How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
2 How long must I take counsel in my soul
and have sorrow in my heart all the day?
How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?
Right now, our granddaughter Harriet is in her “Why?” phase. She asks why and in reply to the answer asks why again. And then again. It started out cute but now tensions are beginning to rise in the ranks. It causes us to wonder if that is how God must have felt when his anointed king, David, asked “How long?” four times in the first two verses of this psalm. Seeds of doubt seem to be sprouting in the trust David had for God. He hurled accusations at God; that he forgot David and hid from him, leaving David to fend for himself as he enquired of the Lord in sorrow.
Come to Cape Community Church tomorrow and see that, In fact, as in most of the psalms of Lament, especially from David, there is a return to the trust and praise in the Lord. We can understand the feeling. When as children, we became separated from our parents in a crowd, similar feelings rose to the surface. Did they forget me? Are they hiding from me on purpose? Am I on my own for life now? Of course, the parents are just as frantic and search diligently for their child and think of nothing else until they are found. As this world seems to be winning, take comfort in God’s memory, presence, and triumph.
Dear Lord, thank you that you never forget us or hide from us. Help us remember your victory over the grave for us. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Pastor Brad Boyer
Cape Community Church