Where is God in the darkness?

Monday, February 18, 2013
Where is God in the darkness?
Psalms 88:18 NLT

You have taken away my companions and loved ones. Darkness is my closest friend.
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Jesus is the main character of all history. It was Jesus himself that revealed he was the key to understanding all the bible.
I've heard it suggested that we ought to consider that the Psalms may be more appropriately messianic prophecies rooted in King David's experience but more fully expressed in the life of Jesus. There are a few Psalms where it is easy to see that it describes the circumstances of the cross better than any thing David is recorded to have gone through. But it is easy to forget the link to Jesus when we read some of the Psalms and then we wonder what place it has in our daily life.

Jesus used the prophet Jonah's big fish saga to explain what his death would be like and maybe here we have a little hint of that too.

This Psalm is written before Jonah and before Jesus. But it foreshadows the judgement of sin that is bore by Jesus while on the cross and in death.

But don't stop there Jesus' has gone before and so we don't have to be judged but we will suffer in many ways as he did.

We will face rejection. We will be misunderstood. We may be oppressed and persecuted and some who follow Jesus will come against opposition so strong their own lives will be taken (only momentarily, for no evil can touch the soul.)

This is a dark Psalm and still we see the light within it :

It begins,  "God of my salvation..."  and then goes on to say that this individual so deep in despair is praying, crying out to God. No matter how low you feel, you can cry out to God, knowing he can save.

Yes it is true God judges sin but it is also true as this psalmist knew God is full of mercy, able to preform wonderful deeds, worthy of praise for His unfailing love, and he is entirely faithful.

See the lovely, uplifting, hope giving character of God can be found even at the darkest times. Praise is possible even in excruciatingly painful depression. Praise is what the psalmist sees as the reason for holding on to life. Will God's righteousness be your life line in your darkest hour?

Praise him and see the difference.

Repeat often the truth, he is good.

Our God is merciful, righteous, wonderful, just, faithful, and loving.

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Psalms 88:1-18 NLT

O Lord, God of my salvation, I cry out to you by day. I come to you at night. Now hear my prayer; listen to my cry. For my life is full of troubles, and death draws near. I am as good as dead, like a strong man with no strength left. They have left me among the dead, and I lie like a corpse in a grave. I am forgotten, cut off from your care. You have thrown me into the lowest pit, into the darkest depths. Your anger weighs me down; with wave after wave you have engulfed me. Interlude You have driven my friends away by making me repulsive to them. I am in a trap with no way of escape. My eyes are blinded by my tears. Each day I beg for your help, O Lord; I lift my hands to you for mercy. Are your wonderful deeds of any use to the dead? Do the dead rise up and praise you? Interlude Can those in the grave declare your unfailing love? Can they proclaim your faithfulness in the place of destruction? Can the darkness speak of your wonderful deeds? Can anyone in the land of forgetfulness talk about your righteousness? O Lord, I cry out to you. I will keep on pleading day by day. O Lord, why do you reject me? Why do you turn your face from me? I have been sick and close to death since my youth. I stand helpless and desperate before your terrors. Your fierce anger has overwhelmed me. Your terrors have paralyzed me. They swirl around me like floodwaters all day long. They have engulfed me completely. You have taken away my companions and loved ones. Darkness is my closest friend.

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Still besotted the day after Valentine's Day.

Psalms 145:3 NLT

Great is the Lord ! He is most worthy of praise! No one can measure his greatness.
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Besotted the day after Valentine's?

I wonder how many are still making the effort to express their love so deeply the day after Valentine's Day?

Psalm 145 is the love letter of someone who just can't get enough of his beloved. Are you so in love with God? Do you just go on and on and on about how great your God is?

No one can measure your greatness.

Read the Psalm pasted in full below and see if you too will fall in such deep love and admiration for your God.

Go on.

Love like this is not easily embarrassed. This God lover is convinced everyone should be as deeply moved as he is. He thinks everyone else should be talking about God.
God's greatness is all he can think about. He end up daydreaming about it all the time.
God is worthy of a song.
God is inspiration for a top ten list! Why stop there? Can you make a top one hundred great things about God list?

