May the mumbling commence!
Today is the day for song. Today is the day for a concert of praise to
the Lord God Almighty. Today is the day
I’ve been looking forward to. Hymn sing!
Good hymns that are based on Scripture can show us the
way to live our lives in all circumstances.
Take for example a couple of Psalms that stand as a pair. (Indeed, in the Hebrew Bible they are counted
as one.) Psalms Forty-two and
Forty-three show us how to cling tenaciously and stubbornly to our belief in
God when our lives seemingly are falling apart.
Many people will recognize the beginning of Psalm
Forty-two as a hymn that many people hold dear.
Now read the context of that verse that blends easily with Psalm
Forty-three:
As
the deer pants for streams of water, so I long for you, O God.
I thirst for God, the living God. When can
I come and stand before him?
Day and night, I have only tears for food,
while my enemies continually taunt me, saying, "Where is this God of
yours?"
My heart is
breaking as I remember how it used to be:
I walked among the crowds of worshipers,
leading a great
procession to the house of God, singing for joy and giving thanks—
it was the sound of a great celebration!
Why am I discouraged? Why so sad? I will put my hope in
God!
I will praise him again – my Savior and my God!
Now I am deeply
discouraged, but I will remember your kindness –
from Mount Hermon, the source of the Jordan, from the land of Mount
Mizar.
I hear the tumult
of the raging seas as your waves and surging tides sweep over me.
Through each day the Lord
pours his unfailing love upon me,
and through each night I sing his songs,
praying to God who gives me life.
"O God my
rock," I cry, "Why have you forsaken me?
Why must I wander
in darkness, oppressed by my enemies?"
Their taunts
pierce me like a fatal wound. They scoff, "Where is this God of
yours?"
Why am I discouraged? Why so sad? I will put my hope in
God!
I will praise him
again – my Savior and my God!
O God, take up my
cause! Defend me against these ungodly people. Rescue me from these unjust
liars.
For you are God,
my only safe haven. Why have you tossed me aside?
Why must I wander
around in darkness, oppressed by my enemies?
Send out your
light and your truth; let them guide me.
Let them lead me
to your holy mountain, to the place where you live.
There I will go to the altar of God, to God – the source
of all my joy.
I will praise you with my harp, O God, my God!
Why am I discouraged? Why so sad? I will put my hope in
God!
I will praise him again – my Savior and my God!
Do you see what I mean? I have separated Psalm Forty-two and
Forty-three by a line. The recurring
phrase in bold italic blue is repeated
once again in Psalm Forty-three. The
themes of the Psalms are both similar.
They psalmist is in time of great
discouragement. God seems to be
absent. These times come upon even the
greatest leaders of the faith. The
message is clear: Cling to faith and
have hope. Give unto God praise and
worship. Do these things and you will find joy!
Enough mumbling for now…
Peace
Out
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