When God’s Light is Hidden From Us

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Many of us go through difficult times in our lives, times of loss and sadness. In such times our connections with God can be painful. We ask Him where He is? Is this what He really wants? That we suffer? We wonder, why is He acting like this towards us, towards me?

David, the sweet singer of Israel, actually had a life polarized in its extremes. It was certainly a life in which, as well as joy, he  experienced persecution and suffering.

Psalm 63 was composed by David at a time of great trouble. By analyzing the precise words of this psalm, the Zohar teaches us a great lesson in how to respond when God’s light is hidden from us. It transpires that God’s light is only hidden, it is not absent. Our sorrow and our suffering are real, as David’s was, but his faith was strong and enabled him to feel in full consciousness both the hidden aspect of God and give thanks and praise together.
In this lesson we will learn from the Zohar the inner meanings contained in the very first words of this psalm that David wrote in the Judaean Desert when running away from his son Absalom.

1.A song of David when he was in the Judaean desert.

2. O God, My God, You, I seek You. My soul thirsts for You; my flesh longs for You, in an arid and thirsty land without water.
3.  Yes I saw You in holiness, seeing Your strength and Your glory.

4. For Your kindness is better than life; my lips will praise You.

Psalm 63

From Rabbi Ashlag’s commentary on the Zohar, Terumah, Perush HaSulam paragraphs 253-259

With grateful thanks to my chevruta Meirah Rachel , who inspired and joined me in this learning.

Photo credit: Efrat Weiss