Thoughts for the Day

Psalm 43:

Vindicate me, O God, and defend my cause
against an ungodly people;
from those who are deceitful and unjust
deliver me!
For you are the God in whom I take refuge;
why have you cast me off?
Why must I walk about mournfully
because of the oppression of the enemy?

O send out your light and your truth;
let them lead me;
let them bring me to your holy hill
and to your dwelling.
Then I will go to the altar of God,
to God my exceeding joy;
and I will praise you with the harp,
O God, my God.

Why are you cast down, O my soul,
and why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
my help and my God.

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

Psalms 42 and 43 begin the Second Book of Psalms (Numbers 42-72) and though usually sung separately, they are in fact parts of the same psalm. They are two of the saddest but most beautiful of psalms. The writer is seemingly exiled or away from the Temple and therefore feels away from God. It is possible that he is a Temple singer exiled in the north of Jordan, who longs to return and to be free from those who threaten him. Yet despite his troubles he longs for the presence of God once more. Psalm 42 opens with the words:

'As a deer longs for flowing streams,
so my soul longs for you, O God.
My soul thirsts for God,
for the living God.'

Today perhaps these psalms can be a reminder that when troubles descend and life feels impossible, we can turn to God.
Sometimes the feeling of being brought low can come when a number of small things happen, nothing too serious in themselves, but together they bring us down spiritually. When that happens we need to lay aside the difficulties and turn to God. Our loving Heavenly Father is there waiting to calm us and give us peace when we put our trust in Him.
Psalm 43 ends with the words 'Hope in God...my help and my God'.

Father-God,
when we are disquieted;
when we are down;
when troubles assail us;
when life is hard;
and when we cannot see a
way out of the difficulties,
may we turn to You
with confidence
knowing that You care for us
and that Your solutions are best.
Amen.