How Long Oh Lord!?

"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;