Sermon Tone Analysis

Main Point: The Lord does not neglect the righteous sufferer.

Aim of the text: For the singer, though they feel abandoned, to take heart in a faithful God who will not turn his face away.

His rescue and praises must be declared to the ends of earth and time!

Introduction

· <hook>

· Remember Psalms are poetry; where the language is illustrative rather than definitive.

(i.e “the sun set” vs. “That glorious golden ball gently caressed the horizon before slipping into the earth”

· Psalm of David.

A psalm of anguish and praise.

Presumably written at a low point in David’s life, and echoed by the people of Israel in the days of their distress, yet like so many Psalms, it only finds its truest fulfilment on the lips of Jesus.

· Psalms are the Hymn Book of God’s people, in which we are led to sing by Jesus.

So many of the new Testament writers put the Psalms in Jesus mouth, or find quotations that they say are about Jesus.

Let’s follow their example.

· We too can sing this Psalm, or pray it in our lowest moment because we’re are united to Christ in his suffering and his redemption.

This Psalm reminds us that the singer, though they feel abandoned, to take heart in a faithful God who will not turn his face away.

His rescue and praises must be declared to the ends of earth and time!

· The Lord does not neglect the righteous sufferer.

Why don’t you hear me? (v1-11)

The psalm begins with a soulful cry:

From the start this Psalm sets the scene of someone who feels abandoned.

This person is crushed under the weight of their circumstances, yearning for rescue, yet it seems like there is only silence.

I want you to experience what the Psalmist experiences here.

Put yourself into his shoes.

Imagine his experience: You have known the comfort and joy of God!

You have had experiences where it seems as if you’re in God presence and enjoying his blessings, yet before you know what has happened, you’re in the depths of despair.

It’s as if the sun has been eclipsed, and the light is fading.

The golden light of the Lord is disappearing from your sight and darkness surrounds you.

You know something is wrong.

You feel as if you are falling deeper into the depths of darkness, so you cry out!! Save me! Save from this pit that threatens to swallow me!! Turn your face to me!!

I long for your presence and for your rescue.

But all you hear is silence.

You hear nothing.

All the while your despair increases and the darkness grows.

Like a bad dream you’re falling without end, yet try as you might, you cannot wake up.

Though the sun may rise in the morning, the cloud of darkness follows you, and the silence of God thunders in your ears.

Yet in the evening you return to your bed, but not to rest, rather to wonder why you have been left… alone…

Like the Psalmist in verse 3 to 5, you will likely try and call to mind the great God whom you serve.

After all, He is Good and Righteous!

He is worthy of praise and honour!

In the past he has heard the troubles of others and saved them!

Who could forget how God gave Abraham great promises, delivered him from his enemies and blessed him with a Son of Promise?

Who could forget how Israel cried out under the yoke of Pharaoh and God delivered them?

What about the cries of Hannah and Rebekah as they longed for children?

God gave them the desire of their heart when they called on his Name.

What about me?

Do I not trust in the Lord?

Haven’t I believed that he is able and willing to deliver me?

Why don’t you hear me?

Why do my prayers seem futile?

Why do you not answer?

From verse 6, even though the Psalmist knows in his head that God answered those who have called out to him in times past, he feels low, so much so that he doesn’t even feel human.

He is belittled and despised by those who see his problems and offer no comfort.

In fact they taunt and mock, saying “If your God is so great why doesn’t he help you?

If you’re one of God’s people why doesn’t he help you?

Where is the object of your trust/faith now?”

The psalmist is disoriented.

“They mock me for trusting you, yet you taught me to trust you from birth.

You have been working in my life to build my faith and to cast myself on you.

You have taught me not to rely on myself, yet it feels as though I have been left to fend for myself.”

Putting ourselves back in his shoes, imagine his desperation.

It may not be hard for you to imagine; you may have experienced it yourself.

You’re at the end of your rope, and you are conflicted and confused about what God is doing, and why he is not working the way you thought he was supposed to work.

You are tired and weak under the crushing weight of sleepless nights and oppressive troubles, and all you can manage to plead is this: “Be not far from me.”

Why don’t you hear me?

Why have you left me alone?

Why do I cry out in vain?

You’re Good.

You’re merciful.

You’re kind.

Please show me that.

Please be near me in my distress.

You could also imagine this to be the prayer of Job <elaborate>.

He has lost his family, his livelihood, his investments, his health.

He has only ever sought to do what is right in God’s eyes, yet he has been brought to ruin!

He knows not why, yet he also knows his only hope is in God.

He is confused and distraught, but knows there is no one else to turn to.

As does the psalmist.

He cries out is despair, but he knows his only hope is that God might hear him and come near.

It’s almost as if he has given up hope of deliverance by verse 11, and the only thing he can hope for is that God may at least comfort him by his presence: “Be not far from me, for trouble is near, and there is none to help.”

This desperation and anxiety in nowhere more clear than in the words of Jesus.

As he hung on a Roman cross he was crushed by the weight of the world.

He could truly say these words, as Mathew tells us;

They mocked, and scorned.

They taunted and derided.

As that precious man hung there hour by hour, the darkness descended.

Not just a darkness of soul, but literal darkness descended upon them.

Matthew continues;

“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

The Son of God, the God-man himself with whom the father was well please cried out in pain of soul; “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

The Lord does not neglect the righteous sufferer.

So why does he leave his son to suffer on that Cross?

Why does he crush him under the weight of our sin?

Why does he leave him in his darkest hour feeling alone and helpless?

“Be not far from me, for trouble is near, and there is none to help.”

I am ruined.

(v12-18)

The Psalmist continues from verse 12; The strong and mighty surround me, seeking to devour me!

But I am weak, my life poured out like tipping water from a jar.

My body is broken, crushed.