When A Long Time Seems Like A Long Time
NLF 2/9/03 1 Samuel 24:1-22 Hebrews 11:32-40
Text Psalms 13:1-6
The title of today’s message is “When a Long Time, Seems Like A Long Time.” There are times in our lives, when we can’t believe how quickly the time has flown by, yet there are other times when it has seemed like forever. A lot of it has to do with what we’re going through at the moment we start looking at the clock.
The story is told of a Sunday class that had been asked the question, “in your time of discouragement, what is your favorite Scripture.” A young man said, “the Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want Psalm 23:1.”
A middle age woman said, “God is my refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1. Another woman said, “In this world you shall have tribulations, but be of good cheer, I have overcome this world. John 16:33-35.
Then old Mr. John who was 80 years old, with head of white hair and dark black skin, stood up and said with as much strength as he could muster, “and it came to pass” 85 times in the bible. The class started to laugh a little thinking that old Mr. John’s lack of memory was getting the best of him. When the snickering stopped, he said. At 30 I lost my job with six hungry mouths and a wife to feed. I didn’t know how I would make it.
At 40 my eldest son was killed overseas in the war. It knocked me down. At 50 my house burned to the ground. Nothing was saved out of the house. At 60 my wife of 40 years got cancer. It slowly ate away at her. We cried together many a night on our knees in prayer. At 65 she died. I still miss her today.
The agony I went through in each of these situations was unbelievable. I wondered where was God. But each time I looked in the bible I saw one of those 85 verses that said, “and it came to pass.” I felt that God was telling me, my pain and my circumstances were also going to pass and that God would get me through it.
Saints, when a long time seems like a long time, we need to remember Old Mr. John’s verse, “and it came to pass.” In our Scripture reading this morning we were introduced to a young man by the name of David. David is in his early 20’s and is doing his best to serve God.
As a matter of fact, just a few years earlier, Samuel had poured oil on his head, and anointed him as the future king of the land. The only problem with knowing the future is that it makes us think, it’s going to happen tomorrow with minimal inconvenience to our lives.
Everybody wants a prophecy of what God wants to do in their lives, but if God shows us what He has to take us through in order to get there, many of us would ask God for an alternative based more on our liking.
Now David knew that he was serving God to the best of his ability. But the picture being painted of David by King Saul who wanted to get rid of him was quite different. David was being described as a thug, a terrorist, and an outlaw.
A reward was being offered to anybody who could report where he was. Now even though David had done his best to faithfully serve King Saul, Saul was jealous of David and was determined to kill him.
In the chapter before our Scripture reading, King Saul almost had captured David and his men. The king and his massive number of troops were going up one side of the mountain and David and his mere 600 men were running for their lives down the other side. It looked as though all hope was lost, when suddenly a messenger arrived at King Saul, to let him know, the Philistine army were raiding the country. Saul immediately gave orders to break off the chase of David, and go back to fight the Philistines.
After dealing with the Philistines, Saul’s jealousy sent him after David again. This time Saul chose three thousand of his best soldiers to go after David. It just so happened that David and his men were hiding in a cave.
King Saul and his men were outside the cave, but didn’t know David and his men were there. The king wanted to take a nap. His officers suggested, “why don’t you go and sleep in the cool of the cave. We will stand guard out here.”
King Saul, fell into a deep sleep. He never heard David’s men urging David to kill him. They told him, “this is God’s plan for your life. Kill your enemy now and become king.” Yet David refused to try to take something that God had promised to give him. The most he could do, was cut off a piece of Saul’s robe.
After Saul left the cave, David shouted out and told him, “Look King, I could have taken your life instead of cutting off a piece of your robe.” Isn’t this proof I am not your enemy. Why do you keep pursuing my life. Why can’t you just let me live in peace. Why are you stalking me again and again?
King Saul was embarrassed at his own foolishness, he promised David, “Look you gave me a tremendous break. You could have killed me, but you didn’t. I promise you, you will not have to worry about me coming after you again.” With that the king and his troops went home.
Now David had PUSHed there in that cave. He had prayed until something happened. But you know something, many of the victories that come into our lives are short lived. We can get so excited over something, and then watch it fall through the cracks. The child we thought had turned around, was really still doing things in secret behind our backs. The job we thought we had after that great interview turned into a rejection notice.
