This is an instructive Psalm of Asaph... so we are to learn from the timeless story of the faithfulness of God. There have been so many times when the people of God have felt forsaken... or when circumstances seem like God has gone deaf to your plea.... Can it be possible that we become forgotten in the heart of God?? Impossible! In fact, the very groan of humanity was the very sound that echoed enough within the heart of God, and with that, Calvary became a reality.
So what do we do when the stretch of'where is God' is almost too much to bear? Well, this is where the true journey of faith starts, because remember, faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things unseen. Unseen hope..... doesn't sound like much, but as I've said before, it's enough that you can hang your life from it.
One of my beautiful friends has been fighting a real battle for a few years now, and at times I will tell you, it was ALMOST too much to bear... but just this week, we received news that the battle is finally over... and she told me a couple of weeks ago, that the way she has grown through this trial, she wouldn't change it for anything! Big words, Big God. Even the faith of a mustard seed is enough.
This is where this psalm starts to change. This is not an ordinary battle. The psalmist is asking God to intervene as this is now way out of his control... the psalmist starts to ask the Lord questions about those who come to the house of God and start to rise up... in fact, they come and absolutely cause havoc, eventually burning the house of God to the ground! The enemy is not known for showing respect or regard for the things of God... the house of God being no exception.
The psalm describes the idols filling the place of worship , the enemy mocking anything that resembles worship or sacrifice.... you can hear the angst in the writing, the humiliation experienced...and the cry.. 'GOD - MOVE by Your mighty hand!' There is one thing when there is trouble coming in from the outside, but trouble from the inside is the worst. Trouble from anything or anyone that is in close proximity is the trouble that has the ability to burn the deepest.But the thing about the enemy that would come to destroy the church... well, try though he may, the Kingdom of God gets stronger and stronger. The cruelty explained in this psalm was deliberate, sincere and deep-seated.. set about to destroy the works of God. But persecution is like fuel on a Kingdom fire... it just seems to burn brighter if we take courage, and don't lose heart.
You know, if it ever seems like God has folded his arms on you, you must never fold your arms on Him... this is where your prayers and your cries, well you must know that they are never insignificant and NEVER unheard.
Listen to 2 Corinthians 4:17-18
'For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.'