Every time I read this passage I'm encouraged to praise, to go overboard, to be OTT, about the wonderful things God has done.

When was the last time you could say enough good about God?

Do you have any insatiable appetites? Can you image if it was praise that you just can't get enough of. Could you be a glutton for glory, or an addict of adoration?

Oh Lord please convice is so deeply of your goodness that we too become besotted with your praise.

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Psalms 145:1-21 NLT

I will exalt you, my God and King, and praise your name forever and ever. I will praise you every day; yes, I will praise you forever. Great is the Lord ! He is most worthy of praise! No one can measure his greatness. Let each generation tell its children of your mighty acts; let them proclaim your power. I will meditate on your majestic, glorious splendor and your wonderful miracles. Your awe-inspiring deeds will be on every tongue; I will proclaim your greatness. Everyone will share the story of your wonderful goodness; they will sing with joy about your righteousness. The Lord is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. The Lord is good to everyone. He showers compassion on all his creation. All of your works will thank you, Lord , and your faithful followers will praise you. They will speak of the glory of your kingdom; they will give examples of your power. They will tell about your mighty deeds and about the majesty and glory of your reign. For your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom. You rule throughout all generations. The Lord always keeps his promises; he is gracious in all he does. The Lord helps the fallen and lifts those bent beneath their loads. The eyes of all look to you in hope; you give them their food as they need it. When you open your hand, you satisfy the hunger and thirst of every living thing. The Lord is righteous in everything he does; he is filled with kindness. The Lord is close to all who call on him, yes, to all who call on him in truth. He grants the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cries for help and rescues them. The Lord protects all those who love him, but he destroys the wicked. I will praise the Lord , and may everyone on earth bless his holy name forever and ever.

Are you singing?

Psalm 98:1-9 NLT

Sing a new song to the LORD,
for he has done wonderful deeds.
His right hand has won a mighty victory;
his holy arm has shown his saving power! The LORD has announced his victory
and has revealed his righteousness to every nation! He has remembered his promise to love and be faithful to Israel.
The ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God. Shout to the LORD, all the earth;
break out in praise and sing for joy! Sing your praise to the LORD with the harp,
with the harp and melodious song, with trumpets and the sound of the ram’s horn.
Make a joyful symphony before the LORD, the King! Let the sea and everything in it shout his praise!
Let the earth and all living things join in. Let the rivers clap their hands in glee!
Let the hills sing out their songs of joy before the LORD.
For the LORD is coming to judge the earth.
He will judge the world with justice,
and the nations with fairness.

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Struggling? Getting on just fine, but coasting? Finding your faith a bit dull?

Sing! Shout! Vocalise your faith. Say it. Say it aloud! Break the sound barrier with your praise.

Tell your head and heart the truth. Instruct your soul through the ear-gate.
Is it possible, the radio, the TV, your family, your friends, your neighbours, your ipod and your colleagues are daily filling your ears with negative thoughts. Could it be you are being brainwashed into a defeatist attitude because of what you are hearing?

So sing! Reprogram your heart with a song. Shout a blue streak of praise. Break into a torrent of exaltation.

I often tell others and myself that the lows frequently come because we're stuck believing a lie.

So in song rehearse the truth.

It works. Song lifts the heart and sooths the soul.

Teach your inner person the hope and joy you long for by singing a song.

Sing while you walk, sing in the car. Sing in the shower. Song while you cook. Sing while you work. Sing songs of praise.

You may sing with the church but take it further, sing through your day.

Prepare your heart to sing.  Pick a couple of songs that praise God. Pick one your know most of the words to. Pick a song you know the tune to.

Ok, now practice a bit, right now.

Don't worry if it sounds bad. Listen to the words. Let the attempt at a tune give you a bit of a lift.

Don't know a sing of praise?  Well then get with the program. Learn a song.  You can not obey God of you don't start to sing your faith. The Bible repeatedly exhorts you to sing.

Are you singing? Are you obeying? Are you reaping the benefits of singing praise?

Why not tell me the song that you've chosen to sing today?

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