Psalm 43:5 – Verse of the Day 3/7/13

 
Psalm 43:5 is the final verse of a lament which includes both Psalm 42 and 43 (originally written as one Psalm). The Psalmist’s sense of God’s absence is the primary cause of his lament. In the Old Testament, God physically dwelt in the Temple in Jerusalem, and here the Psalmist cries out because he feels surrounded by his enemies far away from the comforting presence of the living God. In spite of that feeling, he ultimately praises God, trusting Him in spite of his feeling of distance.

What does it mean to feel the absence of an omnipresent and loving god? When you feel like God is not present, do you remind yourself of his promise to never leave you? Spend some time praising God for the promise of his presence at all times, even when it feels like he is not there.