How Long O Lord
This morning I want to bring a message from a question we find repeated over and over again in the Psalms.
I want to show you that it is one of the major themes of the book of Psalms and most of you have probably never even noticed it, (as a recurring theme) because we are too busy looking at the trees to notice the forest. There is a benefit in taking a big picture view and then refocusing on the little picture, not chapter context but whole book context.
The biggest theme in the book of Psalms is praise. The second biggest theme in the book of Psalms (paraphrasing) is, get me out of this mess I am in.
In line with that second theme, get me out of the mess I am in, there is a phrase that is repeated
19 times in the psalms, 15 it is a very sorrowful prayer that is spoken to God, and 4 times it is a rebuke directed at man. Does anyone have an idea what that phrase might be?
When I tell you it, you are going to get vexed just hearing it. I can already hear some of you saying, then don't tell me I don't need any more vexation. I am going to tell you it anyway, because there is a very good reason for doing so, and that is to remind you of this simple truth that we find articulated in the New Testament:
1Pe 4:12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
1Pe 4:13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
What is happening to you, has happened to a lot of God's really special people. Let me put it another way, God's best have seen the worst. But those who see the worst will also see the very best. In life you will find that trials come in the areas you don't want them to. We would rather face issues that play to our strengths than attack us in our weaknesses. If it is not in an area of your weakness, it is not a trial, trials come in your areas of personal weakness, that is why we call them trials.
Here is the vexing little phrase from the book of Psalms
HOW LONG?
Ps 13:1 (For the choir director. A Psalm of David.) How long, O LORD? Wilt Thou forget me forever? How long wilt Thou hide Thy face from me?
Ps 13:2 How long shall I take counsel in my soul, [Having] sorrow in my heart all the day? How long will my enemy be exalted over me?
I am going to look at a couple of other, "how long," scriptures but I want to break this one down a little more because a quick reading and you will miss the depth of all that David is saying.
First of all, I remind you that David was the man after God's own heart. In scripture he is held forth as one of God's favorite people, and yet here we see him coming unglued with feelings that God has abandoned him. Ever felt like that? Are you feeling like that now?, then this message is for you.
First, there is a great comfort in finding out that some of God's favorite people have also struggled with feelings of abandonment. In fact Peter in the New Testament points out very clearly that seeing what other believer have endured and how they overcame can be a light for you in a dark time.
1Pe 5:9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. (NIV)
Not only are they suffering they are asking the same kind of questions you are asking, "how long O Lord?"
There is a verse in the Psalms that is very hard to nail down exactly what it means though many have tried, here it is:
Ps 42:7 Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me.
Most commentators explain it that the pain the psalmist is expressing is similar to the roar and thunder of a very large waterfall he was near. In other words that very loud roar of the waterfall is an echo of the pain he was feeling in his heart. That may be the true explanation, but I have always spiritualized the text. To me water is used as a euphemism of the Holy Spirit in scripture, so I have taken comfort from this verse believing it to say that God's answer and response will go as deep and loud as the problems I am facing. The deep resources of grace reach to the deep hurt in the human heart.
Yet as we back up to the passage we mentioned earlier David is saying, I feel no comfort, worse yet I feel like God has abandoned me. Its an ironic way to find comfort, and yet one does find a small degree of comfort in knowing that God's favorites have had feelings of abandonment by God. Because one of the things it does, is that it lifts the pall of condemnation that can also fall on one who is feeling abandoned. We realize that those feelings are not evidence of real abandonment, but just that God's people have to sometimes walk in dark alleys with no feelings of assurance, but simply encourage themselves with those truths they have read in the scriptures.
Isn't that what David is saying, when he says:
13: 2 How long shall I take counsel in my soul, [Having] sorrow in my heart all the day?...
NIV says how long must I wrestle with my thoughts.
The ideas seems to be like that of 1 Sam. 30 where David encouraged himself in the Lord when faced with an overwhelming situation. He simply reminded himself of God's promises, God's goodness, and God's faithfulness, and within a short time his situation was turned completely around. But in this situation.... It seems David had been encouraging himself in the Lord for quite a while, and nothing seemed to change. How long, do I have to keep pumping myself up and still see no change. How long do I keep claiming the promises, I am losing my strength, how long O lord?
David then goes deeper in his complaint and says, "how long will my enemy be exalted over me?"
It is if David is saying that while he feels abandoned by God, he also hears the laugh and taunts of his enemies in his ear. Earlier in his life the whole Jewish nation was taunted for 40 days by Goliath (1 Sam 17:6) saying (17:10) "And, the Philistine said, I defy the armies of Israel this day;..." In that earlier episode David arose killed the giant, but in this scene David appears to be on the sidelines enduring the mocking of the enemy, powerless to do anything about it. Some Goliath's are killed quickly others haunt our waking and sleeping hours as we wait on God and cry out, "how long O Lord." David's experience in this situation teaches us what we read in Peter earlier, that we should not think it strange that we face these kind of trials.
