Psalm 13
I used Psalm 13 as my text today while leading the communion thoughts at church. I said something like the following:
Last Sundays communal prayer time really got to me...in fact, it was overwhelming. We've been praying for so many families for so long and the suffering just continues. I think of the Felts family, the Kirkpatrick family...and even my family. I found myself whispering while we were taking prayer request..."How long, how long can some of these people continue with such pain in their lives?"
Well, that cry is not original with me, those are ancient words. The cry "How Long, Oh Lord" appears over and over in scripture...especially in the Old Testament. However, in my opinion the words are more poignant in Psalm 13 than anywhere else. When the Psalmist cries out;
1 How long, O LORD ? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
2 How long must I wrestle with my thoughts
and every day have sorrow in my heart?
How long Oh Lord? I know some of us can identify with David in Psalm 13 all to well. Because we too have cried out. One of my favorite musical artists is Bono of U2. He wrote a song using Psalm 13 as inspiration. He sings out, "How long Oh Lord must I sing this song. I want to sing...sing a NEW song...How long to sing this song?"
Life can be overwhelming at times.
One of our difficulties is that we are bound by linear time and the suffering can seem endless as if it will never go away. But I want to urge us to try and think like God for a moment. Because God is not bound by linear time. He isn't limited to time, dates and a calendar. So if we would stop and think like God for a moment...surely the second coming is just over the horizon.
But for some the pain is very real even right now at this moment. So how do we get through today?
My answer is the same answer Jesus gave. Until I come again..."Take, Eat."
Welcome to the table of the Lord.
Last Sundays communal prayer time really got to me...in fact, it was overwhelming. We've been praying for so many families for so long and the suffering just continues. I think of the Felts family, the Kirkpatrick family...and even my family. I found myself whispering while we were taking prayer request..."How long, how long can some of these people continue with such pain in their lives?"
Well, that cry is not original with me, those are ancient words. The cry "How Long, Oh Lord" appears over and over in scripture...especially in the Old Testament. However, in my opinion the words are more poignant in Psalm 13 than anywhere else. When the Psalmist cries out;
1 How long, O LORD ? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
2 How long must I wrestle with my thoughts
and every day have sorrow in my heart?
How long Oh Lord? I know some of us can identify with David in Psalm 13 all to well. Because we too have cried out. One of my favorite musical artists is Bono of U2. He wrote a song using Psalm 13 as inspiration. He sings out, "How long Oh Lord must I sing this song. I want to sing...sing a NEW song...How long to sing this song?"
Life can be overwhelming at times.
One of our difficulties is that we are bound by linear time and the suffering can seem endless as if it will never go away. But I want to urge us to try and think like God for a moment. Because God is not bound by linear time. He isn't limited to time, dates and a calendar. So if we would stop and think like God for a moment...surely the second coming is just over the horizon.
But for some the pain is very real even right now at this moment. So how do we get through today?
My answer is the same answer Jesus gave. Until I come again..."Take, Eat."
Welcome to the table of the Lord.
4 Comments:
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Klint--Sorry I missed it, but GREAT thought....I led us thru an exercise at my men's Small Group Wednesday because I found myself praying the same prayer of forgiveness every night for a coupla months....Sometimes I give myself the impression that God is tired of hearing from me, then I smack myself around a little (or let the Group do it !!) and realize He isn't....
Stay strong, bro' !!
Kevin K
I love this Klint. Because you're right. He is God - grand and glorious and beyond time and space. Sometimes we get bogged down in thinking He's just like us and we put Him in the little box we keep around for that purpose. But He is not. He is God. I want Him to be bigger than I could ask or imagine and He never lets me down. Even when I think He is, He is not. His way is the most excellent way. Thanks for this reminder.
Coach P man i was thinking about you and your family the other day and i decide to stop here and see how yall doing; anyways coach i still remenber the day that you found out about your wife illness you came to practice and spend the time that we didnt deserve at the time with us instead with ur family i always admire the courage that you had to stand beside your wife and family during that time i have meet people on my past that left their wives and families over some smaller illness but you stood there firm faithfull and strong as Jesus as stood there firm faithfull and strong for the forgiveness of our sins. One of the biggest reasons that till this day i want to be a coach is because of you, i never told you that but you are the reason been a foreign student athlete i spend most of my time with basketball team and a leader that was you, i other words i spent more time with you in 2 years than i spend with my dad in 5 years i looked at you as a role model i wanted to do things that you were doing back then sometimes i felt dissapointed and sometimes i felt proud of you. the proudest moment the felt about you was when your wife got sick you showed me that marriege is a Holy commitment that only God can brake. Anyway i love you and your wife and abbey and i just wanted to tell you that i stil thinking about you and praying that God blesse's my marriage like he as blessed yours, so far so good and enjoying been a husband and pretty soon a father i cant wait because i want to be the best i can be. holla coach P just in case u didnt know whom am i. this is your favor international player LOL
BLESSED MATAI
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