Introduction
All Christians
face periods when they feel that God is not listening to their prayers let alone
answering them. They even think that God has abandoned them, but He has promised
never to do such a thing. “I will never leave thee, nor forsake
thee” (Hebrews 13:5). Psalm 22 was
composed to show how believers ought to respond to the Lord in the midst of
problems and difficulties, and reveals that we must keep on believing even when
it seems that He is silent.
Ask
God why
“My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring? O my God,
I cry in the daytime, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not
silent. But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel” (Psalm
22:1-3).
David asks God
why he has stopped helping him. This is not unbelief, for even the Lord Jesus
Christ prayed the same words, quoting Psalm 22, in Matthew 27:46. So God does
not mind us asking why we are facing difficult times without His help. The
important thing is to notice that both David and Jesus maintained an attitude of
humility and reverence, instead of being critical of God. Verse 3 reveals that,
despite the suffering, David praised and acknowledged that God is holy. This
must never be lost sight of when we are frustrated or discouraged in life.
Maybe we should,
in times of trial, ask whether God is trying to get our attention to teach us
something, or to point out any unconfessed sin in our lives. Every dilemma we
face prepares us for even greater victories in the future, so perhaps God is
actually speaking to us through the trouble itself.
Consider
how God delivers His people
“Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted,
and thou didst deliver them. They cried unto thee, and were delivered: they
trusted in thee, and were not confounded. But I am a worm, and no man; a
reproach of men, and despised of the people. All they that see me laugh me to
scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying, He trusted on the
LORD that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.
But thou art he that took me out of the womb: thou didst make me hope when I was
upon my mother's breasts. I was cast upon thee from the womb: thou art my God
from my mother's belly” (Psalm 22:4-10).
God has always
been faithful and gracious towards His people. Apparently David composed this
psalm in the same place that Jacob wrestled with the angel (Genesis 32:21-32),
so maybe he saw his own inner conflict as wrestling with God.
Like David we
might catalogue all the perceived injustices we endure and list all the terrible
things other have said and done against us. Nevertheless, we must refocus our
spiritual eyes upon the God who has never forsaken us. The devil will always
have people close by who will mock us for continuing to trust in the Lord while
suffering pain and torment. Job found this to be true. “Then said
his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die”,
to which Job replied, “Thou speakest as one of the foolish women
speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not
receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips” (Job
2:9-10). Let us never lose sight of the faithfulness of God.
We need to thank
God for His faithfulness even in life’s negative situations, so that we can
say with the apostle Paul, “And we know that all things work
together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to
his purpose” (Romans 8:28).
Tell
God what is on our hearts
“Be not far from me; for trouble is near; for there is none to help. Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round. They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion. I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels. My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death. For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have enclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet. I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me. They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture” (Psalm 22:11-18).
Positive thinking
while in a trial is never a good thing, and this is especially true when we come
to God in prayer. We must be honest with Him, for He is not impressed by those
who try to convince themselves that everything is ok. God knows our every
thought, so our innermost feelings will not alarm Him. We might as well tell Him
about all of our doubts, fears and worries. Only then will we be able to receive
the comfort and encouragement He has prepared for us. Denying that the problem
does not exist is foolish rather than faith. Like David we can talk to God about
those who seek to harm us, and about our fear that they might succeed.
Ask
God to intervene
“But be not thou far from me, O LORD: O my
strength, haste thee to help me. Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling from
the power of the dog. Save me from the lion's mouth: for thou hast heard me from
the horns of the unicorns” (Psalm
22:19-21).
God knows about
all we are facing, so will not be offended if we lay our burdens at His feet. In
Matthew 26:39 we find Jesus unburdening His soul and praying for Divine
intervention, “O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass
from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.” Only those who truly put their trust in their Heavenly Father will have
the faith to ask for Him to display His delivering power.
Praise
the Lord
“I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in
the midst of the congregation will I praise thee. Ye that fear the LORD, praise
him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and fear him, all ye the seed of
Israel. For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted;
neither hath he hid his face from him; but when he cried unto him, he heard. My
praise shall be of thee in the great congregation: I will pay my vows before
them that fear him. The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the
LORD that seek him: your heart shall live for ever. All the ends of the world
shall remember and turn unto the LORD: and all the kindreds of the nations shall
worship before thee. For the kingdom is the LORD'S: and he is the governor among
the nations. All they that be fat upon earth shall eat and worship: all they
that go down to the dust shall bow before him: and none can keep alive his own
soul. A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a
generation. They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people
that shall be born, that he hath done this” (Psalm
22:22-31).
Our personal
struggles are not a reason for backsliding or taking time out from serving God.
Praise can transform us and our outlook on life, even if the circumstances do
not change. Notice the difference in David’s attitude as he composed this
psalm (compare verse 1 with verse 24). He came to realise that God was still on
the throne of Heaven even if it seemed like his prayers were going unanswered.
He saw the importance of worshipping Almighty God even when it appeared as
though the heavens were made of brass.
Conclusion
© 18/1/2010