Where ARE you God ??

Treasures from Treasured Psalms, Volume 1 (Chapter 4: Lord, Where Are You? (Psalm 10))

Lord, Where Are You?Psalm 10Psalm chapter ten is a continuation of the ninth psalm. In the Septuagint, the Greek Old Testament, chapters nine and ten are combined together. These two chapters are linked by and irregular acrostic started in chapter nine and ending in chapter ten. Yet, the two chapters are distinctively different.* Chapter 9—The theme is praise and thanksgiving.Chapter 10—The theme is complaining and pleading with God.* Chapter 9—The emphasis is on the enemy on the outside of Israel.Chapter 10—The emphasis is on the enemy inside of Israel.* Chapter 9—It takes us through the first half of the Hebrew alphabet.Chapter 10—It completes it after a small gap in verses 3–11.As we look into chapter ten of Psalm, we find David voicing the same concerns we have today.1. Lord, why don’t you deal with the wicked?2. Lord, where are you in difficult times?I’m sure we might ponder the same questions in a day where:* Babies are butchered in the United States at a rate of 1.5 to 2 million per year.* Homosexuality is strongly pushed into our faces in the media and courts.* Violence and injustice are rampant; terrorists slaughter the innocent.In Psalm 10, David presents probing questions, problems with the wicked, and a positive answer and hope for the predicaments of society. Notice verse number one.I. THE ALARM OF DAVID 10:1David asks, “Why do you seem so far away Lord?” Have you ever felt like this? David thinks the Lord is distant or indifferent to his situation. We think this way too sometimes, especially when our plans fall apart, our future looks bleak, our friends are few, when there is tragedy in our life or we don’t know what to do. Why does the Lord remain silent when the innocent suffer and the wicked reign or have their own way? Why is He silent when good things happen to bad people? This mystery summons our faith into action and challenges us to trust Him when we can’t understand what the Lord is up to.David asks, “Why hidest thyself in a time of trouble or tribulation?” In the Hebrew text it reads, “Why mufflest Thou” as if God was covering His eyes and ears from hearing. This issue was addressed also in Psalm 55 and Lamentations 3.* Psalm 55:1—Give ear to my prayer, O God; and hide not thyself from my supplication.* Lamentations 3:56—Thou hast heard my voice: hide not thine ear at my breathing, at my cry.Job and Isaiah also spoke about God being hidden from them.* Job 23:9—On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him:* Isaiah 45:15—Verily thou art a God that hidest thyself, O God of Israel, the Saviour.All these folks were alarmed, discouraged, and troubled with doubts, but they did not stop praying. When you are alone or oppressed, keep praying!* Job 23:10—But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.* Why Does God Hide Sometimes?1. Insincere Worship—* Isaiah 1:13–16.… Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting. [14] Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them. [15] And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood. [16] Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil;2. Ignoring God by our Rebellion and Resistance toward Him.* Proverbs 1:24–28.… Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; [25] But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: [26] I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; [27] When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you. [28] Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me:3. Insatiable Greed or Covetousness—* Isaiah 57:17—For the iniquity of his covetousness was I wroth, and smote him: I hid me, and was wroth, and he went on frowardly in the way of his heart.God hides to inflict discipline and chasten us. He is trying to draw us back to Himself. The design of God’s chastening rod is to make us “smart.” If there is no pain, there is no profit. Felt affliction becomes blessed affliction. Affliction or trouble is used to teach valuable lessons.* Hebrews 12:11—Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.Is God indifferent to our trials and troubles? No, He is very concerned about us. He is directing our lives for our good and working on our behalf.* Romans 8:28—And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.When we played “Hide-n-Seek” as kids, we could still see the one we were hiding from. God still sees us, even though He may be hidden from us. David asked, “Lord, why are you hiding from me in times of trouble?” A look at the Bible reveals that the Lord does a lot for us in times of trouble.* What Does the Lord Do for Us in Times of Trouble?A. He Shelters Us—* Psalm 27:5—For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.B. He is a Stronghold or Place of Safety—* Nahum 1:7—The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.C. He Strengthens Us—* Psalm 37:39—But the salvation of the righteous is of the Lord: he is their strength in the time of trouble.D. He Saves Us—* Psalm 41:1—Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble.E. He Succors or Helps Us—* Psalm 46:1—God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.* Psalm 91:15—He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.F. He Stimulates or Revives Us—* Psalm 138:7—Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me.G. We are to Shout to the Lord in Prayer—* Psalm 50:15—And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me. Rest assure that the Lord is with us when we are in trouble.