Psalm 43

When I look at a Psalm I love to use Jen Wilkin's method of writing it out and then underlining or highlighting words or phrases that say something to me personally. I look for the repetition of words and consider carefully what is being said. In this Psalm I noticed how many times "me" and "my" appear - it is a personal plea by David to God. Notice how he says "O God" not "my LORD". The Enduring Word Commentary titles this psalm From Depression to a Procession of Praise. The question David asks is one we all ask "Why are you so far away God?" David is begging God to lead him by his light and truth, then he would praise God. Why did David want to go to the tabernacle? He knew God was there in a special way, he knew God's people would also be there and there he could focus on God. This psalm reminds me that it is not wrong to ask God "why" - notice how many times that word appears in the Psalm. 

Psalm 43

Judge me, O God, and plead my cause against an ungodly nation: O deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man.

For thou art the God of my strength: why dost thou cast me off? Why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?

O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me: let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles.

Then will I go unto the altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy: yea, upon the harp will I praise thee, O God my God.

Why art thou cast down, O my soul? And why art thou disquieted within me? Hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.

  

Taken from Teach Me To Feel by Courtney Reissig:

When is this going to end? David the psalmist is weary – why – because of life’s circumstances and also because he has asked God to intervene and come to him and yet he is feeling so far from God and God is not reaching down to help him. 

How often when we feel trials are getting on top of us do we not feel weary especially when we feel heaven is silent. Remember – you are not the only one to go through such pain – that is why this psalm is here!

In this Psalm David asks God to act – “why dost thou cast me off?” “why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?” “send out thy light and truth.”

There is honesty here!

“Faith is allowed to enquire of her God the causes of his displeasure and she is even permitted to expostulate with him and put him in mind of his promises and ask why apparently they are not fulfilled. If the Lord be indeed our refuge and when we find no refuge it is time to be raising the question “why is this?”  C H Spurgeon

“Hope in God for I shall yet praise him who is the health of my countenance and my God.”

When we remember the former life we look to God and know that God will one day bring us back to worship again. There is no swift resolution! Comfort lies in asking the hard questions of his soul and in pleading with God according to his character, the psalmist finds God in the darkness. We need to persist in our prayers – remember the story of the persistent widow in Luke 18 verses 1 to 8,

The Psalmist also speaks to himself in distress – “why art thou cast down O my soul?” and then responds “hope in God”. He has hope for the future. He might not be praising God now in the company of God’s people but one day he will. He knows his identity is in the Lord and his salvation and security is sure. He was made to worship and he will worship.  Be honest again and again! The burdened weariness will give way to joyful worship – it will come, you will once again praise God. God can handle all your questions, even the same ones over and over again.