And yet we always do.
Solomon bemoans in Ec 8:14 Here's something that happens all the time and makes no sense at all: Good people get what's coming to the wicked, and bad people get what's coming to the good. I tell you, this makes no sense. It's smoke. (MSG)
It is an especial cruelty that when we suffer we also have to listen to the enemies jeers. David in another place gives us an incredible word picture of this kind of suffering:
Ps 35:17 Lord, how long wilt Thou look on? Rescue my soul from their ravages, My only [life] from the lions. (NAS)
"My only life." A phrase packed with desperation. ...from the lions, as I read that phrase I get a picture of lamb in the teeth of a lion, and that is how David seems to be viewing his life at that time. We often call to mind how when in trouble David reminded himself of how he killed a lion and bear that came to attack his lambs, and now he is appealing to God as a good shepherd to likewise rescue him. The rescuer has become the victim. David who slew lions, now finds himself firmly grasped in that beasts death grip.
My main point so far is that God's best often struggle with feelings of how long, and if you experiencing that kind of moment in your life, it is not a sign of God's rejection, it just a well worn path that many of God saints have had to walk down.
God Himself has to deal with, "how longs?"
Ex 16:28 And the LORD said unto Moses, How long refuse ye to keep my commandments and my laws?
God knows the answer to the question, but uses it to vent His frustration. How long will we continue in some stupid sin? God Himself is not exempt from how longs, so don't fret you have them also. There is one more area of how long that I want to delve into before I try to close this message on a positive note.
Ps 74:9 We do not see our signs; There is no longer any prophet, Nor is there any among us who knows how long.
Earlier we have noticed that in how long situations, we feel abandoned, that God is not listening, that the enemies voice is clearly being heard, and now as if that wasn't enough, worst of all we feel we are not hearing any words of comfort from God.
As a pastor many people through the years have complained that their trouble had a double edge; the trouble itself, and to top it off they feel like God isn't speaking to them. The scriptures seem listless, they search for the voice of comfort from God and cannot hear. The bible describes that type of situation as the heavens becoming as brass, or we would say if feels like heaven is looked behind a steel door and nothing seems to be getting through.
Commenting on this verse Spurgeon says: "If someone could foretell an end, the evil might be borne with a degree of patience, but when none can see a termination, or foretell an escape, the misery has a hopeless appearance, and is overwhelming."
Enough, lets change gears.
One of the awesome things about the book of Psalms is that it connects with us in our highest highs and our lowest lows. If Psalms teaches one thing it might just be that those who sing exuberantly on the moutaintops will cry desperately in the valleys low.
And yet as it says in Thessalonians we do not mourn as those who have no hope, God will be with me when in the valley of the shadow of death. I could find the following sentiment a hundred times in the book of Psalms but I especially prefer the wording in the book of Isaiah:
Isa 51:11 Therefore the redeemed of the LORD shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy [shall be] upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; [and] sorrow and mourning shall flee away.
How Long? Not very.
Joh 16:16 "A little while, and you will no longer behold Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me."
Heb 10:37 FOR YET IN A VERY LITTLE WHILE, HE WHO IS COMING WILL COME, AND WILL NOT DELAY.
1Pe 5:10 And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen [and] establish you.
Ro 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time [are] not worthy [to be compared] with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
Our troubles are momentary our joy will be everlasting.
So how long is kind of a down side of the book of Psalms, but I can say very easily the Psalms has more highs than lows. Heres one I really like
Ps 12:5 ... God speaks: "I've had enough; I'm on my way To heal the ache in the heart of the wretched." (MSG)
I love the wording of the message version for this text. Enough, I'm on my way to heal the ache in the heart...
How long, I can't answer, but I can tell you that God will show up and every tear will be wiped away.
One more important lesson for today from the Psalms.
In the worst of life's events we can turn the tables on the enemy by turning their malicious actions into a song heavenward. PS 7:1 O Lord my God in thee do I trust. That is what David did even in many of his how long O Lord psalms.
An oft neglected truth of the NT is to make your requests known to God WITH THANKSGIVING. Its ok to admit you feel like a lamb in the mouth of a lion, just remember to throw something in your prayer that reflects your faith and trust in God.
Ps 42:5 Why are you down in the dumps, dear soul? Why are you crying the blues? Fix my eyes on God—soon I'll be praising again. He puts a smile on my face. He's my God.
Turn the tables on the enemy when he seeks to get you to turn from God, turn to God, and song is a powerful means of doing that.
Close: Anyone in a how long moment, and would like special prayer? Are you in a place where the heavens feel as brass? As we close this service...
