“Why standest thou afar off, O LORD? “ Psalm 10:1
If the Psalmists were anything, they were honest!
Here David (at some point in his life) is in danger, or at least in a grave situation. And he immediately talks to God, even questions God!
Furthermore, and still in Verse 1 of Psalm 10 … “O LORD, Why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble?”
Wow!
Yet the Psalmist in the longest Chapter in the whole Psalter proclaims: “Thou art near, O LORD.” Psalm 119:151
What’s happening here?
Job faced (for a while) the same dilemma as David: “Oh that I knew where I might find Him! that I might come even to his seat!” Job 23:3, at once followed by even more exasperation: “Behold, I go forward, but He is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive Him: on the left hand, where He doth work, but I cannot behold Him: He hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see Him.”
But Paul writes differently …
Here the great Apostle, in one of the toughest moment of his life, could confidently say: “At my first answer (trial) no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge. Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me.” 2 Timothy 4:16-17
Undoubtedly!
Yet even the darling Son of God, while on earth two thousand years ago, once (on the Cross) lamented: “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” Matthew 27:46
Yet, ironically, because of what Jesus endured that Day on the old rugged Cross, shedding His Blood to wash away our sin … such promises as these are now given us:
“I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” Hebrews 13:5
And … “Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” Matthew 28:20
Mercy promised … “never” … “alway” … “to the end of the world!”
The solution to the apparent contradiction?
Between Job and Paul?
Even when we do not sense His Presence … He is always there!
The old Hymn has it right …
“Standing somewhere in the shadows you’ll find Jesus
He’s the only one who cares and understands.
Standing somewhere in the shadows you will find Him
and you’ll know Him by the nail prints in his hand.”
Hallelujah!
— Dr. Mike Bagwell
When you can’t see Him, or even feel His Presence, TRUST HIM!
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