Seeking God in suffering

Introduction

Explain Historical context-

A time of great sorrow for David. His own son has conspired against him.

Yet even in the midst of great suffering he still thirst and seeks for God. Instead of blaming God and running from him he desires him and runs to him.

All of God’s children will suffer during their lives at some point. The question is how will we respond? Will we respond like David in this psalm or will we respond in the wrong way?

When we read through this psalm we see that David responded in four ways.

I. David thirsted for God v.1-2

First we see that in the midst of suffering he thirsted for God. He sought after God.

V.1 says “O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You In a dry and thirsty land Where there is no water.”

O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You In a dry and thirsty land Where there is no water.

Just look at the language that David used in this first verse.

Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You In a dry and thirsty land Where there is no water.

He had confidence that he knew God. He sought him early, which showed his earnestness.

My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You In a dry and thirsty land Where there is no water.

His soul thirsted for him, amd his flesh longed for him.

David had a deep hunger for God, to be in his presence, to know him more.

My flesh longs for You In a dry and thirsty land Where there is no water.

This thirsting and hungering for God caused David to look for God, to seek him.

In a dry and thirsty land Where there is no water.

Where there is no water.

v.2 says “So I have looked for you in the sanctuary, to see your power and your glory.”

In the midst of suffering David thirsted for God, he longed to know God more and to be in his presence.

Maybe this was because his suffering caused him to realise what was most imprtant in this world, which is knowing God.

The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), .

The LORD often uses suffering in the lives of his children to draw them nearer to him and this what we see is the result here.

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The question is; would we respond in this same way if we were in Davids position?

Another question could be are we thirsting after God now even if we are not suffering? Do we long to know God more?

In the Midst of suffering David thirsted after God.

Secondly in the midst of suffering David knew that only God could satisfy.

II. David was satisfied in God v.3-5

David’s thirsting for God was the result of the fact that he knew only God could satisfy his deepest longings.

Even in the midst of suffering he knew that in God there is all he ever needs.

V.3 says “ Because your loving kindness is better than life, my lips shall praise you.”

David acknowledges that the love of God is better than life itself. Knowing that God is for you and not against you is better than living.

This truth caused David to praise God in v.4 “Thus I will bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name.”

Then in v.5 David confesses again that all he needs is supplied by God.

I will lift up my hands in Your name.

He said “My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness, and my mouth shall praise you with joyful lips.”

God satisfies his soul. Just as a great feast satisfies the hunger of the stomach so God satisfies the hunger of the soul.

If God is your portion, if knowing him is your delight, then you shall be satisfied.

The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), .

This the truth that David is confessing even in the midst of suffering. He has been chased out of Jerusalem by his own son. He has been publicly embarrased. His own son wants to take his life.

Yet he confesses God satisfies his soul, if he has the LORD he has all he needs.

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I wonder do we look for our deepest longings to be satisfied not by earthly gain, or financial security but by knowing God.

Are we satisfied in him.

Can we say that if I have the Lord Jesus then I have all that I need?

This was the attitude of King David even in the midst of suffering.

Thirdly we see that David remembered God’s past help and trusted in him.

III. David remembered and trusted. v.6-8

David didn’t allow his current circumstances to take away his trust in God.

Rather he remembered God’s faithfulness in the past and continued to trust in him.

v.6-7 says “ When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches. 7 Because You have been my help, Therefore in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice.”

When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches. 7 Because You have been my help, Therefore in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice.

I meditate on You in the night watches.

7 Because You have been my help,

Therefore in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice.

David remembered how God had been his help in time past and because of this he rejoiced in the shadow of his wings.

That means that he was joyful knowing he was under God’s protection. He trusted in God.

He remembered God’s help and he trusted in him.

The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), .

There is a hymn which catches this point nicely;

O God, our help in ages past, Our hope for years to come, Our shelter from the stormy blast, And our eternal home:

Under the shadow of thy throne, Thy saints have dwelt secure; Sufficient is thine arm alone, And our defense is sure.

Rememberence of the past and trust in the present.

In v.8 David declares his trust by saying “ My soul follows close behind You; Your right hand upholds me.”

Your right hand upholds me.

The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), .

This was how David responded.

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This was how David responded.

When we suffer we too must remember that God has been faithful in the past and therefore we can trust him in the present regardless of we are going through.

In the midst of suffering David thirsted for God, he was Satisfied in God and he remembered God’s faithfulness and trusted in him.

Finally we see David held on to God’s justice

IV. David knew that God us just v.9-11

David even in the midst of suffering knew that God is good and he will punish evil. Therefore David did not need to fear.

This is what we see in v.9-11

“But those who seek my life, to destroy it, Shall go into the lower parts of the earth.10 They shall fall by the sword; They shall be a portion for jackals. 11 But the king shall rejoice in God; Everyone who swears by Him shall glory; But the mouth of those who speak lies shall be stopped.”

But those who seek my life, to destroy it,

Shall go into the lower parts of the earth.

10 They shall fall by the sword;

They shall be a portion for jackals.

In these final three verses we see that David firmly believed in the justice of God and because of this he could leave the outcome with God.

11 But the king shall rejoice in God;

He knew that the judge of all the earth shall do right.

Everyone who swears by Him shall glory;

But the mouth of those who speak lies shall be stopped

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Whenever we suffer we do not need to worry about God doing what is right he is a good God and a just God. Therefore we can leave our troubles with him, and trust in him.

The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), .

Conclusion

In this psalm we have a good example of how we are to respond to suffering as the people of God.

Maybe you are suffering at the minute. Ask God to give you the grace you need to be able to respond in this way.

Maybe you aren’t suffering at the moment, when you do then turn to this psalm.

As the Lord’s people we must respond to suffering the same way that David did.

In the midst of suffering- We should continue to thirst for God, we should find all of our satisfaction in him, we should rememeber that he has been faithful in the past therefore we can trust him in the present and we should hold on to the justice of God, that the Judge of all the earth shall do right.

Lets pray