Written by the Rev. Dr. Johnnie Monroe, pastor emeritus of Grace Memorial Presbyterian Church, and brought to you by Metro-Urban Institute at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary

Scripture

Psalm 43

1   Vindicate me, O God, and defend my cause
          against an ungodly people;
     from those who are deceitful and unjust
          deliver me!
2   For you are the God in whom I take refuge;
          why have you cast me off?
     Why must I walk about mournfully
          because of the oppression of the enemy?

3   O 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 harp,
          O God, my God.

5   Why are you cast down, O my soul,
          and why are you disquieted within me?
     Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
          my help and my God.

Devotional

One of the Lectionary readings for today is Psalm 43 It is a heartfelt prayer of the psalmist. In this prayer he tells God about a people who were laughing at him; he tells God about an ungodly nation made up of wicked individuals. He begins his prayer by saying, “Vindicate me, O God and defend my cause.” Yet, through all of that he sees God as his stronghold and he asks for God’s light to guide him and for God’s truth to teach him. He sees God as his hope. In the last verse, verse 5, he raises a question, as if to himself; “Why are you cast down, O my soul and why are you disquieted within me?” Then he answers his question “Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my help and my God.”

Lent is the season, in the Christian year, when we look toward Easter, the Resurrection. During this season some of us will spend time in reflection, repentance, and self-denial. As we do these things, let us do so with a sense of hope which comes through the Risen Christ, the one who overcame death and the grave. He is our hope, our joy, our peace, and our salvation.

Prayer

Eternal God, we thank you, no matter what happens we still have hope in you and for that we praise you.  Amen.

Written by the Rev. Dr. Johnnie Monroe, pastor emeritus of Grace Memorial Presbyterian Church, and brought to you by Metro-Urban Institute at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary

Scripture

Psalm 43

1   Vindicate me, O God, and defend my cause
          against an ungodly people;
     from those who are deceitful and unjust
          deliver me!
2   For you are the God in whom I take refuge;
          why have you cast me off?
     Why must I walk about mournfully
          because of the oppression of the enemy?

3   O 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 harp,
          O God, my God.

5   Why are you cast down, O my soul,
          and why are you disquieted within me?
     Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
          my help and my God.

Devotional

One of the Lectionary readings for today is Psalm 43 It is a heartfelt prayer of the psalmist. In this prayer he tells God about a people who were laughing at him; he tells God about an ungodly nation made up of wicked individuals. He begins his prayer by saying, “Vindicate me, O God and defend my cause.” Yet, through all of that he sees God as his stronghold and he asks for God’s light to guide him and for God’s truth to teach him. He sees God as his hope. In the last verse, verse 5, he raises a question, as if to himself; “Why are you cast down, O my soul and why are you disquieted within me?” Then he answers his question “Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my help and my God.”

Lent is the season, in the Christian year, when we look toward Easter, the Resurrection. During this season some of us will spend time in reflection, repentance, and self-denial. As we do these things, let us do so with a sense of hope which comes through the Risen Christ, the one who overcame death and the grave. He is our hope, our joy, our peace, and our salvation.

Prayer

Eternal God, we thank you, no matter what happens we still have hope in you and for that we praise you.  Amen.