Thursday Devotional

Day 1 : “...for I shall again praise him...”

READ : Psalm 42 (Emphasis on Verses 3-5)

Good morning, afternoon, or evening. Whatever the time you’ve found to sit in and meditate on Psalm 42 with me, I am glad you are here. Assisting in my decision to camp out in Psalm 42:3-5 was my reflection on David in his deep sorrow and his words during such a time were ones I could closely resonate with. They prompted me to recognize and acknowledge the darkness that had closed in on me as well as the light that I seemed to have had forgotten could bring separation between the darkness and I. What David writes in this psalm juxtaposes darkness and light, hopelessness and hope, so if you will take time to read those couple of verses before reading the rest, that would be helpful!

Darkness can be and is, oftentimes, an enveloping thing. When darkness settles in, it makes a point to become all that you know. Darkness is numbing and surprisingly loud; it drones on in the background while you try to carry on with life as you always have. What is a commonplace, rather enjoyable experience is taken by darkness and dulled to a point of strange unfamiliarity.

David shares the effects of living in the company of darkness: “tears [are his] food day and night”. This period of hopelessness can and will bring up questions that only spur on the despair. In verse 3 it is seen that people are pointing the question of “Where is your God?” at David, prompting his incessant tears. All of this is rather bleak. When in such darkness, I often imagined myself being in a deep hole in the ground, and there with me was a blaringly absent desire to climb out of it. Verse 3 presents the hopelessness that darkness brings as it steals its way in. It is interesting though, because in verse 4 we are told of a time before darkness took up residence. David recalls being a leader “...in [a] procession to the house of God,” where his ears and the air were filled with glad shouts” and “songs of praise,” which I imagine his voice contributed to. A beam of light that has pierced the dark.

This reminds me of Ecclesiastes 11:7- “Light is sweet, and it is pleasant for the eyes to see the sun,” as David’s recollection and remembrance of hope in verse 4 helped me realize that we can recognize darkness because we know light; light that is sweet and pleasant. David then questions his soul in verse 5, asking “Why are you cast down...why are you in turmoil within me?” Here, I don’t think David is calling himself absurd for being in such a low place, instead, I think his questions are more to hearten and reassure, to remind himself that there is reason to climb out of the pit he is in. His last sentence is him looking at light directly and calling it what it is: “Hope in God” and God, his salvation. Darkness’ roots are weak and permanence is a quality it cannot claim.

“...for I shall again praise him...” (v.5)

Friends, please remember that darkness can and always will be dislodged by Light.

Reflection Questions:

1. When reflecting on a time of darkness in your life, what helped you remember light? If you are in a time of darkness now, what might be a moment you can think of that brings light to mind?

2. David writes surely about praising God again one day (Psalm 42:5). How might finding comfort and hope in God being your salvation during a difficult season of life lead you to praising Him?

3. When darkness brings questions regarding God’s character, how might recalling giving Him praise bring you to a point of hope? What characteristics of God do you cling to?