When will you comfort me?

Psalm 119:81–88 (KJV 1900)

81 CAPH. My soul fainteth for thy salvation: But I hope in thy word.

82 Mine eyes fail for thy word, Saying, When wilt thou comfort me?

83 For I am become like a bottle in the smoke; Yet do I not forget thy statutes.

84 How many are the days of thy servant? When wilt thou execute judgment on them that persecute me?

85 The proud have digged pits for me, Which are not after thy law.

86 All thy commandments are faithful: They persecute me wrongfully; help thou me.

87 They had almost consumed me upon earth; But I forsook not thy precepts.

88 Quicken me after thy lovingkindness; So shall I keep the testimony of thy mouth.

Introduction

Summary: Even when we feel overwhelmed and without any comfort we should remain steadfast in our commitment to God’s Word.

Jesus told his followers, including us, that he was sending them out as sheep among wolves Matthew 10:16 “16 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.”

By his own suffering at the hands of his enemies, he left us an example of how to suffer in this life for the glory of God 1 Peter 3:13-18 “13 And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good? 14 But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; 15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: 16 Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. 17 For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing. 18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:”

And yet the suffering is still real, and painful. The apostle Paul explained it in words that are similar to many laments, that we groan inwardly, waiting for the day of redemption to come Romans 8:23 “23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.”

Since we do not know exactly how to pray, the Spirit of God intercedes with groaning on our behalf. Romans 8:26 “26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.”

Like the psalmist we may appeal to the love of God when we pray for deliverance from our afflictions. Romans 8:38-39 “38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

It hurts more because I feel completely abandoned by God 81 When wilt thou comfort me?

It feels like this has been long enough “84 How many are the days of thy servant?

Though I am alive I feel like I am dead. “88 Quicken me after thy lovingkindness; So shall I keep the testimony of thy mouth.”

“In the first four verses of this section, we see how deep the persecuted servant of God may draw in his affliction before God gives him comfort. And in the last four, we see how he should behave himself in that sad condition.” David Dickson Scottish commentator

It hurts more because I feel completely abandoned by God

Psalm 119:81-83 “81 CAPH. My soul fainteth for thy salvation: But I hope in thy word. 82 Mine eyes fail for thy word, Saying, When wilt thou comfort me? 83 For I am become like a bottle in the smoke; Yet do I not forget thy statutes.”

Failing Strength

Many of us have been here before. Psalm 3:2 “2 Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah.”

Eyes begin to fail. Psalm 119:82 “82 Mine eyes fail for thy word, Saying, When wilt thou comfort me?”

Eyes are watching for a sign of God’s answer

He is looking for comfort

His soul and spiritual life felt dry. 83 For I am become like a bottle in the smoke;

Though this illustration speaks about the difficult nature of the psalmist’s trial, it also speaks to the character of the trial: “Our trials are smoke, but not fire; they are very uncomfortable, but they do not consume us.” (Spurgeon)

Loss of direction in life

We begin to lose courage and strength as our hope begins to fade. Psalm 31:24 “24 Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, All ye that hope in the Lord.”

Leading is believing. “We cannot lead in a way that is faithful to Christ and effective for Christ’s people if we are not deeply invested in Christian truth. We cannot faithfully lead if we do not first faithfully believe.” ― Albert Mohler, The Conviction to Lead: 25 Principles for Leadership That Matters

desperate yet not despairing 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 “8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;”

It feels like this has been long enough

Psalm 119:84-87 “84 How many are the days of thy servant? When wilt thou execute judgment on them that persecute me? (lament) 85 The proud have digged pits for me, Which are not after thy law. 86 All thy commandments are faithful: They persecute me wrongfully; help thou me. 87 They had almost consumed me upon earth; But I forsook not thy precepts.”

Distraction and despair

We understand how the distraction and despair have caused him to lose focus on God’s word. No reference to God’s Word in v.84 (rare in Psalm 119)

Psalmist feels as if he is being hunted like an animal. 85 The proud have digged pits for me

Cause of pain seems unaffected by right and wrong

The cause of pain has no concern for God’s Word. Which are not after thy law.

