Day 559: Ask yourself why - Psalm 43

1-2 Vindicate me, O God, and defend my cause against an ungodly people, from the deceitful and unjust man deliver me! For you are the God in whom I take refuge; why have you rejected me? Why do I go about mourning  because of the oppression of the enemy? 3-4 Send out your light and your truth; let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling! Then I will go to the altar of God, to God my exceeding joy, and I will praise you with the lyre,  O God, my God.

5 Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God. Psalm 43 (English Standard Version)

Do you ever ask yourself ‘why’ when you are feeling very down in the dumps? That's what the writer did in vs 5. A literal translation says: “What! Do you bow yourself down, O my soul? And what! Are you troubled within me? Wait for God, for I still confess Him, the salvation of my countenance, and my God!“ It's as if the writer is astonished his spirit should be so depressed and disturbed instead of waiting patiently for God to give him reason to smile with joy again.

We see from vs 3-4 that he knew God was the source of his deepest joy, and he delighted to sing songs of praise to God. Does that describe your heart? Do you enjoy listening to uplifting Christian songs? I do, and that's why I should be astonished too when circumstances affect my joy so easily that I sometimes end up feeling so blue! Why was he feeling so deeply discouraged? (vs 1-2)

It seems that ungodly people were out to get him and probably spreading slander and lies about him. Worse still, as the problem got bigger, it looked as if God wasn't doing anything about it. He wanted God to bring out the truth that would clear his name. He wanted to be vindicated. He wanted others to see he was innocent. That's understandable. We would also feel angry if people spread lies about us and would also want the truth to come out. So what did he especially ask God for in vs 3?

He asks that God would bring His light and truth into the situation. That's always a wise prayer when situations are dark and tangled. He was sure that God's truth and light would show that he was innocent of whatever it was people were saying. But he mostly wanted things resolved so he could return to the place where God was worshipped. It may be that the scandal surrounding him had separated even friends from him, and excluded him from the temple.

In the midst of all this, though, it's as if he suddenly realized he shouldn't be so depressed. The better option would be to keep praising God in the knowledge that God would surely 'lift up his countenance again'. (That's the Bible's word for the expression on our face!)

So back to my question. Do you ever ask yourself ‘why’ when you are feeling down in the dumps? It's something we should do when others can see ‘by our countenance’ that we are sad, discouraged, perhaps even bitter. We need to 'talk to our own heart' and pinpoint the real reason. Is it our circumstances – or are we upset with God? Sometimes it may be both. We need to remind ourselves of who God is, and of what He has faithfully been to us in the past. The writer reminded himself that God was 'the source of all his joy'.

Another, even better, thing we can do is to think of how the Lord Jesus responded to lies that were spoken about Him, and the desperate situation it brought Him to. The apostle Peter tells us that: “Jesus never sinned, nor ever deceived anyone. He didn't retaliate when He was insulted, nor threaten revenge when He suffered. He left his case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly.” (1 Peter 2:22-23) Peter adds: “Jesus personally carried our sins in His body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By His wounds you are healed.”

So even our failures to trust, and our foolish discouraging thoughts about God, are covered by the precious blood Jesus shed for our sins. God really IS the source of our joy - and He can quickly restore it when we look to Him instead of only at our circumstances.