LHC Midday Word: PSALM Forty Three

Thursday, 2 December 2021

PSALM Forty Three

Vindicate me, my God,

and plead my cause

against an unfaithful nation.

Rescue me from those who are

deceitful and wicked.

You are God my stronghold.

Why have you rejected me?

Why must I go about mourning,

oppressed by the enemy?

Send me your light and your faithful care,

let them lead me;

let them bring me to your holy mountain,

to the place where you dwell.

Then I will go to the altar of God,

to God, my joy and my delight.

I will praise you with the lyre,

O God, my God.

Why, my soul, are you downcast?

Why so disturbed within me?

Put your hope in God,

for I will yet praise him,

my Saviour and my God.

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Word by Word Meditations

by Fred Ursell

Psalm 43 : “disturbed” (v.5)

Still greatly unsettled, the Psalmist battles on with his emotions thoroughly churned up and his heart “disturbed” (v.5). Not all such psychological turmoil is resolved swiftly.

It can be difficult to gain the upper hand over our inner conflicts. What we should learn is that persistence pays off! This time the battle is shorter – it lasts just 5 rather than 11 verses. And stronger too!

Compare his earlier prayer, where “joy” (42 v.4) was a mere memory, to the resolve here, “then will I go to the altar of my God, my joy and my delight” (v.4). “Fight the good fight” (1 Timothy 1 v.18), and “fight” to win! You will!

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READING

Psalm Forty Three

Read by David Suchet