Sep 24 2008
A Psalm of Grief and of Joy
As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God? My tears have been my food day and night, while they say to me all the day long, “Where is your God?” These things I remember, as I pour out my soul: how I would go with the throng and lead them in procession to the house of God with glad shouts and songs of praise, a multitude keeping festival. 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. My soul is cast down within me; therefore I remember you from the land of Jordan and of Hermon, from Mount Mizar. Deep calls to deep at the roar of your waterfalls; all your breakers and your waves have gone over me. By day the LORD commands his steadfast love, and at night his song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life. I say to God, my rock: “Why have you forgotten me? Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?” As with a deadly wound in my bones, my adversaries taunt me, while they say to me all the day long, “Where is your God?” 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. (Psalms 42:1-11)
Years ago a friend wrote a song based on this Psalm:
Where is my joy, when all around is sorrow?
Where is my light when night is all I see?
Why is my soul in agony despairing, where is my hope, my song of victory?
I shall again praise my God. There may be those who wonder where He is when sorry strikes like it has to my family this week. I know where He is. He is holding me together. He is keeping me from falling. And He keeps despair and death at the door. I mourn in hope because of His grace, and today I will get out of bed because I know He lives, He loves, and He sustains my soul. Lucy Anne followed those words with:
My joy is in the God of my salvation
His Word will light the shadows of my heart.
So I will hope in God who is my comfort,
Who gives a song of joy when sorrows start.
May God give all who grieve that song of joy today–and may every one of us pant for His love and grace as the dear for water.
Amen.
I’m praying for you especially today.
Been praying for you guys.
Hey. I’m thankful that God is comforting you with His great love. There will be light again to dispel the darkness.