David begins Psalm 13 by crying out the phrase “How long.” David wonders how long God will be silent, how long David will feel bad emotionally and how long his enemies will win. Four times, David says, “How Long.” David feels abandoned by God.
For Christians today we must never think that God’s silence is a reason to think he has abandoned us or, as some have said, he just does not exist. I have met many many people in my life who have decided that because a major tragedy occurred in their life, God must not exist. Because, they reason, if God exists, the child would not have died, the car would not have been stolen, the house would not have been foreclosed on or any number of other “tests” that people choose to put on God. People choose one event in their life and hoist it upon the altar of belief. If God does not pass the test, then he does not exist. I have talked to people who were raised in church, married in church, raised their family in church and when one of these catastrophes occurs, and BOOM, God has ceased to exist and they totally drop out of the Christian life.
The first thing to consider is that God never guaranteed that he would do anything but save people. When David wrote this Psalm, in the midst of the Old Covenant, there were blessings and prosperity aspects to obedience, but in the New Covenant, everything is wrapped up in salvation. Health, wealth, long life, happiness, fun, excitement and all sort of other idols are not included, at least not here and not now.
David responds to his abandonment fears by praying. He prays for God to hear him and to improve his emotional state. David was emotionally down and he prayed himself up and out of it. It is allowed to pray for God to improve your mood or emotional state. Feeling grumpy? Pray that God will change it. He can and he will. The longer we pray, the better things seem.
And that is what David found. The Psalm ends in the last two verses where David praises God. What David did, actually, was to remember back to the numerous times God came through for him. David remembered the promises and remembered that in the past, David trusted in God.
David then rejoices in his salvation. Too many Christians let the knowledge of their salvation fade away as they seek worldly delights. When their life is not fun any more, they blame God. If people would only stay in the knowledge and memory of their salvation, they might find really joy. Consider how much God loves you to sacrifice his only Son so that he may spend eternity with you. Deeply considering your salvation will chase away worldly desires for a new car or a pain free life.
David ends by saying that God has dealt with him bountifully. David went from feeling abandoned to remembering that God blesses bountifully. Christians need to get their eyes off the pain of this world and onto the bountiful blessings and love of God Almighty.
For Christians today we must never think that God’s silence is a reason to think he has abandoned us or, as some have said, he just does not exist. I have met many many people in my life who have decided that because a major tragedy occurred in their life, God must not exist. Because, they reason, if God exists, the child would not have died, the car would not have been stolen, the house would not have been foreclosed on or any number of other “tests” that people choose to put on God. People choose one event in their life and hoist it upon the altar of belief. If God does not pass the test, then he does not exist. I have talked to people who were raised in church, married in church, raised their family in church and when one of these catastrophes occurs, and BOOM, God has ceased to exist and they totally drop out of the Christian life. The first thing to consider is that God never guaranteed that he would do anything but save people. When David wrote this Psalm, in the midst of the Old Covenant, there were blessings and prosperity aspects to obedience, but in the New Covenant, everything is wrapped up in salvation. Health, wealth, long life, happiness, fun, excitement and all sort of other idols are not included, at least not here and not now.
David responds to his abandonment fears by praying. He prays for God to hear him and to improve his emotional state. David was emotionally down and he prayed himself up and out of it. It is allowed to pray for God to improve your mood or emotional state. Feeling grumpy? Pray that God will change it. He can and he will. The longer we pray, the better things seem.
And that is what David found. The Psalm ends in the last two verses where David praises God. What David did, actually, was to remember back to the numerous times God came through for him. David remembered the promises and remembered that in the past, David trusted in God.
David then rejoices in his salvation. Too many Christians let the knowledge of their salvation fade away as they seek worldly delights. When their life is not fun any more, they blame God. If people would only stay in the knowledge and memory of their salvation, they might find really joy. Consider how much God loves you to sacrifice his only Son so that he may spend eternity with you. Deeply considering your salvation will chase away worldly desires for a new car or a pain free life.
David ends by saying that God has dealt with him bountifully. David went from feeling abandoned to remembering that God blesses bountifully. Christians need to get their eyes off the pain of this world and onto the bountiful blessings and love of God Almighty.
Comments
Post a Comment