Not Forgotten

I say to God, my rock: "Why have you forgotten me? Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?"
Psalm 42:9 ESV

For you are the God in whom I take refuge; why have you rejected me? Why do I go about mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?
Psalm 43:2 ESV

These two psalms seem to go together. What is troubling the psalmist in both is the pain of feeling forgotten and rejected and the unjust hostility that has been directed towards them.

It's interesting to note how often these themes reoccur in the psalms. Indeed how often they occur in the scriptures.

Think of Daniel and Joseph. Joseph endured hostility and accusations he did not deserve. Both of them went through times where it looked like they were forgotten and rejected.

Is it any surprise when this is how Christ himself suffered? Rejected by those he came to save. Enduring hostility he did not deserve. Ultimately feeling forgotten even by God himself.

It seems that many servants of Christ - perhaps all - are tested in the same way as their master.

The examples of Joseph, Daniel and ultimately Christ are great examples to us. We are not forgotten. We are not rejected. We are not abandoned to those who have hostility in their hearts towards us. God is outworking his plan to form Christ in us.

Like the psalmist let not our hearts be downcast but let us put our hope in God.