Reading: Psalm 43-45

QUESTIONS
  • In Psalm 43:3, why does the psalmist seek to be led to God’s holy hill and dwelling places? What could these places symbolize?
  • What does the phrase “Why are you downcast, O my soul?” tell us about the internal struggle within the psalmist?
  • How does Psalm 44 inspire you to trust in God’s unfailing love, even when His methods and timings are mysterious?
  • How can the concept of forgetting one’s people and father’s house in Psalm 45:10 apply in the context of Christian discipleship today?
DEVOTION

Two of the three Psalms for this week are written by the Sons of Korah. I encourage you to look back to Numbers 16 and read about Korah and his rebellion against Moses and Aaron and how the Lord swallowed him up in a sink hole for his complaints against the Lord’s work through Moses and Aaron. The fact that many years later, the descendants of Korah are writing Psalms that have found their place in the holy and inspired Word of God is a testimony to God’s ability to redeem anyone and the fact that family legacies do not fully determine one’s path in life. These Sons of Korah were led by God into a new station in life that used their talents as musicians and songwriters for the Glory of God and the encouragement of his people – praise God for His willingness to redeem!

Psalm 44 follows a familiar pattern of prayer first starting with remembering God’s work in the past; in this case, speaking to the conquest of the Promised Land, which followed Korah’s rebellion in the wilderness. With thankfulness to God’s past provisions, the psalmist writes second of a recent defeat and the anguish and humility that it has brought upon the people of Israel. God does allow defeat in our lives sometimes to remind us of our need for Him. In light of this acknowledged dependence, the psalmist thirdly asks the Lord to “Awake!” and “Rise up” and “Redeem us for the sake of your steadfast love.” Isn’t it wonderful to know that in the midst of adversity that we have a God to whom we can reach out and He will listen because he loves us?

We can learn from this pattern of prayer today and are right to daily remember the blessings we receive from the Lord first, prior to bringing our current concerns before Him.

Father God, thank you for the ways that you have provided for your people throughout the course of history. Thank you that you have provided for me in the past and for the salvation that you have provided in Jesus Christ. Help me to have complete dependence on you this day and through any adversity that comes my way. Thank you for loving me. Help me to love others with that same love through the power of your Holy Spirit. Amen.

– Kevin Sanders