Psalm 43

 Psalm 43

This Psalm is believed to have been written during the Babylonian captivity.  The people of God feel they have learned their lesson and are struggling with why God’s deliverance hasn’t yet occurred.  In verse 5 there is even a self-correction of doubt and despair into trust.  

In verses 3-4 there is an especially powerful application for our day.  In verse 3 the Psalmist asked for ‘light and truth.’  These will bring the people of God to God.  Then in verse 4 the Psalmist anticipates what we might call ‘worship and celebration.’  This order is important or even vital for believers to understand.  In much of our religious expression we focus on the emotional satisfaction of ‘praise and worship.’  Then we have ‘teaching time.’  In some cases this teaching time is shallow and only incidentally focused on Scripture.  But the pattern we see here is that truth and light bring us to God, and then joy and music flow out of that encounter.  

Perhaps the reason so many ‘revival movements’ and ‘church growth’ initiatives fizzle is because they are based on emotions, which cannot stand the test of time.  By all means we should have the joy of the Lord.  But that emotional high comes from truth and light.

“Lord, bless me with a mind that engages Your light and truth, and out of that, guide me to praise You. AMEN.”