F O O T H O L D

READING

30 A CRY FOR HELP

 

PRAY Meet my need through the scriptures today, loving Father.

 

READ Psalm 42:111; 43:15.

 

THINK For what does the Psalmwriter thirst? What action does he take?

 

FOCUS All of us go through times when our worship appears dull and flat,

and God seems far away. The writer of this Psalm knew feelings

like that.

He describes himself as thirsty for God. Like a deer in a rain

starved wilderness, he wants only one thing. He has a spiritual

dryness and he thirsts to worship in God's presence (1,2). This is

accentuated by the misfortune of being a Levite exiled a long way

from home. It is probable he lived in Dan during the reign of

Jeroboam I. We are told in 1 Kings 12:2831 that the people of the

North were forbidden to go on pilgrimage to Jerusalem. Later he

probably moved south (2 Chronicles 11:1317). He remembers great

experiences in the Temple, when he joined happily in the festival.

But these memories only make his present exile more painful (4).

Recollection can lead in one of two directions: either to

melancholy, despair or selfpity, or else to a new resolution and

purposefulness. The psalmist chooses the latter. The past is for

instruction, not mere nostalgia. Obviously Psalms 42 and 43 were

each ending with the same refrain. In the words of this refrain

the psalmist speaks bluntly to himself. Notice the question he

asks himself. (42:5,11; 43:5).

Selfpity asks 'Why me?' and stops there. Faith also asks why, but

goes on to act. What does the psalmist resolve to do? If we do

this, the change in the way we feel may not be 'instant', but if

we go on trusting God even when it's hard, things will improve.

 

PRAY Pray for anyone you know who is in trouble.

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Index - Foot Hold in the Bible

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