The bank financing for that new home fell through because of something in our credit report. The cancer that the doctors took out by surgery has been spotted somewhere else in our body. The raise our boss told us was just around the corner has been around the corner way too long.
The money we had saved up for something special is now paying to keep one of our family members out of jail. When these things happen, a long time seems like a really long time.
King Saul made his promise to David in chapter 24. By the time chapter 26 rolled around, the King had put back up the terrorist wanted posters and the reward money for the capture of David all over the country again. It was at this point that David felt like banging his head against the wall crying out, “God what is going on. I try to do the right thing, and I’m in a worse mess than I was before.”
David pours out his heart to God in prayer in the Psalms. The Psalms show us how we are to be real about our feelings in our prayers. When we are frustrated with God, it’s okay to tell God. When we’re angry, it’s okay to say that too. Let’s look at Psalm 13 together and read it before breaking it down. Psalm 13:1-6
How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? 2How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and every day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me?
3Look on me and answer, O LORD my God. Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death; 4my enemy will say, "I have overcome him," and my foes will rejoice when I fall. 5But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. 6I will sing to the LORD, for he has been good to me.
Now keep the picture in your mind. David wants to go home but he can’t. David does not know which people that he’s helped in the past that he can trust today? He can’t really settle down anywhere with his family. He’s got 600 men looking at him, wondering, where do we go next.
Some of them are saying, “if you had of killed Saul when you had the chance, we wouldn’t be out here in this hot musty desert. We could be living in palaces.” But David had told them God would make a way, and God has not made a way.
To top it off, David feels as though God is not listening much less answering his prayers. Four times in these short 6 verses of this psalm David asks the question how long. How long are you going to forget about my situation?
How long am I going to pray and go to church and not seem like I’m getting anything from you. How long am I going to have to wrestle with my thoughts of “what if”, and “if only.” How long will the people who are getting on my last nerve keep me down. They are just trying to get some dirt on me.
Eugene Peterson has written much of the Bible in today’s language using more common expressions of today. His version of the psalm goes like this: Long enough, GOD— you’ve ignored me long enough. I’ve looked at the back of your head long enough. Long enough I’ve carried this ton of trouble, lived with a stomach full of pain. Long enough my arrogant enemies have looked down their noses at me.
Take a good look at me, GOD, my God; I want to look life in the eye, So no enemy can get the best of me or laugh when I fall on my face. I’ve thrown myself headlong into your arms— I’m celebrating your rescue. I’m singing at the top of my lungs, I’m so full of answered prayers.
We have all asked the question, how long am I going to have to put up with this. But do we ever get around to asking, Lord what is it that you want me to take out of this situation. Nothing in our lives should be wasted, for in all circumstances we can do something to the glory of God.
God gives us choices right where we are. We can focus in on telling the world how rotten our spouse is, or we can allow God to make us the best spouse we could possibly be.
We can focus on being angry or jealous that someone is married and we are not, or on how long we’ve been single or we can decide to let God work in those areas of our lives that need a lot of help before we enter into a marriage relationship.
I can tell you from experience, there are a lot of areas centering on our selfishness that we are not even aware of, but they quickly come to the forefront in marriage.
We can point our the faults of our parents or our children, or we can use the time to allow Christ to make us a better child or a more loving parent. We can complain about the people we work with on our dead end jobs, or we can use it as a motivation to ask God, Lord what other door are you trying to get me to consider with my life.
God may want you to got to school and into another field. God may be calling you into ministry. Whatever it is, God will provide a way for you if you’re willing to make some sacrifices. Before you say two years or four years or six years is too long, remember those same years will seem a lot longer in a place you don’t want to be in, and even after they have passed, you will still be in the same predicament.
So often the problems that come into our lives were ready to pass, but we ourselves insists on holding on to them by refusing to let God have his way in our lives.
We can go into deep depression over an illness or disease in our bodies or we can make the determination, God I don’t know how much time I have left, but I’m going to enjoy it and serve you to the utmost through it all. It will not keep me from PUSHing for Christ in 2003. I will continue to pray until something happens.
