May 20, 2014
We need God. This world is full of difficulties that are beyond us. Of problems that at any moment threaten to pull us down into the quicksand of despair and defeat.
How can we live in such a troubled and fallen world? Once again, David shows us the path in Psalm 13.
THE HONEST QUESTION
""How long will You forget me, O Lord? How long will You hide Your face from me? How long must I lay up cares within me and have sorrow in my heart day after day? How long shall my enemy exalt himself over me?"" (Psalm 13:1-2 Amplified Bible)
David is vomiting up before the Lord what life feels like at the moment. It seems like the Lord has forsaken Him. He doesn't sense His presence. He is overcome with cares and sorrow. His enemies seem to be winning the day.
Every man has days like this. David's Psalms strike such a chord in us because of his raw, unfiltered honesty. God seemed distant and unconcerned.
THE FERVENT PRAYER
""Consider and answer me, O Lord my God; lighten the eyes (of my faith to behold Your face in the pitch-like darkness), lest I sleep the sleep of death, Lest my enemy say, ""I have prevailed over him,"" and those that trouble me rejoice when I am shaken."" (vs. 3-4)
So David, as always does the one thing that a fallen, helpless man in a fallen world can do: He cries out. In fervent prayer He asks God to answer him and to enlighten his eyes to see the real truth, the bigger picture.
This is what we need. An ant looks at a stone in front of him and sees it as a massive obstacle. We look at the scene and see a clear path to simply walk around the rock to the food on the other side. It is a mountain to an ant, but a molehill to a human. It is huge to the small, but immaterial to the one who is above.
God is above our trouble. He sees it in Divine perspective and David ask God for the eyes of faith to see with God's clarity so he will not be overwhelmed with despair.
THE REDEEMING FAITH
""But I have trusted, leaned on, and been confident in Your mercy and loving-kindness; my heart shall rejoice and be in high spirits in Your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, because He has dealt bountifully with me."" (vs. 5-6)
At the end of his prayer, David is reminded of the loving-kindness of God. Think of that word. God is not only loving towards us, but also kind. Everything He does is driven by this irreversible attribute that sees us and deals with us with graciousness.
And David remembers that God is a Savior in every since of that word. He has saved him over and over from trouble and He will not forsake him now. So, as the Lord once again speaks to Him, he comes to the place of rejoicing, of being in ""high spirits,” and even singing to the Lord because he knows—in spite of all the seemingly overwhelming problems around him, that God will once again deal bountifully with him.
How do you feel right now? Come to the Father with honest questions and a fervent cry. It will lead you to a redeemed faith and a rejoicing heart.
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