"How Long, Oh God?"
April 28, 2002 AM
Psalms 13
A. I suspect that there are several here today that are asking the same question David asked.
1. How long will I have to tolerate this?
2. How long will God let this happen in my life?
3. How long before I get my breakthrough?
B. David sits in solitude
In a cave
Saul is seeking his life
This is a man after God’s own heart going through what seemed to be a no end situation.
Samuel has already anointed him King. Doesn’t God remember this?
C. Do I need to remind you that we are not promised an end to trouble?
We have it all figured out. We grow up, get married, have two point five children (boy and girl), get a house with a white picket fence with a Dalmatian, and live healthy and happily ever after.
Then life shows up. The man you married turns out to be a couch potato. That girl you married wakes up without makeup. Sickness comes along and takes you for a ride.Finances disappear. Relationships disappoint you
The kids turn their back on you or God You are hurt, you are frustrated, you are discouraged, you are alone, you are mad, you are starting to get bitter.
You have rebuked it, claimed it, cast it out, laid hands on it, sent money to that evangelist, and done everything you know how to do…
and you say:
“How long, oh Lord, will you forget me forever?”
Yes, we all have troubles in life, struggles, even Christians. It’s going to rain sometime in your life.
“How Long?”
A. David says this four times in this chapter
It shows his frustration and intense desire for relief and deliverance
B. David is supposed to be a mighty warrior, people sang his praises.
C. Other times in David’s writings
Psa 6:3 My soul is in anguish. How long, O LORD, how long?
Psa 35:17 O Lord, how long will you look on? Rescue my life from their ravages, my precious life from these lions.
Psa 74:9-11 We are given no miraculous signs; no prophets are left, and none of us knows how long this will be. 10 How long will the enemy mock you, O God? Will the foe revile your name forever? 11 Why do you hold back your hand, your right hand? Take it from the folds of your garment and destroy them!
Psa 80:4 O LORD God Almighty, how long will your anger smolder against the prayers of your people?
Psa 82:2 "How long will you defend the unjust and show partiality to the wicked? Selah
Psa 89:46 How long, O LORD? Will you hide yourself forever? How long will your wrath burn like fire?
Psa 94:3 How long will the wicked, O LORD, how long will the wicked be jubilant?
Psa 119:84 How long must your servant wait? When will you punish my persecutors?
Will You forget me forever?
A. Promised a kingdom. "Hey God, What happened?
B. “You brought me this far and your gone."
C. If we were looking at this for the first time we might say, "Come on David, Can God forget?" The truth is we are saying the same thing at some point in our life. People say this. Churches say this. Pastors say this, etc.
"Hide Thy face"
A. This is a picture of hopelessness
B. He is blaming God for deliberately turning away
C. This must be a cruel joke
D. God doesn’t seem to care anymore
E. This phrase denotes divine displeasure or even punishment.
"Wrestle with my thoughts."
A. I can’t win. I can’t even help myself
B. Questions we ask:
Does God Forget? Is He concerned? Does He know?
Does it seem like forever? Is God fair? Where is the justice? Why do the unsaved seem happy? What were some of the thoughts going through David’s head? Our heads?
Why God?
C. How can we be secure when we are surrounded by all of these insecurities?
D. You are not guaranteed the path of plenty
Hebrews 11:33-39
There is quite a contrast between situations here. Was one more righteous than the other?
I remember when my aunt Betty was killed in a car accident with her 7 year old son was sitting next to her. For the next 3 months he could not speak to express himself because he mouth was wired shut. His jaw was broken. Aunt Betty was one of the most beautiful women I have ever known. Why did this have to happen? If anyone should have been safe, it would be her. But life is not like that. The examples are endless.
David Moves From Complaint to Intercession
A. His Complaints turn to prayer: Psalm 13:3 Look on me and answer, O LORD my God. Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death;
B. God wants our attention. Sometimes God strips us from our physical comfort so He can get our spiritual attention.
C. David’s prayer was for understanding, for God’s enlightenment.
1. This takes our eyes off ourselves to see what God sees.
2. Only God can save. If He does not intervene, David will die.
3. He wants to see God’s ways. God’s ways are higher. "Let me see your way"
David Moves From Intercession to Trust
Psalm 13:5 But I trust in your unfailing love;
A. "But" - even though,
B. He remembers
a. He trusted before and found God faithful, he is going to trust again. Trust is not easy, it requires faith ("Is anyone else there?")
b. God rescued before
c. God never changes
d. Count your blessings
e. The fruit of prayer is confidence in God.
C. Writer of Lamentations writes:
“Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness” (2:21). I am so glad for the "yet"s and "but"s in the Bible.
D. The Christian life is about trusting an unseen God to do the impossible
David Moves From Trust to Praise
"my heart rejoices in your salvation. 13:6 I will sing to the LORD, for he has been good to me."
A. He is thankful
1. For salvation - even if nothing else.
2. Notice that his situation did not change a bit.
B. He has been good to me.
Psalm 77:13-15
Then I thought, "To this I will appeal: the years of the right hand of the Most High." I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. I will meditate on all your works and consider all your mighty deeds. Your ways, O God, are holy. What god is so great as our God? You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples. With your mighty arm you redeemed your people, the descendants of Jacob and Joseph. Selah
Philippians 4:4-7
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Keep Your Eyes on the Prince - Isaiah 9:6
A prince is one who is responsible for securing and maintaining whatever his charge is, in this case peace. What Isaiah was saying is that the Messiah was destined to usher in a government of peace.
When people are going through a difficult moments or seasons, they want something around that is stable, something that reminds them that things are looked after and in some kind of control. Even though the situation has not changed, there is stability.
When a loving pastor who is trusted, loved, and respected, walks in there is a presence that he brings with him. That presence brings stability and security.
Because we know He is around we have a confidence that someone besides us is in control. He is solid and as long as I trust Him, I’ll be all right. I May not understand everything in my circumstance. I may not even like what’s going on around me, but I trust that He does.
Keep your eyes on the Prince. Focus on His power to act on your behalf. You must trust Him every step of the way that you will know His peace.
His power is greater than your need.
