Daily Devotions
Psalms
Psalm 88:14a "LORD, why do You cast off my soul?"
Day 311 – Psalm 88
“LORD, why do You cast off my soul?” Psalm 88:14a
FEELING CAST OFF
Heman faithfully prayed and clung to his faith. However, he could not stop more questions rising up in his heart and mind.
“LORD, why do You cast off my soul?
Why do You hide Your face from me?”
Psalm 88:14
PLEADING FOR ANSWERS
These two questions have one aim. To ask God why He had not replied!
1. “LORD, why do You cast off my soul?”
a) This is more feeling than fact.
b) The fact is that God did not cast off Heman’s soul.
2. “Why do You hide Your face from me?”
a) God had not shown His face to Heman (that is, He had not answered his questions).
b) Heman could not figure out why God had chosen to hide His face.
ANSWERS FROM THE SCRIPTURES
What are some possible answers why God does not always give direct answers to our questions? The classic but most profound answer may lie in our understanding of the Book of Job.
1. God had allowed Job to go through awesome suffering.
2. Job’s friends sought to give their suggestions as to why he suffered.
a) It was because of his sins.
b) It was because he was essentially a bad man and God had to punish him.
3. God’s answer was recorded in Job 38-42
a) God’s majesty and power was not to be questioned.
b) There were many hidden truths that God had not revealed to man.
c) God expects man to trust in Him despite experiencing great sorrow in life.
d) Job’s reply showed that he comprehended God’s answer (Job 42:1-6).
He had spoken out of turn to his friends (Job 3-41).