good idea to keep a record of God’s blessings and his answers to our prayers. Our faith is buoyed by changes in life circumstances that could have only come through God’s intervention. Even when our suffering seems to linger on, our faith can be strengthened through the sure knowledge of God’s enabling that keeps us afloat. Verse 6 in “The Message” reads like this: “When my soul is in the dumps, I rehearse everything I know of you”.

But the question remains there for us, just sitting there, softly nagging away at us – “When shall I come and behold the face of God”? Communion … the celebration of the Lord’s Supper … offers an opportunity for us to come and behold the face of God. We have to be honest, and we have to be open, and we have to be expectant, and then we can experience God’s close presence … forgiving, cleansing, reassuring, guiding, changing us. We see most clearly the face of God in the person of Jesus – Jesus who touched the lepers, Jesus who healed the blind, Jesus who spent time with the marginalised and the ‘sinners’, Jesus who multiplied small amounts of bread and fish into a feast that fed thousands, and Jesus who willingly went to a tortuous cross so that we might be saved, Jesus who rose again to prove that death does not have to be the end.

“When shall I come and behold the face of God”? This psalm doesn’t so much talk about a propositional God to believe in intellectually, but much more so reflects a “living” God (v.2) that we come to know through personal encounter and relationship. And indeed we are invited into such a relationship; actually we were created to have that very relationship (with our eternal parent). But what might get in the way? What might make us reticent to accept such an invitation of relationship?? What might stop us beholding the face of God???

Our feelings of unworthiness, shame or guilt!? Jesus has dealt with that already! Other agendas maybe … we might really, if we are honest, prefer to live our lives our own way!? Some of the teachings of Jesus might just be too much for us to handle!? We actually don’t want to forgive, and we don’t want to love our enemies!? Sometimes even our roles and responsibilities (in life and church) can become an end in themselves and thus subtly distract someone from seeking God’s best.

The growth in a relationship with God doesn’t come by accident. Jesus himself said, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness (i.e. right living), for they (i.e. these ones) will be filled’ (Matthew 5:6). If we find ourselves with a big blockade in front of us, then we must seek prayer … we must utilise the breadth of care of our local Christian community to help us be released and move forward. “When shall I come and behold the face of God”? What about right now!?!