Overcoming the Silence of Heaven

Overcoming the Silence of Heaven

1/30/21

Scripture: Psalm 22:1-2

There is a period between the Old and New Testaments called the Intertestamental period; it’s a unique and eerie season.

This time is an eerie period because it lasts for 400 years.

· It’s not eerie because of the number of years

· It’s not eerie because of the shift in the Hebrew culture to the Greek culture

· Greek-speaking

· Greek language

· But this 400 year period between the Old and the New Testament is an eerie period primarily because there was no word from God.

· There was no prophetic word being spoken from the minor or major prophets on behalf of God

· For 400 years, the heavens shut up

· For 400 years, there was no word from God.

· Can you imagine a life lived 4 weeks without hearing from God?

· Can you imagine a life lived for 4 months or 4 years without hearing from God?

· So, it was because of the sins of Israel God decided He was no longer going to speak to them. Until he got ready to send forth His Son Jesus, in the fullness of time

What a blessing that we live in the 21st century that we don’t have to be part of a 400-year period when God is silent; however, I’ve learned that there are times when it seems as if heaven is silent.

· Has there ever been a time in your life when you have called for heaven to intervene?

· Has there ever been a time when you sought out answers to your prayers, and it seemed like God was silent?

· Have you ever been in a desperate state that you got down on your knees, and nothing ever came to pass?

· We have been told, Matt. 7:7: 7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.[1]

· I was told Matt 7:8: 8 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. [2]

· And if I would knock, the door would be open

· I was told we have not because we asked not

· I was told Hebrews 4:16: Let us, therefore, come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.[3]

What happens when we’ve come boldly before the throne?

What happens when we have asked?

What happens when we have sought and knocked, but yet it seems like heaven does not have one answer to your petition?

Maybe, someone this morning would be honest and agree that they have repeatedly pondered that question!

· Is it possible for me as a Christian to pray, and God never responds?

Is it possible for me to ask God to give me a job, and yet I still find myself jobless?

· Is it possible to ask God for a spouse and still be single?

· Is it possible to ask God for college tuition, and the finance department has lost their every lasting mind?

· What happens when I’ve been praying and praying, and heaven is silent?

Such is the case in this text this morning; David finds himself on the run, fleeing for his life because of the assassination attempt from Saul.

David writes here in this text words that are not only poetic but deemed prophetic

· David prophetically gives us a snapshot of the Lord’s saddest hour

· David writes from a poetic perspective for himself but from a prophetic perspective for Christ as in Matthew 27:46

David writes, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me.”

· Why are you so far from me

· He says, God, I’m crying to you in the daytime, but yet you don’t say a word!

It’s not because you haven’t been with me,

· It was you who protected me in the field with my father's sheep when the lion came to devour my father's sheep, and the bear came to devour me, and you gave me help from on high

· You empowered me to kill that great giant named Goliath

David does not doubt that it was God who was with him

· I know I’ve been called

· I know you anointed me

And yet I call you, and I call you, and I don’t hear a word from you

· Is it because I lack faith?

· Is it because of my sins?

· What is it?

David declares that, like him, one day, you may feel as if heaven is silent!

· We’ve prayed for you to heal our land

· We’ve prayed about this pandemic

· Obviously, you must be silent

· Have you ever wondered whether God hears you at times?

· Have you ever gone through something so bad that it made you wonder if prayer is really powerful?

· Have you ever wondered whether prayer really works?

· Have you ever prayed about something till you were blue in the face, yet it seems that… that answer hasn’t come?

The question I want to raise is to you, what do you do in life when you find yourself dealing with the silence from heaven!

What do when you have asked God

· Over and over and over and over for one thing and yet that one thing God is silent on

How do you overcome the silence of heaven? Are you interested?

What do you do when there is no word from on high!

When heaven is silent!

There are four things I want to give to you today!

First

You have to learn how to give God worship!

Look at vs1: 1 My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?

Why are You so far from helping Me,

And from the words of My groaning?

2 O My God, I cry in the daytime, but You do not hear;

And in the night season, and am not silent.[4]

The psalmist’s plea to “My God” shows his relationship and dependence on God.

Why have you forsaken me? The feeling of being abandoned by God causes the psalmist despair.

When on the cross, Jesus quotes these words to communicate a sense of abandonment by God the Father (Matt 27:46; Mark 15:34).

22:2 you do not answer the psalmist describes his cries to God as continual—day and night. Still, he receives no answer.[5]

But in spite of that, look at vs3: But You are holy,

· In other words,

· Although I am upset

· Although I can’t hear from you

· Although you are not answering me

· Although I am frustrated

· Although I am in pain

MY PAIN HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH GOD’S POSITION… HE’S STILL HOLY

· I am frustrated but guess what: He’s holy!

So, I lift up my hand even with unanswered prayer and just say one word (Holy)

· Even though heaven may be silent on you, you can’t look at God based on your circumstance:

o Although you are broke: He’s not!

o Although you are weak: He’s not!

o Although you may be crying: He’s still sovereign

o I’ve learned to say praise is what I do, even though I am going through, whether I am happy or sad.

Psalm 34:3: Oh, magnify the Lord with me,

And let us exalt His name together.[6]

Psalm 34:1: I will bless the Lordat all times; His praise shallcontinually be in my mouth.[7]

Psalm 34:2: 2 My soul shall make its boast in the Lord;

The humble shall hear of it and be glad.[8]

Psalm 100:1-5: 1 Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands!

2 Serve the Lordwith gladness;

Come before His presence with singing.

3 Know that the Lord, He is God;

It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;

We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.

4 Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,

And into His courts with praise.

Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.

