#3 - Is God Far Away
This week, the world heard the news that Osama Bin Laden was dead, shot in the head by a US Navy Seal team. The mastermind of the 9/11 attacks, the leader of Al Qaeda, who was responsible for the killing of over 3,000 of our citizens.
But it took us 10 years to bring justice to this mass murderer. He went on living in relative comfort in a compound worth about $1 million, 1000 feet from the Pakistani army training center. Do you remember the anger and questioning that took place in your mind and the minds of others after 9/11?
All this is not that far from the way David felt... why did the Osama bin Ladens of his day seem to succeed?
Psalm 10:1 Why, O LORD, do you stand far off? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?
Lesson #1: When God seems far off, ask God the hard questions.
At a church gathering, someone stacked a pile of apples on one end of a table with a sign saying, "Take only one apple please - God is watching." On the other end of the table was a pile of cookies which a teenager had placed a sign on saying, "Take all the cookies you want - God is busy watching the apples."
Sometimes, it feels that way in your life, like if God is there, he’s busy and watching the apples, and you’re on the other end of the table.
I want to point out something… even in the OT, God is portrayed as a God who wants desperately to be known, loved and trusted by His creatures.
The men who seem to relate to him best, were shockingly familiar with Him, almost brash in their boldness.
David – “Where are you??! Why are you gone in the day of trouble?”
Jeremiah – “Why did you even let me be born?”
Moses – “If this is how you’re going to treat me, then just let me die.”
Abraham – “I know you’ve said you’re planning on destroying Sodom, but let me make a bargain with you. How about 50? 40? 30? 10?”
Isaiah – “
Elijah – “I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me. Just let me die.”
David, over and over, asks God HARD questions.
2 In his arrogance the wicked man hunts down the weak, who are caught in the schemes he devises.
3 He boasts of the cravings of his heart; he blesses the greedy and reviles the LORD.
4 In his pride the wicked does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God.
5 His ways are always prosperous; he is haughty and your laws are far from him; he sneers at all his enemies.
6 He says to himself, "Nothing will shake me; I'll always be happy and never have trouble."
7 His mouth is full of curses and lies and threats; trouble and evil are under his tongue.
8 He lies in wait near the villages; from ambush he murders the innocent, watching in secret for his victims.
9 He lies in wait like a lion in cover; he lies in wait to catch the helpless; he catches the helpless and drags them off in his net.
10 His victims are crushed, they collapse; they fall under his strength.
11 He says to himself, "God has forgotten; he covers his face and never sees."
Lesson #2: When God seems far off, tell him exactly what’s going on.
David’s language here is so descriptive.
If you don’t vent to God, resentment may build up in the hard times. You need to vent to Him. Go ahead, boldly speak. Tell him in detail what is going on.
Psalm 142:2 I pour out my complaint before him; before him I tell my trouble.
Here’s what I’ve noticed: People sometimes build up resentment toward people they’ve never been honest with.
Have you noticed this? Someone comes to you and tells you “So-and-So is so mad at you… they can’t believe what you did, and they’re not going to speak to you again.” And you’re like, “WHY DIDN’T THEY SAY SOMETHING?” Isn’t that frustrating that someone could hold anger or a grudge against you, when they never took time to be honest with you. I would say that honesty would solve 50% of your people problems.
You ever seen this in a marriage… “Well, he should know better than to treat me like that!” “Well, if you don’t know what you did wrong, I’m certainly not going to tell you.”
Let me give you a little parenthesis: This is why honesty is so important in the Body of Christ. Stop dodging conflict, and have that hard conversation. Let God redeem that relationship. Go talk to them – ask them why they did it, tell them your hurt, communicate your forgiveness, humble yourself for your part, ask them if they are drifting from the Lord, pray with them, affirm your love and concern for them.
Sometimes people do this with God too. They don’t take time to really complain to Him, to tell him WHY life stinks, and exactly what’s going on. Instead, they develop a dislike, a distrust for God because they didn’t’ take the time to be honest with Him, but they still kept their resentment.
