Friday is for Heart Songs
Spoiler alert: Poetry at the end.
Bear with me. I am still trying to get my life back on track after the loss of my mom. This blog is a repost from when I was just poking around and trying to learn how to format in WordPress. I had no audience for the blog at that time. Eight months later, God has graciously brought almost 15,000 visits (now closing in on half a million visitors, by the grace of God) from some amazing people that have taught me much.
Psalm 44:1-26 (an outline)
-
This is what You have done for us in the past. (1-3) A
- This is how we are trusting You now. (4-8) B
- Where are You God? (9-16) C
- We continue to trust You now. (17-22) B
- This is our cry for redemption as in the past. (23-26) A
Prayer:
“The whole Psalm continues my soul’s quandary. Why are You silent, absent, seemingly uninvolved in our lives? Why oh God, does it seem that faithful, obedient, God-honoring people seem to be abandoned by You? In fear and trembling I ask–-but I am led to ask it by this psalm.
The heart of the psalm is in its longest section (9-16) where the sons of Korah pour out what the nation is experiencing. They thought You had:
-
- rejected them (9)
- disgraced them
- not led their armies (10)
- defeated them in battle
- caused their dead to be humiliated and defiled
- treated them as sheep led to slaughter (11)
- scattered them to the nations
- sold them for no value (12)
- made them a scorn to their neighbors (13)
- made them into a forgotten inconsequence (14)
- made them a laugh track for their enemies jokes
- made them a disgrace that can’t be shed (15)”
“Lord, this doesn’t look like the blessing of God! Where are You and what are You doing? It encourages me that others have struggled with these same kind of questions (and even that You allow––even inspired such questions and searchings), but it doesn’t answer the question. Where are You in these situations where Your people are asking questions and feeling abandoned? Where are You when my heart languishes in a desert?”
Why Do You Hide Your Face?
Why? How long?
Two questions.
Three interrogative words.
Empty letters.
Symbols without substance.
Why? How long?
You never answer.
Silence.
Questions asked.
Logic defied.
History remembered and rehearsed.
Hands cleansed.
Pleadings spoken.
Silence. Only silence.
An abyss of silence.
Why do you hide your face?
why do you forget our affliction and oppression?
For our soul is bowed down to the dust;
our belly clings to the ground.
Rise up; come to our help!
Redeem us for the sake of your steadfast love!
You play hide and seek,
and forget the pain of our moments.
Have You lost sight of our dust? Selah
Rise oh God.
Rise oh God!
For the sake of Your reputation as a lover,
redeem us.
Go to Psalm 45
ChosenRebel's Blog 
Did you ever notice how long it was from the time God told Noah to build the ark until the rains came? 100 years. How long from when God promised Abram a son until Isaac was born? About 14 years, more or less.
The only way I’ve found to learn patience is by waiting.
I can’t tell you why you have to go through the desert to get to the promised land, but that is the way it seems to happen. I know that in my life, I have had to endure much to get to where God wanted me, but it always worked out. One of the great joys in my life is that God, in His mercy, gave me the gift of faith. When I have come to the end of my rope — more times than I want to remember — and I know that I can not fix the situation, I know by faith that God has the situation well in hand. And invariably the outcome has been much better than it would have been if my plans had succeeded.
God is good. God is love. God gives us what is best from His perspective — if we will take it. Any time we do not enjoy the process, we must remember that the outcome will make the process worthwhile.
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Amen. The sovereign God is always worthy of trust. Always.
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Amen. The sovereign God is always worthy of trust. Always..
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