email : Webview : Duane Brooks - Every Day with Jesus

July 17, 2019

The word Sabbath means to cease. So as Dr. Brooks is away on sabbatical, we will be using his original devotionals from 2009 on the book of Psalms. He will resume The Bible Project devotionals upon his return. Thank you for reading with us and praying for him as he replenishes his soul for the next seven years of ministry.

Psalm 43

1 Vindicate me, my God,
    and plead my cause
    against an unfaithful nation.
Rescue me from those who are
    deceitful and wicked.
2 You are God my stronghold.
    Why have you rejected me?
Why must I go about mourning,
    oppressed by the enemy?
3 Send me your light and your faithful care,
    let them lead me;
let them bring me to your holy mountain,
    to the place where you dwell.
4 Then I will go to the altar of God,
    to God, my joy and my delight.
I will praise you with the lyre,
    O God, my God.
5 Why, my soul, are you downcast?
    Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
    for I will yet praise him,
    my Savior and my God.
New International Version (NIV)

Have you heard "the rest of the story"? Psalm 42 begins a dialogue with God which is completed in Psalm 43. Think of it as a song sequel, or better, an additional verse to a great song. Remember in Psalm 42 the Psalmist talks of his tears and laments the question of his foes, "Where is your God?" The Psalmist feels forgotten, but finds comfort by placing his hope in God.

Psalm 43 begins with a plea for vindication against a nation and against deceitful and wicked men. Honestly, he inquires, "Why have you rejected me?" But even in his own address to God he answers his question. Who is God? God is a stronghold. God sends forth light and truth which guide us to his holy mountain. When we worship God, he reveals more of his identity. He is our joy and our delight and he is our God.

Consider the refrain which is repeated twice in Psalm 42. I love the King James Version: "Why art thou cast down O my soul? Why so disquieted within me? Hope thou in God. For I shall yet praise him who is the health of my countenance and my God." It is okay to speak honestly with God and to lay our questions before him. If we are talking to God, then he can bring us back around to himself.

What if like the psalmist, our worst days drive us back to God? A twentieth and twenty-first century song writer named Michael Card asks, "Could it be you make your presence known so often by your absence? Could it be that questions tell us more than answers ever do? Could it be that you would really rather die than live without us? Could it be the only Answer that means anything is you?" Yes, and yes, and yes, and yes. And now we know "the rest of the story."

This year our Every Day with Jesus readings will follow The Bible Project Read Scripture Plan. Copies of this reading plan are available at Tallowood Baptist Church, or download
the app at readscripture.org. Read through the Bible with us in 2019!
Joyfully,
Duane

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