In this Psalm it comes from unjust people, but the pain can come from unfair circumstances that seem to have no concern for right and wrong.

Help thou me

When you get to the end of your rope tie a knot and hold on. 87 They had almost consumed me upon earth; But I forsook not thy precepts.”

Psalmist felt completely destroyed but held on to something undestructable.

When we reach out to God in obedient faith, His comfort is always available.

The time of waiting is a time of testing

1 Samuel 28:6-7 “6 And when Saul inquired of the Lord, the Lord answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets. 7 Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and inquire of her. And his servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman that hath a familiar spirit at En-dor.”

You have to decide what you will do in the “the Lord answered him not” seasons of your life.

Memorizing Psalm 40:1-3 would be something you could do while waiting.

Psalm 40:1–3 (KJV 1900)

1 I waited patiently for the Lord; And he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.

2 He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, And set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.

3 And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: Many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord.

What we see in this Psalm

Don’t just sit and wait, go and vocalize your praise as you wait.

As David does this he gets caught up in the wonder of God. Psalm 40:5 “5 Many, O Lord my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, And thy thoughts which are to us-ward: They cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: If I would declare and speak of them, They are more than can be numbered.”

David’s commits to declaring his thoughts about God so that others can hear them:

New song in his mouth. 40:3

Declare and speak them. 40:5

Not restrained lips 40:9 Psalm 40:9

Not hidden, spoken, not concealed. 40:10

David is rejoicing the middle of his war not at the closing ceremony

This shows a very realistic view of our problems.

Psalm 40:12-13 “12 For innumerable evils have compassed me about: Mine iniquities have taken hold upon me, so that I am not able to look up; They are more than the hairs of mine head: therefore my heart faileth me. 13 Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me: O Lord, make haste to help me.”

David celebrates his past deliverance in the midst of needing to be delivered again.

David remembers he is not alone. Psalm 40:17 “17 But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: Thou art my help and my deliverer; Make no tarrying, O my God.”

Though I am alive I feel like I am dead

Psalm 119:88 “88 Quicken me after thy lovingkindness; So shall I keep the testimony of thy mouth.”

Prayer to quicken is an acknowledgement of death

More than a prayer of survival, he wants to be able to enjoy life.

Quickening our greatest need

Quickening His greatest gift.

Help thou me

Psalm 119:86 “86 All thy commandments are faithful: They persecute me wrongfully; help thou me.”

How? Psalm 119:88 “88 Quicken me after thy lovingkindness; So shall I keep the testimony of thy mouth.”

So much power in the word “almost” Psalm 119:87 “87 They had almost consumed me upon earth; But I forsook not thy precepts.”

Many testimonies start with “I almost didn’t make it..”

"Almost," but not altogether. The saving clause: "I forsook not thy precepts."

Why? Psalm 119:88 “88 Quicken me after thy lovingkindness; So shall I keep the testimony of thy mouth.”

Desires to live out God’s Word before others

Nothing would make the psalmist forsake God’s word. Psalm 119:87 “87 They had almost consumed me upon earth; But I forsook not thy precepts.”

The psalmist rightly understood that the word of God actually came from the mouth of God.

Jesus does know how you feel

I am very careful to tell people “I know how they feel” even if I have been through something very similar. It is never exactly the same.

Hebrews 5:7-8 “7 Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; 8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;”

Jesus would have experienced a “homesickness” for the presence of his Father far more profound and painful than anything we’ve experienced.

Jesus lived sinless in a sinful world. You could call him the white sheep of the family.

The most lonely moment in history must have taken place on the Cross. Matthew 27:46 “46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”

This necessary separation made all other separations optional.

Conclusion

What are we to do today with our loneliness, waiting, and feelings of sadness that make us feel almost dead?

We are not alone. God has not forsaken us. Much of our waiting has been dependent on us.

“When will You comfort me?”

God’s Time for Comforting, Spurgeon sought to give some practical answers to the question,

· Comfort will come when we put away unbelief.

· Comfort will come when we are finished complaining.

· Comfort will come when we put away the sin that we tolerate.

· Comfort will come when we fulfill the duties we have neglected.

So with every lonely need. Hebrews 4:16 “16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”