Praising Scripture - Dec 9

Annual Bible Reading Plan:

AMO.5-6
ACT.21

2024 31-Day Praising Day 9:

Praise God with a Joyful Heart (Psalm 43:1–5)
( Memorization Scripture 3–4)

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.

Reflection:
In Psalm 42, the sons of Korah praised God with a longing heart; in Psalm 43, they speak of praising God with the utmost joy: "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." Even while exiled in a foreign land, far from the temple, and under constant oppression, the sons of Korah continually meditated on God. Remembering Him, they proclaimed Him as "God, my exceeding joy". Oh, “God, my exceeding joy”—what a sweet expression of trust, love, and delight in the God who loves us! Reflecting on our own worship and praise, do we often have such a deep sense of affection for God? Or do our feelings toward Him fluctuate with our circumstances, at times becoming routine, lukewarm, or even distant?
Truly, we give thanks to the Lord for the revelation through the sons of Korah: regardless of the circumstances, the Lord Himself is “my greatest joy.” Because of this truth, Nehemiah, Ezra, and the Levites exhorted the people, saying, “Do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10). Similarly, Paul, imprisoned for the Lord, repeatedly encouraged God’s children: “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice” (Philippians 4:4).
May the Lord help us to long for and rely on this God, our exceeding joy, in all situations. May we look to His radiant face, exchange "a spirit of despair" for "a garment of praise" (Isaiah 61:3), and experience ever-increasing joy and praise!