IDK

Friday January 16, 2015

Almost everyone loves to hear stories of God "showing up". We feel trapped by circumstances, we pray in desperation and a providential answer arrives just in time. We know it´s God, and it´s easy to praise Him - for a while.

But so much of life is lived in the "idk" ( "I don´t know" ) - those in between times when our problems increase and threaten to obscure God´s goodness. We wonder where He is.

A cluster of psalms attributed to Asaph (Psalms 73 - 83) deal with life in the "idk". Again and again the psalmist revealed the raw honesty of his heart as he saw his people violated and tyrants prospering. 

In Psalms 77 he wrote, "All night long I prayed, with hands lifted towards heaven, but my soul was not comforted" (v.2). That anguish soon slipped into resignation: "This is my fate; the Most High has turned his hand against me" (v.10=.

"But then....." (v.11)

For those who trust in God, every moment living in the "idk" has a corresponding "but then". Asaph continued, "But then I recall all you have done, O Lord; I remember your wonderful deeds of long ago" (v.11). He then celebrated the "God of great wonders" who displays "awesome power among the nations" (v.14). The conclusion is one of triumphant memories, not despair over the present.

Despite the fear that permeates many of Asaph´s psalms, the focus is on God, His past goodness and His promise to be ourGod. We anticipate a day when justice will reign. Then we will look back and see how God was near us every step of the way.

The times when we don´t know what to do are the times to let God build our faith. When we don´t have anywhere else to go, He has us exactly where He wants us. - Tim Gustafson

Read
Psalms 77:1-20
I cried out to God for help; 
I cried out to God to hear me.
When I was in distress, I sought the Lord;
at night I stretched out untiring hands
and my soul refused to be comforted.

I remembered you, O God, and I groaned;
I mused, and my spirit grew faint.
You kept my eyes from closing;
I was too troubled to speak.
I thought about the former days,
the years of long ago;
I remembered my songs in the night.
My heart mused and my spirit inquired : 

"Will the Lord reject forever?
Will he never show his favor again?
Has his unfailing love vanished forever?
Has his promise failed for all time?
Has God forgotten to be merciful?
Has he in anger withheld his compassion?"

Then I thought, "To this I will appeal : 
the years of the right hand of the Most High."
I will remember the deeds of the Lord;
yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.
I will meditate on all your works
and consider all your mighty deeds.

Your ways, O God, are holy.
What god is so great as our God?
You are the God who performs miracles;
you display your power among the peoples.
With your mighty arm your redeemed your people, 
the descendants of Jacob and Joseph.

The waters saw you, O God,
the waters saw you and writhed;
the very depths were convulsed.
The clouds poured down water,
the skies resounded with thunder;
your arrows flashed back and forth.
Your thunder was heard in the whirlwind,
your lightning lit up the world;
the earth trembled and quaked.
Your path led through the sea,
your way through the mighty waters,
though your footprints were not seen.

You led your people like a flock
by the hand of Moses and Aaron.

Read
** Read through a couple of Asaph´s psalms today (Psalms 50 and 73-83). Look for the balance between anuished honesty and praise to God.

Question to Ponder
What "wonderful deeds" can you recall that God has done on your behalf?
Write them down and thank Him for what He´s done in the past as you face your present concerns

**Article taken from ODJ (Our Daily Journey with God) Dec 2014 - Feb 2015