"Languid and feeble efforts in seeking after God, will be attended with no success." - Barnes' Notes
"To withdraw my heart from the low levels of earth, and to bear it up into communion with God, is the sure way to get what I desire, because then God Himself will be my chief desire..." - Alexander MacLaren
Many are experiencing stress, anxiety, panic attacks, depression, and hopelessness due to the seemingly insurmountable problems that they are presently facing. Others have "lost their way" - so to speak - and as a result, do not know where to turn or which "way" to go at this point in time.
The world offers them many remedies, but all are ineffective. However, the Bible offers one remedy which works each and every time - and that is, "lifting up the soul to God."
In Psalm 25:1, David said - "Unto Thee, O LORD, do I lift up my soul."
What did he mean by that? What exactly does it mean to "lift up the soul unto God"?
It is a Hebrew phrase expressive of a heart - with the affections of the soul and desires of it - being drawn unto God - going up to Him - being "lifted up unto Him." It doesn't entail a temporary raising of the heart to God but a permanent setting of the affections on Him. It involves the yearnings ever being towards Him and the constant effort to have communion with Him.
How do you "lift up your soul to God"?
In the power of faith and by the power of the Holy Spirit, you set your affections on God and raise your heart towards Him - whether it is in meditation, gratitude, or praise.
Your thoughts turn cheerfully from earthly things and earthly objects to Him. With a fixed thought and active faith, you set Him before you - having a holy contempt of the world and the things of it.
This effort cannot be something that is languid or indifferent. It cannot include weak and fitful efforts to find Him. There must be a great and strenuous effort. Your whole soul and powers must be bent to this end.
It involves arousing and exerting yourself with strong desire to seek Divine help...having a fervent desire joined with hope or expectation ...attending on the Lord without distraction or attraction from the influences of the world...and pressing onward and upward against all obstacles.
In this particular psalm, we find that David's "soul" was "cast down." He had much to weigh him down. He looked to his troubles and was depressed. He was in a state of great trouble at this time, and what made matters worse was the fact that he was looking at his circumstances rather than the God of his circumstances.
The problem that David faced (and we all face at one time or another) was the fact that man's "soul" naturally "cleaves unto the dust." (Psalm 119:25) Hence, it is not an easy task to "lift up the soul" - especially when the heart is stuck in the "quagmire" of despondency. It takes a "strong shoulder at the wheel" - so to speak - to overcome the great height and oppressive weight.
David knew that the "soul" of man does not rise as it moves toward earthly things as worldly wealth, position, influence, or knowledge, but only as it moves towards God. Hence, he cried out - "Unto Thee, O LORD, do I lift up my soul." In response, the LORD came in with His hand of almighty grace to raise His servant out of earth unto heaven.
But, there is a problem. As was earlier implied, not all men - like David - are "lifting up their souls to the LORD." Some are choosing to "lift up their souls unto vanity..." (Psalm 24:4)
They are "lifting up their souls" to earthly confidences...lying vanities...that which is false... things whose intrinsic value is worthless... as well as the perishing things of this earth. They are "lifting up their souls" to the vain things of this world like riches, honors, pleasures, money, titles, society, worldly knowledge, earthly treasures, and profits. In the widest sense, it would include all that the heart puts in place of God.
In Psalm 24:4, David specifically demonstrated that it is those who "hath not lifted up their soul unto vanity" who find a place in God - "ascend into the hill of the LORD...stand in His holy place." (Psalm 24:3) This becomes possible because they are not setting their affections on the things of this earth. They have no idolatrous inclinations. They are not reaching after worldly things because they believe them to be uncertain and unsatisfying. They are not embracing that which is false and unreal. They are not lusting after worthless things. Their heart is not carried inordinately towards the wealth of this world, the praise of men, nor the delights of sense. On the contrary, they make God their portion.
Because they have chosen to "lift up their soul unto God," He - by His gracious interposition - has chosen to make their heart glad with the light of His countenance. Only He can put gladness into a sad, broken, or heavy heart. Only He can cause the soul to rejoice. And He does indeed "rejoice" the "souls" of all who are "lifted up" to Him (Psalm 86:4)!
Matthew Henry said it in this way - "...prayer is the nurse of spiritual joy."
Besides God making glad (and removing all sorrow, depression, heaviness, stress, anxiety, etc. from all those who "lift up their souls unto Him"), He gives much needed direction and guidance to them as well.
Psalm 143:8 says - "...cause me to know the way wherein I should walk, for I lift up my soul unto Thee."
The Biblical Illustrator said this in response - "Life is difficult. It is difficult every day; on some days, and at some times, unusually so. Are there not continual circumstances and trials and duties of ordinary life which, in one way or another, make life a continual difficulty? Think of the number of things that are to be believed, that are to be renounced, that are to be examined, that are to be distinguished in themselves and from other things, that are to be tentatively dealt with, that are to be done, that are to be left undone, that are to be waited for, that are to be suffered. All these are included in the 'way wherein we should walk.'"
The Biblical Illustrator also said - "There is no need more imperatively felt by the Christian than that of divine guidance."
There is only one path - not many - that has been placed within each man's reach - and is perfectly loyal to the highest truth.
The Bible describes that one path as the "way of understanding"...the "way of righteousness"...the "way of truth"...the "way of God's commandments and ordinances"...the "way of wisdom"...the "way of life" ...the "way of good men"...the "way everlasting"...the "right way"...the "way of the Lord"...the "way of righteousness and holiness" ...and the "way of peace."
This one path stands in opposition to the "way of the froward"...the "way of evil men"...the "way of man's heart"...the "way that is not good"...and the "way that seems right unto a man but the end thereof are the ways of death."
If you are willing to do the will of God, you will know which way is the right way to take.
When you "lift up your soul unto the LORD," God - by His especial providence - points out the path that you should take. He illumines you so that you can perceive the course which you ought to follow. He "causes" you to know the "way" or course of life which is according to His will.
He, Who knows all "ways" that human feet are to tread and has His eye on the best way...the perfect way...or the Christlike way, will "cause" you to see, choose, understand, and meet the claims of the safe "way" - the "way" to escape your enemies and get out of danger.
In facing "dark" times filled with stress, anxiety, panic attacks, depression, and hopelessness, many are opting for the world's many remedies. They are "lifting up their souls unto vanity" - to the worthless, empty, uncertain, and unsatisfying things that the world offers - hoping to find answers and relief.
Encountering "gross darkness" in this world, and after undergoing fiery trials, mishaps, setbacks, disappointing and discouraging situations, many have lost their "way" - somehow being sidetracked or distracted from the right "way" - the "way" of God's will for their lives.
The Bible offers one remedy - a sure remedy - a never-failing one. It is - "lifting up the soul unto the LORD."
If you will do this, God will put gladness in your heart - "Rejoice the soul of Thy servant" (Psalm 86:4) - and give you the necessary direction that you need - "cause me to know the way wherein I should walk" (Psalm 143:8).
But, it is going to require that you "dare to be singular" - "Let others lift up their souls to vanity, I will dare to be singular, I will lift up my soul to Thee." (The Biblical Illustrator)
Are you up to the task?
May God Bless His Word,
Connie
No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. (Isaiah 54:17)
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