by
Esther Berg
*READ*: Psalm 13 & 22
*KEY IDEA*:
In spite of the trials and difficulties of our lives and regardless of the
circumstances, God remains in control. Even in the worst of times, we can
look to God and still find peace, contentment and reason to praise his name.
*BACKGROUND*:
Both of these Psalms are attributed to King David. They are songs of lament
or sorrow expressing David’s deep grief over circumstances in his life. They
provide evidence both David’s humanity and his deep faith. And in doing so
they present to us a man of God to whom we can all relate in sorrow and
grief, and aspire to emulate in faith. There is also a foreshadowing of the
“Son of David”, of Jesus the Christ and his suffering in the text of Psalm
22.
*NARRATIVE*:
Psalms 13 and 22 are but a sample of sorrow expressed throughout many of the
psalms. They reveal the very human, emotive side of scripture. They reveal
scripture as the sustenance for hurting, sinful people – not just a book of
rules for Pharisees. Faith is something more than just a buoy during the
happy times, but it becomes the lighthouse in the midst of the dark storms
of the soul. Here we see the depth of human suffering, but also the
constancy of hope when one is in the Lord. There is no evil that God cannot
conquer, no pain that the Lord cannot ease, and no trial through which God
is not present. There is hope in the Lord.
These Psalms also reference the suffering of our Lord and stand as a
reminder that our God knows our suffering and has suffered for our sake.
*Psalm 13*
This Psalm asks the question “how long?” David expresses impatience with the
current status of his life, with the weight of the pain and sorrow he is
experiencing. He is overwhelmed by the trials of his life and wants God to
intervene. Not sure he can take it any more, he expresses the thought that
he would rather be dead if God will not give him some direction, if he
cannot see the end at hand. (vs. 3 give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in
death – NIV) David is ready to give up and let his enemies rejoice.
Some among us have felt this depth of darkness and despair, and some of
us may have wanted to give up, even to the point of suicide. If you have
not, you probably know someone who has felt so lost they want any kind
of relief, even welcoming death. The Bible never runs from raw, human
emotion. Those times when we are in despair we are incapable of raising
our heads out of the mire. Often our problem is one of perspective.
(That is not to simplify depression and other serious, emotional
difficulties as just a wrong perspective.) To find hope, David just
can’t pull himself up by his bootstraps. Rather he can only turn to God
and raise his hands for help.
The “but” in verse 5 is probably the most significant word in the psalm. Not
because of David’s pain, but rather in spite of it, the “but” signifies
David’s faith. David’s faith does not allow him to lose sight of what is
beyond the grief that seeks to engulf him. His faith *forces* him to look to
God – the source of all life, the source of the eternal all encompassing
point of view – in spite of his circumstances. David lists the reasons for
his faith in verse 5 &6.
That God’s love never ends (vs. 5) No matter how David feels, the love
of God is still active and carrying him through.
That God has saved (vs. 5). God is the source of all salvation and has
saved those who love him and believe in him. He will continue to save in
this life and the next.
That God has been good to him. (vs. 6) We all need to remember what God
has done in our past when we are in a present filled with difficulties.
Throughout the Old Testament, God’s people recite the litany of what God
has done. We, too, would do well to remember our corporate history -
both celebrating and owning what God has done in our midst.
Consider this familiar echo throughout the Old Testament: “I am the God of
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob… I brought you out of the land of Egypt where
you were slaves… I fed you in the desert…”
Remembering the past – ours, our family’s, our church’s, and that of the
people of God is a sure fire way to remember that God’s faithfulness doesn’t
cease when we are in our dark moments. His love and provision is always
there.
Knowing all this about God, David is convinced that these feelings and
circumstances – no matter how severe – are just temporary. It is God’s love
and salvation that are eternal. The assurance of what God has done confirms
that God will continue to do and to keep his promises. Because of these
truths that David knows about God, David says he has found cause to sing
God’s praises.
*Psalm 22*
This heart wrenching Psalm reaches out to our most lonely fears – it shouts
of abandonment by God; “Why God have you forgotten me?” We get the sense
that David feels that God has turned his back on him.
