Title "How long?" (Psalm 13:1-6)
Contents
A pastor later found out he had cancer. The cancer had progressed to a fairly serious stage, but still had surgery. Then, while undergoing chemotherapy, he wrote this poem: Doesn't the intense pain he is experiencing touch your heart?
“Lord, my pain is so great
I pray that the pain will not become a pain for the family.
Lord, my pain is so long
I pray that that pain will not become a dark shadow of the church.
It's just because it hurts alone and it's too hard to cry alone right now..."
Today, even the poet is suffering a severe pain that cannot be expressed in words. In the midst of a problem that can never be solved, a sigh of relief is bursting out of its own accord. It does not appear to be specific what the difficulty is. But what is clear is that he is so ill right now that he is unable to cry alone.
There is a pain that cannot be expressed in words. It means that there are pains that cannot be told to others. Do you sometimes encounter problems in your life that you cannot tell anyone about? Just come to God, fall on your face, and say, “Father!” Don't you often experience cases where you can't continue talking after calling?
The poet exclaims this because it is truly astonishing. “How long, O LORD?” He is crying because it hurts so much. “How long is it?” Next, he further shows his frustrated heart by asking, “Do you forget me forever?” He's asking if he's going to let it end like this.
The poet is so sick that he is asking how long he will hide his face and pretend not to know about this frustrating and sad situation. But in fact, it would be more accurate to say that you are asking for help, not asking.
In fact, it is not the trials or hardships that the poet is afraid of right now. What he really fears is that God hides his face. When the sun disappears, doesn't the earth immediately fall into deep darkness? Likewise, if God hides his face, man will inevitably fall into deep despair. He is well aware of that fact.
The poet can now be said to be passing through the Valley of Tears. It's a situation where you can't help but feel discouraged and frustrated. Nevertheless, he is not shaken. My trust in God is not shaken in the slightest. He has no doubts about the fact that God Himself is in control of all history. Can't you see that his groanings turn into supplications? He was trembling in fear, but now he begins to look to God. Because of trials and tribulations, we draw closer to God. Do you not pray more earnestly because of your pain and suffering?
If poverty draws us closer to God, it will never be a curse. It is the same reason that wealth can never be a blessing if it drives us away from God. If we do not depend on God because everything is going well, it will never be of any benefit to us. It is the road that we go, wiping away the flowing tears, but on that very road the poet discovers the living God and draws closer to God, hoping for His help.
In fact, no matter how difficult life is, if you have a dream in your heart and do your best every day to make that dream come true, it is okay. No matter how big the waves are, as long as the anchor of faith is deeply anchored, that's fine. No matter how long and difficult the road may be, if you can run it with joy and joy, and believe that one day you will meet a bright and good path, it is okay. If you can look to God, it's okay to walk through the valley of tears.
What the poet asks now is to light his eyes. Because with closed eyes you cannot see anything. Because darkened eyes cannot discern which is the right way and which is the upright life. He begged God to light his eyes so that he might not sleep in death. No matter how painful it is, I want you to keep your trust in God.
Song Myung-hee, a poet who had to lead an unusually painful life, also saved it.
“Open it, open it.
Open my eyes so I can see You
open it open it open it open it
Open my ears so that I may hear the word of the Lord…”
Now the poet has one wish in his heart. “Only in Your love I have trusted; my heart will rejoice in Your salvation” (Psalm 13:5). It means that you have a strong belief that God will save those who believe in His love. Surely he will no longer be swayed by the winds and waves of the world. He will not be weakened in the face of any problems. Only by faith will we stand firm.
Dear saints, Today's world is really messy. It is also true that it is so dark that it is difficult to tell even an inch ahead. Because of this, many people are wandering without knowing where to go. In the face of such a miserable reality as walking through the valley of tears, which is truly unbearable, we cannot help but groan as the poets of old did. But that's why we should rather draw closer to the Lord! You will have to go to the Lord and pray earnestly! “Open my eyes lest the sleep of death sleep!” If we only go out in faith and pray earnestly, the Lord will answer our prayers! Finally, I sincerely hope that all of you who are truly blessed will be able to sing aloud the blessings of salvation from the Lord! (Rev. Seok-Gong Kang)