Lesson #3: Be specific about what you need.
12 Arise, LORD! Lift up your hand, O God. Do not forget the helpless.
13 Why does the wicked man revile God? Why does he say to himself, "He won't call me to account"?
14 But you, O God, do see trouble and grief; you consider it to take it in hand. The victim commits himself to you; you are the helper of the fatherless.
15 Break the arm of the wicked and evil man; call him to account for his wickedness that would not be found out.
Lesson #4: Come back to faith in a sovereign God.
16 The LORD is King for ever and ever; the nations will perish from his land.
17 You hear, O LORD, the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry,
18 defending the fatherless and the oppressed, in order that man, who is of the earth, may terrify no more.
The HEART is so important. If you’ve had kids, you know this is true. There is a difference between asking “WHY?” for information, and asking “WHY?” from rebellion and anger.
There is a difference between questions to help me understand, and questions that try to find loopholes. There is a difference between questions to submit to and understand authority, and questions to undermine authority.
And the difference comes down to the attitude of your heart.
Let me tell you how to know where your questions come from… do you come back, even if it takes you an hour or two, or a day or two, do you always come back to faith in a God who is King forever and ever?
That’s how to know.
Psalm 10:1 Why, O LORD, do you stand far off? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?
Lesson #1: When God seems far off, ask God the _______________ _______________________.
I want to point out something… even in the OT, God is portrayed as a God who wants desperately to be ________________, __________________ and _______________________ by His creatures. The men who seem to relate to him best, were shockingly familiar with Him, almost brash in their boldness.
David – “Where are you??! Why are you gone in the day of trouble?”
Jeremiah – “Why did you even let me be born?”
Moses – “If this is how you’re going to treat me, then just let me die.”
Abraham – “I know you’ve said you’re planning on destroying Sodom, but let me make a bargain with you. How about 50? 40? 30? 10?”
Elijah – “I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me. Just let me die.”
2 In his arrogance the wicked man hunts down the weak, who are caught in the schemes he devises.
3 He boasts of the cravings of his heart; he blesses the greedy and reviles the LORD.
4 In his pride the wicked does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God.
5 His ways are always prosperous; he is haughty and your laws are far from him; he sneers at all his enemies.
6 He says to himself, "Nothing will shake me; I'll always be happy and never have trouble."
7 His mouth is full of curses and lies and threats; trouble and evil are under his tongue.
8 He lies in wait near the villages; from ambush he murders the innocent, watching in secret for his victims.
9 He lies in wait like a lion in cover; he lies in wait to catch the helpless; he catches the helpless and drags them off in his net.
10 His victims are crushed, they collapse; they fall under his strength.
11 He says to himself, "God has forgotten; he covers his face and never sees."
Lesson #2: When God seems far off, tell him ___________________ _____________________________________.
Psalm 10 isn’t just isolated – David did this often:
Psalm 142:2 I pour out my complaint before him; before him I tell my trouble.
People sometimes build up __________________________ toward people they’ve never been _____________________ with. Don’t let this be the way you relate to God!
12 Arise, LORD! Lift up your hand, O God. Do not forget the helpless.
13 Why does the wicked man revile God? Why does he say to himself, "He won't call me to account"?
14 But you, O God, do see trouble and grief; you consider it to take it in hand. The victim commits himself to you; you are the helper of the fatherless.
15 Break the arm of the wicked and evil man; call him to account for his wickedness that would not be found out.
Lesson #3: Be ___________________ about what you ___________.
Lesson #4: Come back to _____________________ in a _______________________________.
16 The LORD is King for ever and ever; the nations will perish from his land.
17 You hear, O LORD, the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry,
18 defending the fatherless and the oppressed, in order that man, who is of the earth, may terrify no more.
How to know if you’re questioning from rebellion or love: Do you always come back to _____________ in a God who is _________ forever and ever?