Although the church is to be a place of encouragement, by its very nature it can be a place of discouragement. We hear testimony after testimony of what God did for me be it a job, a husband, a deliverance of drugs for my child, a healing, and a degree. But someone is always thinking, then why won’t God do it for me. That can lead to depression and anger toward God.
That’s what David was feeling, when he kept asking God, “How Long.” When is it going to be my turn. Part of our problem is that the focus of our joy is not on God, but on the things that God provides. How often have we heard Jesus misquoted with the verse Seek ye first the kingdom of God and all these things shall be added unto you. The verse actually says, seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.
Are we eagerly seeking the righteousness of God in our situation or have we simply sought a moment with God in order for Him to give us whatever this thing is that we desire. To “seek the kingdom” means both to submit to God’s plan for our lives right now, whether we are happy with them or not here and now and to work for the future coming of his kingdom.
We recognize that God may be sacrificing part of us for the greater good of the body. We can only do this when we learn to love God for being God. Only then can we trust God is doing what’s best for us in a given situation.
To “seek His righteousness” means to seek to live as God requires even in those circumstances that have seemed way to long. This is going to challenge our level of commitment and our amount of loyalty the cause of Christ. Are we willing to turn to God first for help, to fill our thoughts with his desires, to take his character for our pattern, and to serve and obey him in everything. I warn us all that Jesus will take us into some places we do not wish to go.
Just like David, we’re going to have the opportunity to take matters in our own hands and take we want. But if we do, we will miss out on what God had in mind. David felt as though he was dying out in the desert ready to fall asleep in death.
He felt that his enemies were laughing at him. Whatever happened to that song David has slain his 10,000 and Saul his 1,000. Now, he’s not able to defeat anybody
. Whatever happened to the God who helped him as a teen slay lions and bears, and then even Goliath. What has happened to the testimonies you gave to others of God’s blessings and God’s power? Do you still believe them in this dark headache of a situation you’re going through.
I can’t tell you how long it will be before your situation changes. It can’t tell you how much PUSHing you will have to do this year. I can’t even promise you that things will turn out as you hope. I can only promise you a God who will be with you until the end no matter what that end looks like.
When you read the end of the Hall of Faith in Hebrews 11, you find some faithful who are commended who did not receive all they had expected, but they remained faithful.
When David started thinking of his enemies in his depression and what they might be saying or thinking, he couldn’t but help start remembering when he was on top and how he had gotten there. He remembered that bear and lion story. He remembered that great day when he was fighting the giant Goliath. He remembered the little saying that got him into trouble, David has slain his 10,000 and Saul his 1,000. He remembered that day, when Saul’s troops almost captured him, except for that messenger telling Saul to break off the attack.
The more he remembered, the more he could not say anything, but thank you Lord. Thank you Lord. All those other situations that put my life on the line, they didn’t come to stay, they all came to pass and you were still with me.
His prayer no longer dwelled on how long it had been, but rather he said, “even in the midst of this personal crisis, I trust in your unfailing love. My heart rejoices in your salvation.” There’s nothing like dwelling on where God has brought you from, to be appreciative of where you are right now. You know, none of us had to make it this far.
All of a sudden, this man who was depressed and downcast, broke out into a song. “All of my life, God’s been good to me.” The men around him didn’t understand how he could sing such a song with Saul pursuing him and still being in the desert.
But there’s something about knowing the love of God and understanding the promise of Jesus to never leave nor forsake us, that makes us want to sing of God’s goodness in our lives.
Saints, we can be like old Mr. John with his curly white hair and dark black skin and recognize that no matter how many trials and losses come our way, they come to pass and God is still going to be by our side.
Let’s Pray Until Something Happens. It might just be God changing our outlook in life. It may be God changing our circumstances. Every word God gave to David, God turned into reality on God’s time table.
David did not die in the desert and he thought he might, and you are not going to perish either. He spent 40 years reigning as King. Your commitment to follow God’s will, will not be in vain. You may be thinking its far too long right now, but when God brings you through on the other side, you won’t think it was nearly as long as it really was. Let’s keep our eyes on Jesus.
