2 In the day of my trouble I seek the Lord; in the night my hand is stretched out without wearying; my soul refuses to be comforted.
3 I think of God, and I moan; I meditate, and my spirit faints. Selah
4 You keep my eyelids from closing; I am so troubled that I cannot speak.
5 I consider the days of old, and remember the years of long ago.
6 I commune with my heart in the night; I meditate and search my spirit:
7 "Will the Lord spurn forever, and never again be favorable?
8 Has his steadfast love ceased forever? Are his promises at an end for all time?
9 Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has he in anger shut up his compassion?" Selah
5 I consider the days of old, and remember the years of long ago.
6 I commune with my heart in the night; I meditate and search my spirit:
7 "Will the Lord spurn forever, and never again be favorable?
8 Has his steadfast love ceased forever? Are his promises at an end for all time?
9 Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has he in anger shut up his compassion?" Selah
10 And I say, "It is my grief that the right hand of the Most High has changed."
11 I will call to mind the deeds of the Lord; I will remember your wonders of old.
12 I will meditate on all your work, and muse on your mighty deeds.
13 Your way, O God, is holy. What god is so great as our God?
14 You are the God who works wonders; you have displayed your might among the peoples.
11 I will call to mind the deeds of the Lord; I will remember your wonders of old.
12 I will meditate on all your work, and muse on your mighty deeds.
13 Your way, O God, is holy. What god is so great as our God?
14 You are the God who works wonders; you have displayed your might among the peoples.
15 With your strong arm you redeemed your people, the descendants of Jacob and Joseph. Selah
16 When the waters saw you, O God, when the waters saw you, they were afraid; the very deep trembled.
17 The clouds poured out water; the skies thundered; your arrows flashed on every side.
18 The crash of your thunder was in the whirlwind; your lightnings lit up the world; the earth trembled and shook.
19 Your way was through the sea, your path, through the mighty waters; yet your footprints were unseen.
20 You led your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.
18 The crash of your thunder was in the whirlwind; your lightnings lit up the world; the earth trembled and shook.
19 Your way was through the sea, your path, through the mighty waters; yet your footprints were unseen.
20 You led your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.
THOUGHTS:
What is the place of doubt in our faith? Some see doubt as a lack of faith, but I think God sometimes meets us in our doubts. Sometimes, times of skepticism are when we are most open to sensing God's presence.
Here, the psalmist laments how far away God seems. The questions in verses 7-9 are heartbreaking as they mourns how a feeling of being abandoned by God. Yet the psalm continues by remembering the wonders God did years before, how God redeemed his ancestors from slavery. The psalmist proceeds here from doubt to faith, remembering that God uses human hands to lead and care for God's people.
Together, we share our doubts and faith with each other, and sometimes our questions are more helpful than the answers.
What makes God seem far away from you?
What makes you feel like God is close?
What are your questions?
PRAYER:
O Lord, thank you for our existence and for all the blessings in our lives. Help us to draw close to you, and to find a way to live in the tension of our questions. We seek to follow Jesus together. Help us. AMEN.
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TODAY: faith discussion group meets at 4:30pm in SUB 1 Patriot's Lounge. Join us for worship at 7:47pm in the JC Bistro.
Last call: There are still TWO open spaces for our spring break mission trip to Jacksonville, Florida. For info/application: http://gmu747.org/spbr09.php
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