Psalm 43 – Talking to Yourself

Psalm 43 seems to end a bit strangely. It starts as a prayer of David for the return of God’s hand. Then at the end, he turns the conversation to himself, and reminds his very own soul where to place it’s hope.

“Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.” – Psalm 43:5

Matthew Henry said, “Let us pray earnestly, that the Lord would send forth the truth of his word, and the light of his Spirit, to guide us into the way of holiness, peace, and salvation. The desire of the Christian, like that of the prophet in distress, is to be saved from sin as well as sorrow; to be taught in the way of righteousness by the light of heavenly wisdom, shining in Jesus Christ, and to be led by this light and truth to the New Jerusalem.”

That’s a fancy way to say, “It should bother us when our spirit is down, and we should pray to end it”. As believers our hunger should not only be for salvation, but also for the peace and joy that should accompany it. When we’re missing one or the other, something’s off. And we should give all we have to find out what’s wrong.

Sometimes we need to remind even ourselves.