Why God? Part V

Psalm 39

Today we focus on Psalm 39:7-13
(7)And now, Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in You. (8)Deliver me from all my transgressions; Make me not the reproach of the foolish. (9)I have become mute, I do not open my mouth, because it is You who have done it. (10)Remove Your plague from me; because of the opposition of Your hand I am perishing. (11)With reproofs You chasten a man for iniquity; You consume as a moth what is precious to him; surely every man is a mere breath. Selah.  (12)Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear to my cry; do not be silent at my tears; for I am a stranger with You, a sojourner like all my fathers. (13)Turn Your gaze away from me, that I may smile again before I depart and am no more."

Sharing Honestly Reveals Answers to Our Life. V 7-13

The answers to our questions and searching often come when we pass them through the faculties of our speech.  Verbal prayer is often the vessel that God uses to give us answers. As we pray, He interjects the very answer we are looking for through our own lips.

While talking, we use different mental faculties and reasoning.  Feelings that are on our hearts are now being heard by our minds.  We often hear ourselves and God for the first time.  The sound of our emotion is sometimes disquieting as we realize the depth of our pain. 

The answer to our prayer may not be a correction of the circumstances, but a new awareness of His providential care and grace.  God spoke to David's heart and troubled spirit more than his physical condition.  There is no sign that his questions were answered in anything more than the promise of God’s presence.  Can that be enough for us in the midst our problem?  Are we only able to find peace through the resolution of our circumstance pr relationship?

In verse nine, David confesses the right of God to deal with man as He desires.  He is God!  He has His ways and purposes.  For us to complain against His hand is to lose sight of His providential care and sovereignty.

In verse ten, David voices the transiency of man before an eternal and all-powerful God.  It is good for us to state aloud our human condition.  It reminds us of the fleeting of days and importance of every breath.  He hears the trembling of his voice in his words and pauses to catch his breath. (Selah)

David’s searching for an answer to “Why?” comes to a quiet end.  He closes his eyes and asks God to please hear his prayer and see his tears.  He acknowledges that what he really needs is not to understand why, but to know that God’s compassion never fails.

Don’t ever think that your problem is inexpressible for you may feel that it is unforgivable as well.  Be open with yourself and others concerning your trials as well as your victories.  Speak to God and see if He does not answer you through your own lips.

Scripture to Claim
For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God.
1 Corinthians 2:11