trusted online casino malaysia
Realizing the presence, promise, and power of the Kingdom of God.
The Scriptorium

Two Kinds of "Why?"

Be sure to ask both. Psalm 42

Living toward the End: Psalms 42, 43 (4)

Opening Prayer: Psalm 42.6-8
O my God, my soul is cast down within me;
Therefore I will remember You from the land of the Jordan,
And from the heights of Hermon,
From the Hill Mizar.
Deep calls unto deep at the noise of Your waterfalls;
All Your waves and billows have gone over me.
The LORD will command His lovingkindness in the daytime,
And in the night His song shall be with me—
A prayer to the God of my life.

Sing Psalm 42.6-8
(Nettleton: Come Thou Fount)
Oh my God, my soul is weary, therefore I remember You.
Let Your grace and goodness near be, and Your promise, firm and true.
Lord, when trials and fears surround me, Your commands will be my song;
when distresses sore confound me, Your great love will keep me strong.

Read Psalm 42

Preparation
1. What was causing the psalmists to be downcast in their souls?

2. How were they able to resolve the disquiet in their souls?

Meditation
When we feel downcast or disquieted in our soul, there’s usually a good reason. Hence, the first “Why are you cast down, O my soul?” (Ps. 42.5) The psalmists are seeking an explanation for the sense of separation from God they were feeling. Two explanations suggest themselves.

First, it seems to me the psalmists were experiencing a sense of loss. It appears they were no longer performing their service as gatekeepers (v. 4, “For I used to go with the multitude…”). They missed the crowds going past them into the temple, the sounds of joy and praise, and seeing pilgrims from all over the land. There’s a sense of loss here.

Second, compounding this, either some uncouth wags among the people, seeing them downcast, began to mock their faith “continually”: “Where is your God?” (v. 3) Or their disquietude had become noticeable and other believers called on them to buck-up and have faith.

Either way, their loss and their being confronted by others concerning their distress seems to have led to their first “Why?”

The second “Why?” is the “why” of self-reproach, the “why” that reminded them that, given God’s grace and availability, they didn’t need to languish in their disquietude. God would shed light on their path from His Word and lead them to His Presence (43.3). All they had to do was hope in Him and praise Him for His help and His countenance (42.5; 43.5).

The first “Why?” identified the problem; the second pointed the way out of it. Whenever you hear yourself lamenting “Why?” about some low point in your life, don’t stop with the first “Why?”.

Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
Suffering that comes from the hands of fellow-believers or family is the most difficult to bear.

The sons of Korah may have been dealing with something akin to that. “My tears have been my food day and night, while they continually say to me, ‘Where is your God’?” “I pour out my soul within me. For I used to go with the multitude; I went with them to the house of God…” (Ps. 42.3, 4) Fellow worshipers. Enemies in the house. These are the ones causing the pain.

David also experienced this, “For it is not an enemy who reproaches me; then I could bear it. Nor is it one who hates me who has exalted himself against me; then I could hide from him. But it was you, a man my equal, my companion and my acquaintance. We took sweet counsel together, and walked to the house of God in the throng” (Ps. 55.12-14).

And Jesus. “Then all the disciples forsook Him and fled” (Matt. 26.56).

It is no wonder that the sons of Korah, David, and Jesus felt betrayed by those closest to them. But they all found hope in God. “For I shall yet praise Him…” (Ps. 42.11; 43.5)

And when we ask “why?” we too can plead with God to “send out Your light and Your truth!” (Ps. 43.3) For we are “persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 8.38, 39). Not even fellow-believers or family.

Reflection
1. What are some things that might cause you to become downcast in your soul?

2. What should a fellow believer who was experiencing this expect from you?

3. How can we use prayer – for ourselves and others – to deal with a downcast soul?

These words are the refrain of this and the previous psalm (see 42:5, 11). In time of doubt and stress, the poet urges his inner being, by the power of God, to keep believing.
Earl Radmacher (1931-2014), NKJV Study Bible Notes on Psalm 43.5

Closing Prayer: Psalm 43.3-5
Seek the light of God’s Word to prepare you for the day ahead. Express your hope in God, and praise Him for the help He will give you.

Psalm 43.3-5
(Hyfrydol: Jesus, What a Friend for Sinners!)
Let Your light and truth precede me, bring me to Your holy hill.
To Your holy altar lead me, let me dwell within Your will.
Lord, my joy and consolation, You, Who grace to me impart,
hear my joyful adoration; I will praise You from the heart.

When my weary soul is troubled, when despair upon me falls,
let my hope in You be doubled, let me on Your mercy call.
God, my help, my great salvation, I will praise You to Your face;
In Your care my soul I station; let me know Your glorious grace!

T. M. and Susie Moore

You can listen to our summary of last week’s study by clicking here.

Praying the Psalms
In this series, we are examining twelve psalms, learning their content, drawing on their wisdom, and praying and singing them to the Lord. For a fuller explanation of how to pray the psalms, order a copy of our book, God’s Prayer Program. It’s free by clicking here.

If you find Scriptorium helpful in your walk with the Lord, please seek the Lord, asking Him whether you should contribute to the support of this daily ministry with your financial gifts. As the Lord leads, you can use the Contribute button at the website to give with a credit card or through PayPal, or you can send your gift to The Fellowship of Ailbe, 360 Zephyr Road, Williston, VT 05495.

Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter (Williston: Waxed Tablet Publications, 2006), available by clicking here.

T.M. Moore

T. M. Moore is principal of The Fellowship of Ailbe, a spiritual fellowship in the Celtic Christian tradition. He and his wife, Susie, make their home in the Champlain Valley of Vermont.
Books by T. M. Moore

Subscribe to Ailbe Newsletters

Sign up to receive our email newsletters and read columns about revival, renewal, and awakening built upon prayer, sharing, and mutual edification.