If Memory Serves…

While much younger, Sunday school teachers would tell us to pay attention to everything we read in the Bible and to pay special attention to where God repeats Himself in the Bible.

Back then in the King James Version, it may have been calling out verses that started out “Verily, verily I say unto you…”. Two verilies.  Time to pay attention.

Based on that, seeing the exact same 27 words (in the NIV) used three times in the span of twelve verses between Psalm 42:5 and Psalm 43:5 jumped out.  Time for me to pay attention.

Why, my soul, are you downcast?   Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God,  for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. Psalm 42:5, Psalm 42:11, Psalm 43:5

Need an antidote for sadness or uneasiness?  Put your hope in God. 

Need to find rest from being disturbed about something?  Put your hope in God.  Trust that God can use any suffering you are going through to lead to perseverance, character and hope (Romans 5:3-4)

Put your hope in God, then, according to these three verses, we should praise God.

That can be easier said than done at times, but in those times, we get a strong hint as to what helps us praise God in the very next verse which says:

My soul is downcast within me; therefore I will remember you (Psalm 42:6a)

If your soul is downcast, take time to remember God. 

·       Remember that He is the Creator who loves you unconditionally. 

·       Remember that His Son died so we can live. 

·       Remember that Jesus was forsaken so we would never be forsaken. 

·       Remember that the Sinless One took all our sin and that a completely innocent Jesus Christ took all our guilt on the cross.

·       Remember ways that God has worked in your life and the life of your loved ones and soon you may find yourself moving from sadness to praise.

“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.” Isaiah 43:2