The ‘how long’ questions
are questions asked by a man who feels that God is far away. These
questions must, however, be reversed, if we are to move beyond these
feelings into the reality of knowing God. God says, ‘How long?’ The Lord
is saying to us, “It doesn’t matter how long. Now is the time for a new
beginning.” v.1a: “How long, O Lord? Will You forget me forever?” – Now
is the time for forgetting the Lord no longer: “Remember Jesus Christ,
risen from the dead” (2 Timothy 2:8). v. 1b: ” How long will You hide
Your face from me?” – Now is the time for hiding from the Lord no
longer: “Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give
you rest” (Matthew 11:28). These blessings are hidden from those who,
in proud arrogance, refuse to come to the Lord – “You have hidden these
things from the wise and learned” (Matthew 11:25). They are “revealed”
to those who “come” to the Lord with the sincerity and humility of
‘little children” (Matthew 11:25, 28). v. 2a: “How long must I wrestle
with my thoughts … ? ” – Now is the time for wrestling with the Lord no
longer: “Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind
of greeting this might be … ‘How will this be,’ Mary asked the angel,
’since I am a virgin?’ … ‘I am the Lord’s servant,’ Mary answered. ‘May
it be to me as you have said.’” (Luke 1:29, 34, 38). v. 2b: “How long
must I … every day have sorrow in my heart?“- Now is the time for
sorrowing no longer: “I am the Resurrection and the Life” (John
10:25-27). Christ points us to the future. v. 2c: “How long will my
enemy triumph over me?” – Now is the time for being defeated no longer:
“Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their
humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power
of death—that is, the devil—and free those who all their lives were held
in slavery by their fear of death … Because he himself suffered when he
was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted” (Hebrews
2:14-15, 18). Now is the time for believing God’s promises. Now is the
time for receiving His blessings. Now is the time for coming to the
Saviour. vs. 3-4: “Look on me and answer, O LORD my God. Give light to
my eyes, or I will sleep in death; my enemy will say, “I have overcome
him,” and my foes will rejoice when I fall.” Without God, we are
overcome. vs. 5-6: “But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart
rejoices in your salvation. I will sing to the LORD, for he has been
good to me.” With God, there is trusting, rejoicing and singing –
trusting in His unfailing love, rejoicing in His salvation, singing of
His goodness. From verse 1 to verse 6, the Psalmist’s mood has changed
dramatically. He wishes to lead us on this movement from life without
God to life with God. God has come near to us in Christ. He is Emmanuel –
God with us. God invites us to come near to Him. We come to Him through
Christ. Through Him, we have this great testimony: “It is no longer I
who live but Christ who lives in me” (Galatians 2:20).
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