Grief and loss can lead to many questions. But not all questions are bad. Psalms 42 and 43 include examples of the kind of questions which may flow from the activity of faith. In Psalm 42, one of the sons of Korah expresses his intense longing for God, longing which mimics a weary deer panting for “flowing streams” (Psalm 42:1). Specifically, the singer laments the loss of public worship, due to painful circumstances which became hindrances: “My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?” As the song continues, he repeatedly asks himself why his spirit is downcast. Each time, he answers by reminding himself to “hope in God” as the one who will restore his countenance (Psalm 42:5, 11). In Psalm 43, he does the same, as he pleads for vindication. By repeating the habit of counseling himself with scriptural truth, he is reminded of the faithfulness of God. Again he instructs himself to “hope in God” (Psalm 43:5). In his fresh translation of the book of Psalms, Alex Motyer points out that the writer of these two particular psalms asks God questions nine times. It is good, Motyer says, “to remind ourselves that questions are not doubts. So often a person can be heard to say, ‘I have so many doubts’ when, in fact, all they have is what we all have—‘so many questions’. And so it will be till we get to heaven…” However, in the asking of these questions lies a double remedy for the downcast spirit, provided they are “believing questions.” First, help is found in transparent prayer, in the honest cries of a soul in anguish. For example, “My soul is cast down within me; therefore I remember you” (Psalm 42:6). Second, help is found when you renew your mind with truth about God. Rehearse scriptural truths about God. For example, “By day the Lord commands his steadfast love” (Psalm 42:8), or “you are the God in whom I take refuge” (Psalm 43:2). Is your spirit troubled? Are you downcast in your soul? Honestly cry out to God in prayer. Turn your doubts into questions, which flow from faith. Then deliberately turn away from the messages your emotions speak to you, by replacing them with the unchanging truths of Scripture. [An edited version of this devotional is now published in A SMALL BOOK FOR HURTING HEARTS: Meditations on Loss, Grief, and Healing.] Print this entry
Why art thou cast down, O my soul? And why art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God, for I shall yet praise Him for the help of His countenance. Why art thou cast down, O my soul? And why art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God; for I shall yet praise him For the help of his countenance. Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become restless and disturbed within me? Hope in God and wait expectantly for Him, for I shall again praise Him For the help of His presence. Why are you cast down, O my inner self? And why should you moan over me and be disquieted within me? Hope in God and wait expectantly for Him, for I shall yet praise Him, my Help and my God. Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance. Why, my soul, are you so dejected? Why are you in such turmoil? Put your hope in God, for I will still praise him, my Savior and my God. Why, I ask myself, are you so depressed? Why are you so upset inside? Hope in God! Because I will again give him thanks, my saving presence and my God. I recall, as my feelings well up within me, how I’d go with the crowd to the house of God, with sounds of joy and praise from the throngs observing the festival. Why am I discouraged? Why am I restless? I should trust you, Lord. I will praise you again because you help me, Why art thou cast down, my soul, and art disquieted in me? hope in God; for I shall yet praise him, [for] the health of his countenance. To thee, O God my God, I will give praise upon the harp: why art thou sad, O my soul? and why dost thou disquiet me? Why am I so sad? Why am I so upset? I tell myself, “Wait for God’s help! You will again be able to praise him, your God, the one who will save you.” In my sadness I say, “I will remember you from here on this small hill, where Mount Hermon and the Jordan River meet.” Why are you so depressed, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I will again praise him for salvation from his presence. 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 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 Why ·am I so sad [L are you cast down, my soul]? Why ·am I so upset [L are you groaning/in an uproar]? I ·should [or will] ·put my hope in [wait for] God and ·keep praising [or will again praise] him, my ·Savior [Victor] and Why art thou cast down, my soul, and unquiet within me? wait on God: for I will yet give him thanks for the help of his presence. Why are you discouraged, my soul? Why are you so restless? Put your hope in God, because I will still praise him. He is my savior and my God. Why am I so sad? Why am I so troubled? I will put my hope in God, and once again I will praise him, my savior and my God. 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. Why am I so sad? Why am I so upset? I should put my hope in God. I should keep praising him, My Savior and Why are you in despair, my soul? Why are you disturbed within me? Hope in God, for once again I will praise him, since his presence saves me. Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted against me? Wait thou for God, for I shall yet praise him for the wellbeing of his presence. Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance. Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance. Why are you in despair, O my soul, and disturbed within me? Hope in God, because I will again praise him, for the salvation of his presence. Take courage, my soul! Do you remember those times (but how could you ever forget them!) when you led a great procession to the Temple on festival days, singing with joy, praising the Lord? Why then be downcast? Why be discouraged and sad? Hope in God! I shall yet praise him again. Yes, I shall again praise him for his help. Why are you down in the dumps, dear soul? Why are you crying the blues? Fix my eyes on God— soon I’ll be praising again. He puts a smile on my face. He’s my God. Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted in me? Hope in God, for I will yet thank Him for the help of His presence. Why are you discouraged, my soul? Why are you so restless? Put your hope in Elohim, because I will still praise him. He is my savior and my Elohim. Those times I recall as I pour out my soul, When I would cross over to the shrine of the Mighty One, to the house of God, Amid loud cries of thanksgiving, with the multitude keeping festival. Why are you in despair, my soul? And why are you restless within me? Wait for God, for I will again praise Him For the help of His presence, my God. Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him For the help of His presence. As I pour out my soul, I recall those times when I journeyed with the multitude and led them in procession to the house of God, amid loud cries of joy and thanksgiving on the part of the crowd keeping festival. Why am I so sad? Why am I so upset? I should put my hope in God and keep praising him, my Savior and Why are you depressed, O my soul? Why are you upset? Wait for God! For I will again give thanks to my God for his saving intervention. My spirit, why are you so sad? Why are you so upset deep down inside me? Put your hope in God. Once again I will have reason to praise him. He is my Savior and my God. 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. Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Saviour and my God. Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him For the help of His countenance. Why are you sad, O my soul? Why have you become troubled within me? Hope in God, for I will praise Him again for His help of being near me. Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again— my Savior and Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my help Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my help Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my help Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall again praise him, my help Why art thou cast down, O my nefesh? And why groanest thou (i.e., murmuring in discouragement) within me? Hope thou in (i.e., wait for) Elohim; for I shall yet give Him thanks, for He is the yeshuah (salvation) of my countenance and Elohai. Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my help Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my help These things I remember as I pour out my soul within me. For I used to go along with the throng, walking with them to the House of God, with a voice of joy and praise, a multitude keeping a festival. Why am I so overwrought? Why am I so disturbed? Why can’t I just hope in God? Despite all my emotions, I will believe and praise the One who saves me and is my life. Why are you in despair, my soul? Why are you disturbed within me? Hope in God! For I shall still praise him for the saving help of his presence. My soul, why art thou sorry; and why troublest thou me? Hope thou in God, for yet I shall acknowledge to him; he is the health of my cheer, and my God. (My soul, why art thou feeling so sad? and why troublest thou me? Hope thou in God, for yet I shall praise him; he is my true help, and my God.) What! bowest thou thyself, O my soul? Yea, art thou troubled within me? Wait for God, for still I confess Him: The salvation of my countenance -- My God! |
Why are you downcast o my soul
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