Psalms 13-15

Psalms 13-15  -  Click on passage to read it.

There is no one in the Bible who has exposed more of the expanse of his frustrations and joys in life than David.  In the book of Psalms, David writes down all of his emotions, frustrations, anger, deep disappointments, and even his greatest joys.  Though he is a Godly man and will soon take the throne as Israel's anointed king, David doesn't ever hold back in sharing what he feels deep down inside.  At a low moment in his life while running from King Saul and his elite team of special forces, David cries out to God and asks the same questions that pass through our minds today. In Psalm 13, he throws out some very stinging questions before God...

-  Lord, have you forgotten me?
-  Lord, are you purposely just not listening and turning your head away from me?
-  Lord, how long are you going to let this intense pain last?
-  Lord, do you not see that my pain is deep and that I hurt every day?  Don't you care?
-  Please answer me God...I can't take it anymore!

This is what David was basically asking God about in verses 1-3.  Can you relate to his line of questioning?  I sure can! 

There have been times in my life where I not only feel that God has forgotten me, but that He is purposely inflicting the pain.  Even after praying for several years with seemingly no response, I've wondered if God would even answer me at all.  My story has deep pain - pain to the soul - pain that has gone on day after day after day - for years!  Even though I know that God is acutely aware of my pain and that He understands it more than I do, I also know that He loves me deeply - far deeply than I could ever understand!  The problem between what we see and what God sees is vastly different!  We are only capable of seeing the present, while God has already seen the outcome!  I know that is mind blowing...but it's true!

And, like David, I have brought these very same questions up before God!  Have you?

After spending a few moments in agonizing prayer, I usually end up coming to my spiritual senses and realize that though my pain doesn't seem fair, is life changing, is heart-wrenching, seems endless, and hurts down to my very soul, I know in the end that my God has a loving plan in it and that through it all - if I just trust Him - there will be a happy ending!  It may not be the ending I want, but an ending that leaves me knowing that what Satan meant for bad, God meant it for good.  God ALWAYS is looking out for our best, shaping us and molding us to be more like His dear Son, Jesus Christ.  Think of the crucible of affliction He had to endure!!!

In Psalms 15, David lists the kind of people we should be BEFORE we enter into worshiping Him.  What good is it to worship God when your life does not reflect the kind of life He expects out of us?  God doesn't want our worship as much as He just OUR OBEDIENCE!  Look at the kind of people God wants to worship Him...

Those who -  live clean before God and others, speak the truth always, be kind to others, avoid immersing our life with sinful people, respect those who love God, keep your promise - even when it's not convenient or hurts, and maintaining integrity in all thing pertaining to business and life!