Most of you will recognize that it is this psalm that Jesus quotes from the
cross. (Matthew 27:46) Jesus at his most painful, agonizing moment in his
life – in fact at the brink of death, shows his own agony and feelings of
abandonment. By quoting the psalm, he draws the parallels between his own
death and life, and the foreshadowing of the coming messiah and his death in
David’s writing.
The many sections of this psalm go back and forth between despair and hope.
Verses 1 &2 express an utter sense of abandonment. The section (3-5)
following begins with the word “yet,” showing the comparative nature of the
psalm. It lifts up the sense of God’s worthiness – of who God has been and
is in both person and character. David is saying that he felt completely
abandoned, yet he is confronted by the faithfulness of the person of God to
his people throughout history. “They trusted and were not disappointed.”
David reminds himself that it is sound to trust God.
Verses 6-8 express the low feelings of self David is suffering. He compares
himself to a worm and points out that it is precisely because of his faith
that he is suffering. Those who taunt him are taunting God as well.
Verses 9-11 remind us of God’s providence in spite of our dismal feelings.
From the very beginning God chose David, and caused him to follow. And in
the following verses, 12-18, David lays out his petition for God to help him
because of the depth of the misery he is suffering. Notice again the
comparison to the Messiah in verses 15 (the thirst – John 19:28) 16 (they
pierce his hands and feet), and 18 (evil men cast lots for his clothing -
Matthew 27:35; John 19:23,24).
Verses 19-21 are a petition for God’s intervention, and then verses 22 and
following are the amazing promises and response to God’s faithfulness. David
proclaims what and who God is and follows that proclamation with
ascription’s of praise. David is not just content to state his own praise,
but from all people, including unborn generations. (vs. 31) The final word
on David’s desperate loneliness is one of unequivocal praise.
It may seem strange to us that David goes back and forth between despair and
faith – hope and desperation. But rather than trivializing his pain or
ignoring it, he finds God in the midst of his pain. And in the foreshadowing
of the Messiah, he also brings to light the suffering servant of God, who
knows our pain and sorrows. “A man of sorrow, well acquainted with our
grief.”
*QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION*
1. When was a time you first realized that God was real?
2. Has there been a time when you felt abandoned by God, or that your faith
was shaken because of a certain situation or season?
3. In times of deep sorrow or loss, how have you or someone you know been
found by God?
4. The question in Psalm 13, “how long?” leads us to ask ourselves – how
long are we willing to wait for God’s timing?
5. How does providence (the ultimate plan of God – into which all events of
life fit and in which God is active in all areas of life) affect our
approach to the pain in our lives?
6. Where in everyday living do you see the evidence of
a) God’s never-ending love?
b) God’s eternal salvation?
c) The history of God’s goodness in our lives and/or the lives of
others?
*SUMMARY*
We will all have times in our lives when we feel alone, deserted, and
abandoned by God. When God seems to us to be very far off, he is still near.
When the world is crashing in, hope still abounds. When feelings betray us,
Truth is still our rock – for God is sovereign and worthy of our praise.
Probably the best pictures of those who suffered in this life and had only
the hope of heaven to comfort were the American slaves. Many a Negro
spiritual spoke of the hope of Glory, the joy of the next life. This life
may have been too much to bear – but bear it they did for the hope of a
better life in heaven. God will deliver us in his own time, in his own way,
and for his glory. No matter how we feel, God will save us. Probably not the
way we expected or even wanted, but in the manner most worthy of God, and
most formative for our faith and lives. Can we, in the midst of despair,
call out to God as David did, “O my strength, come quickly to help me.”?
(22:19)
*SUGGESTED SONGS*
Some of the following hymns and choruses would fit a program of this nature.
Hymns
_A Mighty Fortress Is Our God_
_ Be Thou My Vision_
_ It Is Well With My Soul_
Gospel
_He Touched Me_
_Precious Lord, Take My Hand_
Praise
_Shout To the Lord (My Jesus, My Savior…)_