Hope in God! (Psalm 43; HC 26, 28)
We welcome Mr. Roy Kim to fill our pulpit.
Psalm 43 gives a voice to the weary soul that cries out to God. This is the weary sould that cries out in the midst of suffering when the person feels abandoned. David, the weary soul, pleads for God to vindicate him, defend his cause, and deliver him from his enemies. David cries out exposing a deeper issue: “Why have you rejected me?” The Psalms are real. We might not always want to admit it, but in the midst of suffering we feel as if God has turned his face from us.
The Psalms also coach us to face life’s turmoil. You see, even while David feels distant from God, he continues to turn toward him as his refuge. His prayer reveals a faith that has been deepened through suffering. We see that confidence in God is not only during blessings. David shows us a faith that clings to God even when God's presence seems hidden. The eyes of faith allow us to see the Lord’s strength even in the midst of turmoil.
David asks God to send out his light and truth and lead him back to God's presence. David desires to worship the God who is his “exceeding joy.” The psalm ultimately calls God's people to hope in God. This is not because suffering is easy or because Christians simply need to try harder. No, we need to take our hope off ourselves and see that God is faithful. Psalm 43 is not a call to Christian stoicism where we just learn to grit things out. No, it is a comfort for weary and wounded souls.
The psalm finds its deepest fulfillment in Jesus Christ. Jesus was the truly righteous sufferer who could rightly plead his cause before God, yet unlike David, he actually was rejected and forsaken as he bore the wrath of God for the sins of his people. Christ is the light and truth David prayed for, the one who brings us into God's presence, saves us from eternal wrath, and gives us unshakable hope. Because of Christ, God's people can hope in God today as they wait for the day when Christ returns, wipes away every tear, restores all things, and brings his people into his presence forever.