Pastor's Ponderings: Old Testament bible study of Psalm 43 (January 15, 2026)

January 15, 2026:  Thursday Bible Study on Psalm 43

Blessing and Peace in Jesus Christ be with you today. This morning, I was able to practice at church without the need for a jacket in our unheated sanctuary. It was lovely there, and it always gives me an opportunity to appreciate our chancel area (the space which holds our altar, the Moravian Star, the Lectern, the organ, and the bell choir tables and bells). It is really a wonderful place to work on music and more. I will encourage any of you who are able to participate in stuffing the bus for the community food bank on Friday from 4:30AM - 6PM on the northeast corner of Alvernon and Broadway. Of course, they are hoping for food staples and cash donations. We always need to remember the success of food banks to create a great deal of food for about 90% less than we all pay commercially. $100 can purchase upwards of $900 worth of food to distribute. We purchased large jars of peanut butter, canned soups, and cereal to drop off tomorrow.

As we read the 43 Psalm for today, we discover that it appears to be a continuation of the 42 Psalm. In Psalm 42 we have unresolved answers to the life problems of the person who is praying. Though remaining confident in God's in-breaking answer, and God's faithfulness in all things, 42 leaves us hanging. Psalm 43 brings the final answer. A person of faith is meant to seek out the worship and celebration of their faith community, because that is where the rejoicing and joy will come to them, as they face what they felt was an insurmountable issue for them. We do, however, need to be aware that when things are not good in our lives, we are not meant to put on that "happy face" that makes others think that we are doing OK. People of faith belong together lifting one another up for God's answer for what has been going on, and, like Psalm 42, our faith calls us, and the Psalmist, to trust that God is still with us, and will not leave us destitute in our prayers for His help.  For the Psalmist this is the temple in Jerusalem where people are always present praying, singing, and meeting one another in the fellowship of faith. The temple was a busy center of worship, seven days a week. It is a little tougher for us to gather at the drop of a hat for that same kind of support from our brothers and sisters in Christ. Our Christian center of worship, the congregation community, often gather for several hours only on Sunday, and other events tend to be hit and miss if you are an outsider. I am hopeful that our prayer chain community helps to fulfil a part of that need, but there is nothing else like gathering in Christian Fellowship face to face, over coffee and donuts, or for a carry-in meal, joining the Foodies of Faith group, as well as being together at church services too.  An interesting aside to this, is that in Psalm 42 through Psalm 83 there are very few uses of the Hebrew name for God, YHWH. The Psalmist in these 41 prayer passages are willing to be more familiar with God than in some other places in the Psalms.

I will be back with you on Monday and Tuesday as we continue our study of the Acts of the Apostles, and again next Thursday for the Study on Psalm 44. May God bless you all with Christ's Love and Light, throughout the whole of your life and beyond in the New Life in Heaven.

Pastor Kim