September 24
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PSALM 42 WHY HAVE YOU FORGOTTEN ME O LORD?
7 Deep calls to deep at the roar of your waterfalls;
all your breakers and your waves have gone over me.
8 By day the LORD commands his steadfast love,
and at night his song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life.
9 I say to God, my rock: “Why have you forgotten me?
Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?”
10 As with a deadly wound in my bones, my adversaries taunt me,
while they say to me all the day long, “Where is your God?”
11 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.
– Psalm 42:7-11
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A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
My Lord, why have you not heard my cries for help?
The enemy has attacked me without fail
I have become weak from the constant bouts of evil
Help me to overcome all of the tactics of the devil
I have been plagued by much adversaries; they mock me
Give me strength to endure all the schemes of the enemy.
Lord, because of so much wickedness surrounding me
My soul has been cast down and made me feeling helpless
You have promised your steadfast love to all those whom you love
Why don’t I feel your presence in my life? It seems like you are gone
Why have you forgotten me, O Lord?
I have been faithful and turned my back on the world.
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REFLECTION
• What do you think is the psalmist lamenting about in this psalm?
• What are some of the reasons why we can feel cast down in our souls?