2. Circumstances Still There, But God Is Too
3. Jesus—Will Never Leave Nor Forsake Us
4. Remembering Old Mr. John
5. Another Opportunity To PUSH
6. God’s Promise Became Reality
7. Your Faithfulness Not In Vain In God’s Eyes
8. On The Other Side, It Won’t Seems As Long
Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Sermon Outline Pastor Rick NLF 2/9/03
When A Long Time, Seems A Long Time
I Samuel 24:1-22 Hebrews 11:32-40 Psalm 13:1-6
A. What Makes A Long Time Seem Long
1. Sunday School Visited Psalm 23:1, 46:1 John
16:33-35
2. Mr. John Speaks At 80—“And It Came To Pass”
3. Trials At 40, 50, 60, 65
4. 85 Passages “And It Came To Pass”
B. David And The Promises
1. Early 20’s –Serving God Faithfully
2. Anointing & Future King Of Israel
3. Prophecies Can Lead To Impatience
C. King Saul Pictures Of David
1. Thug, Terrorist, Outlaw
2. Reward For Information Leading To Capture
3. David Saved In The Nick Of Time
D. David’s Chance To Take What God Promised
1. The Hiding In The Cave Experience
2. Saul Places His Life In Jeopardy
3. David Refuses To Take Matters Into His
Own Hands
4. David Asks The King Why, Why, Why
E. When It’s Not Really Over
1. Saul Promises—I’ll Never Chase You Again
2. Our Personal Victories Which Turn To Defeat
3. David Turned Back Into Terrorist & Enemy
4. Did The Right Thing, But Now Look
F. Psalms Encourage Us To Be Honest With God
1. It’s Okay To Share Your True Feelings With
God
How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? 2How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and every day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me? 3Look on me and answer, O LORD my God. Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death; 4my enemy will say, "I have overcome him," and my foes will rejoice when I fall. 5But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. 6I will sing to the LORD, for he has been good to me.
2. David Not Free To Go Home Or To Trust
3. Some Question His Leadership
4. God’s Not Listening To His Prayers
F. The Issue Of Just How Long
1. Four How Longs In The Passage
2. Eugene Peterson—The Bible The Message
Long enough, GOD— you’ve ignored me long enough. I’ve looked at the back of your head long enough. Long enough I’ve carried this ton of trouble, lived with a stomach full of pain. Long enough my arrogant enemies have looked down their noses at me. Take a good look at me, GOD, my God; I want to look life in the eye, So no enemy can get the best of me or laugh when I fall on my face. I’ve thrown myself headlong into your arms— I’m celebrating your rescue. I’m singing at the top of my lungs, I’m so full of answered prayers. Psalm 13 The Message
3. Don’t Waste Your Time Where You Are
4. Decide To Turn Negatives To God’s Chances
5. Spouses, Singles, Children, Parents. Careers
6. Sickness, Diseases
G. The Church==Can Encourage Or Discourage
1. The Great Testimonies Of God’s Power
2. Hey God, What About Me
3. Did It Say Seek First The Kingdom
Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
4. What Are We Seeking
5. Love God For Being God
6. Christ Issues A Major Challenge
7. Jesus Goes Into Some Dangerous Places
H. Remembering What The Lord Has Done For Us
1. Forget Taking Matters In Your Own Hands
2. Will I Die In The Desert
3. The Enemies Laughed At What Ever Happened
4. How Good Is Your Memory
5. Hebrews 11 Hall Of Faith –Some Heard No
6. But All Rewarded
7. David Recalls The Lion, The Bear, Goliath, And
The Song
8. David Shouts Thank You Lord
9. They Did Not Come To Stay, But To Pass
10. God Is God Even In The Personal Crisis
11. Remembering Where You Were Helps Today
I. Deliverance Comes In With Praise
1. All Of My Life, God’s Been Good To Me
2. Circumstances Still There, But God Is Too
3. Jesus—Will Never Leave Nor Forsake Us
4. Remembering Old Mr. John
5. Another Opportunity To PUSH
6. God’s Promise Became Reality
7. Your Faithfulness Not In Vain In God’s Eyes
8. On The Other Side, It Won’t Seems As Long
Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
