GOD’S WAY IN THE SANCTUARY

Commentators differ as to the occasion of this psalm; some suggest the time of the Chaldean invasion, while others suggest the time of the Babylonian exile. The psalm certainly emerged from the writer’s great distress; see v. 2, which the R.V. renders as “In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord; my hand was stretched out in the night, and slacked not”.

His distress became so. acute that he suddenly uttered a succession of anguished questions, vv. 7-9. Only those who have themselves been in the depths of despair are likely to sympathize or even to understand. Verse 9 is plaintive beyond measure, “Hath God forgotten to be gracious? hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies?”.

The psalmist was being transparently sincere. In this he has much to teach us. At times of overwhelming grief, when faith is bruised and doubt looms large, it is better to pour out our hearts in God’s presence than to nurse our sorrows. He will not chide us for being honest and for voicing our griefs plainly and earnestly. Once the psalmist had got his doubts “out of his system”, his thoughts clarified and faith returned. Verse 10 has given commentators some difficulty, but after discussing the Hebrews words and their alternative possibilities, Maclaren concludes that its meaning is, “This my affliction is sent from God, and I must bear it with resignation. I will remember the time when the right hand of Jehovah had the pre-eminence”.

The remaining verses are bright with recovered confidence in God even while adversity continues. There is resolve in the repeated phrase “I will remember … I will remember”, v. 11. In the closing verses, vv. 16-19, he recalls the mighty deliverance of his forefathers at the Red Sea. Maclaren’s brilliant comment on verse 19 is that it refers “to the path through the sea, whose waters returned and covered God’s footprints from human eyes”. So the psalmist’s final comfort is in recalling God’s mightiest redemptive work by which the nation was brought into liberty from Egyptian tyranny. This teaches us how to deal with despair today. Let us remember Calvary, and our conquering Redeemer who wrought His mighty victory there, of which we are among the eternal beneficiaries.

“This do in remembrance of me”, 1 Cor. 11. 24, 25.