Finding Joy - Psalm 43

God created us with the capacity and the desire for joy. But it any time we think we have some joy in our lives, it is always intermingled with fear, frustration, or anxiety. How do we find lasting joy? Where do we go?

Psalm 43:1-5 1. Starts with a petition - a request of God - for vindication. Defend me. Free me from these accusations. His enemy: ungodly deceitful, wicked. He asks God to plead his cause in the presence of his enemy. 2. "For", "because" You are my refuge. the psalmist's stronghold. He declares his faith in God, but intermingled with it is feeling of rejection. He asks himself, why am I mourning because of this opposition?

We see circumstances don't seem to match what we believe God should do. "God is my stronghold so why am I afraid?" "Why do I feel rejected?" We live in confusion, a fog, where we try to reconcile what we believe with what we see.

1. "Send out your light and your truth; let them lead me" He asks for God to send his light and truth. He sees them personified as guides to lead him out of this fog and into worship. To the tabernacle.

Light - understanding and life Truth - God's word

He recognized that he could not find his way out of this fog by his own understanding. He could not rely on his intellect or emotions to find his way. He needed God's light - God's understanding to find his way.

So many times we get into difficult circumstances and our emotions get balled up and we cannot think our way through. Listen to the prayer of the psalmist: "Send your light and truth; let them lead me" "I cannot figure this out on my own, God, I need you." "I can't trust my emotions or my abilities, send your light and truth."

His prayer, lead me to the place of worship. Why would he ask this? He's seeking shelter from an enemy. Why wouldn't he ask to be brought into some fortress, some walled city?

The place of worship is a shelter. It is a stronghold. When he gets to the place of worship, he remembers the majesty and glory of his great God. He remembers that his own sins are atoned for there and that God is for him.

There is more going on than an enemy pursuing him. There is always a spiritual element to our fears and our joys. Will we, in those times, hold on to our faith! Will we say, "You are the God in whom I take refuge"? Even in the midst of doubt, "why have you rejected me"?

1. The psalmist vows, bring me to the place of worship and I will praise you. I will praise "God my exceeding joy." simchah' joy, gladness

God, in the middle of my trouble, in false accusations, lead me to the place of worship and I will worship you. In the midst of my circumstances, you are my joy.

"My God" Martin Luther, "The sweetness of the gospel lies mostly in pronouns." He is God, but particularly, he is my God.

1. He ends by asking himself. "why are you cast down?" "Why am I in turmoil?" And he gives himself correction, "hope in God". Have confidence in him. He his my salvation and my God.

How do we have joy in the midst of joyless circumstances? In the confusion, in the fog of fear, disappointment, anxiety, We asks God, "send your light and truth". Guide me back to you. Guide me to the place of worship where you are glorified, exalted, magnified. And my enemies and fears shrink in the glory of God's presence.