For he will hide me in his shelter
in the day of trouble;
he will conceal me under the cover of his tent;
he will lift me high upon a rock.
And now my head shall be lifted up
above my enemies all around me,
and I will offer in his tent
sacrifices with shouts of joy;
I will sing and make melody to the LORD.
Hear, O LORD, when I cry aloud;
be gracious to me and answer me!
You have said, “Seek my face.”
My heart says to you,
“Your face, LORD, do I seek.”
Hide not your face from me.
Turn not your servant away in anger,
O you who have been my help.
Cast me not off; forsake me not,
O God of my salvation!
For my father and my mother have forsaken me,
but the LORD will take me in.
Comment: The positive trust of the first few lines is great to hear. As I read it I feel that such joy isn’t always ‘as-life-is’ for God doesn’t always shelter us from all trouble. Christians are martyred, Christians become refugees, Christians know physical difficulties. Is it self-delusional to say when under trying circumstances that we know that God is on our side? There are times of great peace and joy and it is relatively easy at such times to shout out in grateful praise. It isn’t so easy under trying circumstances. But real growth occurs when under trials I can still rejoice in God. David writes ‘You have told me to seek Your face; I will seek it Lord!’ At the end David is passionately turning to God, pleading that unlike the closest of human relationships, which can fall apart, God will not forsake him.
Prayer: When all around is not sweetness and light, help me to keep clinging onto You, O God.
As I read it! 
Thank you Barry for your comments on this Psalm. It is not easy when trials and difficulties come to seek God’s face, and to keep trusting in Him. But we have the Old and the New Testaments written by those who have recorded the goodness of God to them, even in the most difficult situations. We also have the Holy Spirit who lives within us, teaching, leading, guiding and strengthening us. So in today’s world, we Christians have much to hold onto even in difficult times. God bless you.
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