Depression and The Altar of God (Psalm 43)

Today's full One Year Bible readings:
Leviticus 20:22-22:16 ~ Mark 9:1-29 ~ Psalm 43:1-5 ~ Proverbs 10:18

Psalm 43 is another vivid reminder of how a faithful worshiper of God can and should respond to depression and oppression. These words offer us great hope in knowing that others have gone before us and been faithful to God in the midst of these painful emotions.

¹ Vindicate me, O God,
and plead my cause against an ungodly nation;
rescue me from deceitful and wicked men.

² You are God my stronghold.
Why have you rejected me?
Why must I go about mourning,
oppressed by the enemy?

³ Send forth your light and your truth,
let them guide me;
let them bring me to your holy mountain,
to the place where you dwell.

⁴ Then will I go to the altar of God,
to God, my joy and my delight.
I will praise you with the harp,
O God, my God.

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

Psalm 43

Today, as an act of worship, let your soul soak in the words of this Psalm - knowing that one day your faith in God could depend on your ability to survive depression.

Here is a short video clip (1:54) of the message I mentioned yesterday by John Piper called "Spiritual Depression in the Psalms"



Here is the song "Altar of God" that I mentioned yesterday. It is based on this Psalm as well as Psalm 42.