Learning How to Lament and Hope

Praying the Psalms Series Part 10

“As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God.  2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?  3 My tears have been my food day and night, while men say to me all day long, "Where is your God?"  4 These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go with the multitude, leading the procession to the house of God, with shouts of joy and thanksgiving among the festive throng. 5 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  6 and my God. My soul is cast down within me; therefore I remember you from the land of Jordan and of Hermon, from Mount Mizar. 7 Deep calls to deep at the roar of your waterfalls; all your breakers and your waves have gone over me.  8 By day the LORD commands his steadfast love, and at night his song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life.  9 I say to God, my rock: "Why have you forgotten me? Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?"  10 As with a deadly wound in my bones, my adversaries taunt me, while they say to me continually, "Where is your God?"  11 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 and my God.  43:1 Vindicate me, O God, and defend my cause against an ungodly people, from the deceitful and unjust man deliver me!  2 For you are the God in whom I take refuge; why have you rejected me? Why do I go about mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?  3 Send out your light and your truth; let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling!  4 Then I will go to the altar of God, to God my exceeding joy, and I will praise you with the lyre, O God, my God.  5 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 and my God.”

- Psalms 42 & 43