Pastor's Pulpit

Praise the Lord for a wonderful day Sunday. The bus routes were up with some of the new kids that were reached during this year's Kids Krusade. No first time visitors with us, but still we had visitors that have been coming for several months now. The following message was preached Sunday morning:

When it seems like the Lord has forgotten you!

Psalms 13

The story behind this Psalm is, David was being hunted by Saul. Saul's jealousy had prompted him to vow to take the life of David. So David flees for his life, and while on the run, hiding in the mountains, he writes Ps. 13. Now think of David, a young man - his life is in jeopardy, everyday he faces the same thing. Notice especially the words, " How long? " Four times it is repeated in this Psalm.
David is at a point of despair and becoming impatient, he wants to see relief. There are times in ours lives, we have faced some real battles, real problems and we wonder if God is there. It seems that He has forsaken us. We begin to wonder if He loves us, we've all been there, because we are all human. We begin to question if Romans 8:28 is true. God is working in our lives, He does have a purpose for everything that comes into our lives. How did David handle this time in his life? I believe we have three things that stand out.

I. His desire for deliverance. ( vs. 1-2 )
Four times he asked the Lord, how long am I going to have to endure this persecution? He answers, " forever? " " Will I have to live out the rest of my life being hounded like an animal? "
For years David was sought out by Saul. He hid in caves, forests, and mountains. This wasn't something that he could accept. He never did anything to warrant this kind of treatment from Saul. David had the feelings of desertion. He actually felt that the Lord had forsaken him. ( vs. 1)
Have you ever felt that way? Like the song, If it wasn't for bad luck, I'd have no luck at all, gloom, despair, and agony on me. For David it was a daily problem. ( vs. 2 ) " sorrow in my heart daily " There are some people who wake up, day after day, with an incurable disease, they pray for healing, and help, they ask God for some deliverance but it seems that He's not there. Has God forgotten them?
David had daily battles of defeat. He cried in verse 2, " ..." how long shall mine enemy be exalted over me? " The enemy is winning. Why me Lord? When troubles come our way, that is the question we ask. It is a cry for deliverance. God wants us to cry out to Him. God assures us in His word, that He has not forsaken us, He will not forsake us!
God maybe using this trial to conform us to the image of His dear Son. He seeks to strengthen us, to help us depend on Him. You'll find that the Lord will be closer to you in your times of trial, than it seems when everything is ok. Sometimes we wander from from God, so He has to bring trials and trouble into our lives to get us back into a closer relationship with Him. David said, " How long wilt thou forget me, Lord? " God is trying to get us to the place where we will seek Him, we will desire His deliverance.

II. A Determination to seek the Lord. ( vs. 3-4 )
Have you ever felt like if you couldn't get rid of your burden that you would die? That is how David felt. God uses those kind of trials to make us stronger. When we come to the end of ourselves, we realize there is only one place to turn, that is to the Lord. God is in control, If we are His, He knows what is best for us. David cried out unto the Lord, " Lord, consider, and hear me!" In other words, help me Lord.
When we have problems we want to try to fix them ourselves instead of going to the Lord first. What happens is we make things worse. We must determine, like David to pray and seek the Lord. I like what Jeremiah 29: 11-13 says. The Lord says, " For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not evil, to give you an expected end.
Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.
And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. "
The Lord says, I know what I'm thinking about you - peace, not evil. There is a purpose in all of this. God is not your enemy today. He is waiting patiently for you to surrender, to give up, to say I need you God. God has not forsaken us. He will be with you. Look to Him today. Unsaved one, quit trying and start trusting. Jesus has provided eternal salvation for you. Turn your life over to Him and He will make everything new. He can give you peace, and forgiveness, He can turn your life completely around if you will give Him the chance.

III. There is a Declaration of Hope. ( vs. 5-6 )
David turned his despair into a declaration of hope. He turned his defeat into victory. His faith kept him singing in the midst of heavy trials. When we're going through something, we feel like,
" This is it, I'm not going to make it "or we want to give up. Lester Roloff was counseling a lady, She said, " I'm going through a terrible time, I don't know what I am going to do. " I'm going through a rough time... he said, " Yes you can make it! " " How? " she asked. " You said you are going through... the end is coming, you're going through it, it's not going to last. God is going to bring you through it. " She seemed to realize that the Lord was there, that He would in fact bring her through it. That gave her a hope, a peace in the midst of the storm. David realized that the Lord does not forsake His own. David wrote under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit Psalms 37:23-31. Amen. When David began to praise the Lord in Ps. 13, notice what he said in verse 5, " I have trusted..." I like what Dr. Clarence Sexton says about this verse, I and thy and my and thy go together. It is no longer God has forsaken me, David realizes there is hope. God has been there all the time. So God allows the trials in your life, but like David, we must trust that He is merciful and gracious. He will not allow more than I can handle by the grace of God. Like Paul, we will find that His grace is sufficient for every need. Notice how God deals with us, " bountifully... He is able to do exceedingly abundantly, above all that we ask or think..." Amen.
So when you feel like God has forgotten you, realize how good God has been to you! and then Praise Him. Amen?

God bless you in Jesus Name!

Pastor Johnny Taylor