5 For the Lord is good;

His mercy is everlasting,

And His truth endures to all generations.[9]

· He’s still holy

· He’s still on the throne

· He’s still worthy to be praised!

· Stop looking at your situation and look at Him!

In Revelation 4:8: And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say,

“Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty,

who was and is and is to come!” [10]

The four creatures In Revelation have only one face and resemble a different creature: A lion, an ox, a human, and a flying eagle.[11]

· The loin is saying…. Holy

· The Ox is saying…. Holy

· The human is saying…. Holy

· The flying eagle is saying…. Holy

Psalm 63:1-5

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.

2 So I have looked for You in the sanctuary,

To see Your power and Your glory.

3 Because Your lovingkindness is better than life,

My lips shall praise You.

4 Thus I will bless You while I live;

I will lift up my hands in Your name.

5 My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness,

And my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips.[12]

The first point was: When heaven is silent, you have to learn to worship!

· Give God praise

· So… if you are going to overcome the silence of heaven, you have to learn to give God worship!

Second: You cannot let people determine your worth!

Look at Ps.22:4-5: Our fathers trusted in You;

They trusted, and You delivered them.

5 They cried to You, and were delivered;

They trusted in You, and were not ashamed.

6 But I ama worm and no man;

A reproach of men and despised by the people.[13]

David said our fathers trusted You- You delivered them, They cried to You and were delivered, trusted You and were not ashamed. David, in vs6, calls himself a worm; he gives up his manhood.

· David says I am so messed up that people are laughing at me!

· He’s supposed to be a Christian

· When heaven is silent, don’t ever view yourself in the opinion of others.

· Your destiny is not tied to what other people think of you!

o They might say you are jacked up

o They might say you are tore up from the floor up

o They say you will not amount to anything

But God says: I am an heir

· Romans 8:17 says: and if children, then heirs- heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ

The Bible says in 1 Peter 2:9: I am a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation[14]

· His word says: I am the head and not the tail

· I am blessed in the city

· I am blessed in the field

· Don’t worry what other people say but tell yourself I am a child of God!

· DON’T LET OTHER PEOPLE DETERMINE YOUR WORTH!

First point: When heaven is silent, you have to learn to worship!

Second: You cannot let people determine your worth!

Third: Determine who has favored you the most!

Ps. 22:7-9: All those who see Me ridicule Me;

They shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying,

8 “He 3trusted in the Lord, let Him rescue Him;

Let Him deliver Him since He delights in Him!”

9 But You areHe who took Me out of the womb;

You made Me trust while on My mother’s breasts.[15]

Vs9 David said it was you: Despite my accusers’ taunts, his trust is in God. —the psalmist describes God as the one who took him from the womb (Ps 71:6).

Since birth, God has been with him, and the psalmist has viewed God as “his God.”[16]

No matter what they say:

· They didn’t wake you up this morning

· They didn’t bring you out

· They didn’t keep you

· It was God who kept you…

Fourthly David says if you are going to overcome the silence of heaven:

· You have to declare a word look at

Vs19-22: 19 But You, O Lord, do not be far from Me;

O My Strength, hasten to help Me!

20 Deliver Me from the sword,

My precious life from the power of the dog.

21 Save Me from the lion’s mouth

And from the horns of the wild oxen!

You have answered Me.

22 I will declare Your name to My brethren;

In the midst of the assembly, I will praise You.[17]

· David said when God brings him out; he’s going to praise God’s name before everyone

· When God brings you out, give Him praise

· When God brings you out, you need to say: I will bless the Lord at all times

· When God brings you out, just declare if it had not been for the Lord who was by my side

· He will deliver you; heaven may seem quiet now but keep trusting and believing God will see you through!

When God brings you out, declare His name

Sometimes God wants to see if you will trust Him and believe Him in the midst of trouble

[1] The New King James Version (Mt 7:7). (1982). Thomas Nelson. [2] The New King James Version (Mt 7:8). (1982). Thomas Nelson. [3] The New King James Version (Heb 4:16). (1982). Thomas Nelson. [4] The New King James Version (Ps 22:1–2). (1982). Thomas Nelson. [5]Barry, J. D., Mangum, D., Brown, D. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Ritzema, E., Whitehead, M. M., Grigoni, M. R., & Bomar, D. (2012, 2016). Faithlife Study Bible (Ps 22:1–2). Lexham Press. [6] The New King James Version (Ps 34:3). (1982). Thomas Nelson. [7] The New King James Version (Ps 34:1). (1982). Thomas Nelson. [8] The New King James Version (Ps 34:2). (1982). Thomas Nelson. [9] The New King James Version (Ps 100:1–5). (1982). Thomas Nelson. [10] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Re 4:8). (2016). Crossway Bibles. [11]Barry, J. D., Mangum, D., Brown, D. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Ritzema, E., Whitehead, M. M., Grigoni, M. R., & Bomar, D. (2012, 2016). Faithlife Study Bible (Re 4:7). Lexham Press. [12] The New King James Version (Ps 63:1–5). (1982). Thomas Nelson. [13] The New King James Version (Ps 22:4–6). (1982). Thomas Nelson. [14] The New King James Version (1 Pe 2:9). (1982). Thomas Nelson. [15] The New King James Version (Ps 22:7–9). (1982). Thomas Nelson. [16]Barry, J. D., Mangum, D., Brown, D. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Ritzema, E., Whitehead, M. M., Grigoni, M. R., & Bomar, D. (2012, 2016). Faithlife Study Bible (Ps 22:9–10). Lexham Press. [17] The New King James Version (Ps 22:19–22). (1982). Thomas Nelson.