Second Saturday in Great Lent
Kathisma 6 (Psalms 37-45)
“Why art thou cast down, O my soul? And why dost thou disquiet me? Hope in God, for I will give thanks unto Him; He is the salvation of my countenance, and my God.” (Psalms 41-42)
If you are paying attention, you will notice that the verse above serves as the refrain of Psalms 41 and 42. The Psalmist says this three times. This refrain divides these two psalms into three parts.
In the first part in Psalm 41, the Psalmist’s heart is cast down because he desires God so much it hurts, and yet God seems very far off. He is anxious to go to God and appear before His face. While other people see his pain and suffering and ask where his God is, he expresses his desire to go to God. It isn’t time to die yet, so the Psalmist goes to see God where God says He may be encountered: in the tabernacle. He doesn’t go as an obligation. He doesn’t go grudgingly. Instead, he goes to Liturgy with hymns of joy and thanksgiving. He goes as one who has a deep longing to be in God’s Presence. Lord, give us this kind of desire!
In the second part of Psalm 41, the Psalmist’s heart is cast down for a slightly different reason: his enemies are overtaking him. Things aren’t going well for the Psalmist and his enemies are mocking him in his distress. Even so, the Psalmist praises God’s faithfulness in times past. He has been through hard times in the past, but the Lord has always preserved him in them. He is thankful for God’s care and this gives him confidence in present struggles. How has God shown His care for you in hard times?
In the third part, Psalm 42, the Psalmist’s heart is downcast for the same reason he shared in the second part: evil men are persecuting him. He feels like God has forgotten about him and isn’t helping him. Have you ever felt that way? What did you do? The Psalmist prayed and went to Liturgy. ‘I will go in unto the altar of God, unto God Who giveth gladness to my youth.’ (Psalm 42) He remembers God’s faithfulness in the past and rushes to encounter God at His altar.
At the altar the Psalmist will give thanks, and it is no accident that we still offer up the eucharist, the ‘great thanksgiving,’ at the altar of God in the Divine Liturgy. Go to the altar of God as a hart panting after fountains of water (Psalm 41), for “the Spirit and the Bride say ‘Come… let everyone who is thirsty come, let anyone who wishes take the water of life freely.” (Revelation 22:17)
