"I Will Remember!"

Scripture Passage

Psalm 42; Psalm 43; Psalm 44; Psalm 45; Psalm 46

(Get it? An elephant never forgets?)

Scripture Focus

Why am I discouraged?
     Why is my heart so sad?
I will put my hope in God!
     I will praise him again—
     my Savior and my God!
             (Psalm 42:5,11; 43:5 NLT)

Observation

Psalms 42 and 43 are actually one psalm, as you probably know, and one theme dominates them both. In a time of genuine and significant discouragement, the psalmist declares his intention to remember, hope in, and praise his God!

The thing I love about this commitment—a thing I’m not very good at—is how intentionally the psalmist is committed to acting. “I *will* put my hope in God,” he says. “I will praise him again.” Indeed, I was really tempted to list part of 42:6 as my Scripture focus:

“I will remember you” (Psalm 42:6 NLT)

Although Israel’s King David isn’t the author of this psalm, I can’t read this without remembering what was said of David in 1 Samuel 30:6. David’s camp has been attacked while he and his men were out on campaign. In addition to livestock and other property, the wives of David and his men have been carried off. Everyone is discouraged, weeping, wailing—and blaming David! And the Bible says in that distressing circumstance that…

“David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.” (1 Sam 30:6 KJV)

I remember that story, I read this psalm, and I am quite aware that this is a skill I need to learn…and a commitment I need to make—to let the character and promises of God be my foundation…to will myself to remember Him, hope in Him, and praise Him always—"my Savior and my God!"

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