I. WHEN GOD SEEMS FAR AWAY (v. 1)
A. There are times in the life of the godliest Christians during which God seems afar off and as if He is hiding.
1. A Christian should not doubt his salvation b/c he goes through such times.
2. This will be distressing for Christians. It is not troubling that we lament as much as the absence of God from our troubles.
B. Why does this occur? The answer is different as the case may be:
1. Sin
“It is essential to our thorough chastisement that the Father should withdraw his smile...If there is no pain, there will be no profit. If there be no hiding of God, there will be no bitterness, and consequently no purging in his chastisements...Should the parent comfort his child while he is correcting him, where would the chastening be used? A smiling face and a rod are not fit companions”. C.H.S.
2. His Unsearchable Judgments: as the case here was. He laments God’s tolerance of the wicked.
3. Trials
a) The allowance of trouble into our life itself appears as though God stood afar off.
b) “If the Lord did not hide it would not be a time of trouble at all. As well ask why the sun does not shine at night when for certain there could be no night if he did. If we were carried in the arms of God over every stream, where would be the trial, and where the experience, which trouble is meant to teach us?” C.H.S.
4. Bring us to greater dependence
a) By the absence of God, we are made to see how much we need Him.
b) Jobs' trials were used for this.
II. THE PRIDE OF MAN
A. Causes Persecution (v. 2)
1. When men take honours that do not belong to them, they soon assume power that does not belong to them.
2. When the popes called allowed themselves to be called Pontiff Maximus they loosed their violent hands upon true believers and the Jews.
B. Rejoices in Sin (v. 3)
1. His wicked desire does not bring shame but he boasts of it.
2. He encourages others in sin.
C. Is the Barrier to Conversion (v. 4)
1. He does not need a crutch.
2. In all of these thoughts, God does not so much as find a place.
D. Makes him blind to the reality of God (v. 5)
E. Gives him empty confidence (v. 6)
• Door-knocking, “I’ll be alright...”
F. His subtle methods make him a good picture of Satan (v. 9-11).
III. THE PRAYER OF THE BELIEVER
A. He beseeches God for action (v. 12) – as the Christians see wickedness prospering, how he ought to beg God to lift up His hand and bless the gospel, the work of the church & the cause of Christ.
B. He strengthens his trust in God by reminding himself...
1. Of God’s justice (v. 13-14).
• The unbeliever silences his own conscience by convincing himself he is not accountable to God.
2. Of God’s sovereignty (v. 16).
3. Of God’s track record (v. 17)
