Bible Question:
Topic: God: My Hope and Helper Psalm 43: 1 - 5 |
Bible Answer: Hi HeavenlyHeart, I can speak to your Hope in this Psalm but I do not see the Helper in it. I hope that this Psalm will be as meaningful as it has been for me this morning as I meditated on it. First, let me say that I go with the NKJ as far as Psalm 42:9 reads, with parentheses being mine throughout this post. Ps 42:9, NASB, "I will say to God my *(Rock), "Why hast Thou forgotten me? Why do I go mourning...verse 11, Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me? Hope in *God, for I shall yet praise Him, The help of my countenance, and my God." Contrast that with our Psalm 43:4b,...To God my exceeding joy; And upon the lyre I shall praise (Thee), O God, my God. Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why are you disturbed within me? Hope in *God, for I shall again praise Him, The help of my countenance, and my God." If you are looking for the (Helper) then I would go to the (Rock). But for the discussion here, I hope that you see that our hope is in *God. Notice also that this hope gives us joy instead of mourning, it give us help in smiling instead of being disturbed or in despair. He helps our countenance and is our God. Now let me give you some Scriptures to compare and meditate on with the Psalm. First would be Jeremiah 14:8, "Although our iniquities testify against us, O Lord, act for Your name's sake! Truly our apostasies have been many, *we have sinned against (Thee). Thou Hope [sic] of Israel, Its *Savior in time of distress, Why art Thou like a stranger in the land Or like a traveler who has pitched his tent for the night? Why art Thou like a man dismayed, Like a mighty man who cannot save? Yet Thou art in our midst, O Lord, And we are called by Thy name; Do not forsake us!" Thus says the (Lord) to this people..." Why are we disturbed and in despair? It is because of our sins amd because there is the need of a Savior who will be our hope and rock and dwelling place. Our hope is in the Hope of Israel, Its *Savior. Compare Jeremiah's sins "testify against us" with Psalm 50:6, "And the heavens declare His righteousness, For God/Himself is Judge. [see NKJ] Verse 7, NASB, "Hear, O (My) people, and I will speak; O Israel, I will testify against you; I am God, your God." How great is our God and what a joy to be one of (His) so that He is our righteousness. The Jews sought to kill Jesus [the *Savior], John 8:37, "because My word has no place in you." But the (Son) does remain forever and they can still come to know the *Truth, even this *Man, John 8:40,"who has told you the truth, which I heard from God; this Abraham did not do." This may not have made sense to you, but for me it was meaningful as I meditated on Psalm 43:3 "O send out Thy *Light and Thy *Truth, let them lead me; Let them bring me to Thy holy hill, And to Thy dwelling places." Jesus came in the likeness of men and seemed to be unable to save Himself or others. But He is indeed our Savior and God when we go to the holy hill of Calvary and with expectant hope go to His dwelling place. From the heart, Ray |