Then might come her fall into black storm. Yet she would rise again, and to the light.”
–Zane Grey (Riders of the Purple Sage)
“He redeemed my soul from going down to the Pit, and I will continue to see the light.”
–Job 32:28 (HCSB)
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There have been many times in my life when I wanted to just pack it up and head to the high lonesome. Let the people down here squabble, threaten, and hate. Enough is enough, I would think. Then I am reminded that I have a mission from the Lord, that He placed me where I was for a purpose. Yes, there are times to get away, but not from it all, for we have to return. I am reminded of Peter, James, and John and the transfiguration. “Let’s stay here,” but the Lord said that the work was to be done back down off the mountain in the valley.
Take time to read Psalm 43. Read it carefully, slowly, then go back and read it again.
1 – Vindicate me, God, and defend my cause against an ungodly nation; rescue me from the deceitful and unjust man.
2 – For You are the God of my refuge. Why have You rejected me? Why must I go about in sorrow because of the enemy’s oppression?
3 – Send Your light and Your truth; let them lead me. Let them bring me to Your holy mountain, to Your dwelling place.
4 – Then I will come to the altar of God, to God, my greatest joy. I will praise You with the lyre, God, my God.
5 – Why am I so depressed? Why this turmoil within me? Put your hope in God, for I will still praise Him, my Savior and my God. (HCSB)
When you get right down to it, what is all the possessions of life at the end? (shades of Ecclesiastes) You can’t take it with you. When a person gets down, there is often the feeling of hopelessness–“woe is me, let’s go eat some worms.” In this time, you may feel that even God has rejected you. That is one reason not to trust feelings for He has promised that He would never leave or forsake us.
Let “light and truth” lead me. There are many voices crying out today–this is truth! But, when presented with the truth of Jesus Christ it is often rejected. We must be led by the truth of Jesus letting the Holy Spirit guide us into His truth. I like verse 3, for it speaks of going to the mountain. As I wrote the other day, they can smooth out the wrinkles in your mind.
The Psalmist here is doing his woeful best to stay in the doldrums, to dwell and even enjoy that his way is hopeless until the last verse. He finally wakes up. He asks himself two good questions and then gives the answer. The Lord has promised me, the Lord is faithful so I will put my hope in Him. No matter the situation, I will praise Him.
“Oh, send thy light to guide my feet,
And bid thy truth appear;
Conduct me to thy holy hill
To taste thy mercies there.”
–C.D. Barlow