Title When Tribulation Comes / Psalm 44:9-26
Content Even when tribulation comes / Psalm 44:9~26 Rev. Kiho Um
The terrorist attacks in London, England, on the 7th, once again plunged the world into grief.
Perhaps, through the terrorist attack in London, there are people who have fallen into skepticism with the question, "Where is God?" and "Why does this tribulation continue?"
The poet of Psalm 44, which we read together today, is also facing a miserable reality and tribulation.
This poem is a poem of the children of Korah. This poem is a national lamentation with the background of the Israelite nation in absolute crisis due to the invasion of the Assyrian king Sennacherib.
The poem opens up the question, "Has God really forsaken this people?" However, if you read the text, you will find that the poet's absolute faith in God's salvation even in the midst of tribulation and his passionate national love for his people are well expressed in this poem.
The various afflictions we face in life are difficult to overcome on our own.
Just as the word tribulation has the meaning of “a heavy burden weighs down from above” or “a millstone is crushed,” we sometimes struggle in pain, pain, and unbearability, as if a heavy stone is weighing down our hearts in the vortex of unavoidable tribulation.
In the text, the children of Korah confessed their miserable feelings when they were in trouble, saying, "God has turned away from us, and we have completely failed our enemies, and shame has covered my face." We often think that when tribulation approaches, God has turned away from us and left us (Psalm 38:21).
However, in the text, the descendants of Korah overcame difficulties with the pride of faith even in such painful afflictions. We must learn a lesson here.
I have not forgotten the Lord.
In verse 17, the psalmist confesses, "All these things have come upon us, but we have not forgotten the Lord."
Not forgetting the Lord here shows the will of faith, and even if I have hardships, I do not turn away from the Lord, I do not forget the Lord, and I love the Lord with my life.
The tribulation suffered by Job, a righteous man from the East, was that he lost all he owned, including oxen, donkeys, sheep, camels, servants, and even children. Not only that, his body was so sore that he scratched his whole body with a tile in the ashes, and he was cursed by his beloved wife and condemned by his trusted friends.
However, the reason Job was able to triumph in this tribulation was because he did not lose only God even though he lost everything.
Philippians 3:8 says, “And I count all things as loss because of the exaltation of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord.
Even if we lose everything in the world, we must not lose Jesus.
The Apostle Paul said that God comforted him in his affliction (2 Corinthians 1:4). When we depend on human means and methods, we cannot overcome tribulation, but when we depend on God, there is no tribulation that we cannot overcome (2 Corinthians 4:8-10).
Saints must endure tribulation and go forward with faith (2 Samuel 22:7, Romans 12:12, Isaiah 26:16).
Let us be the saints who rejoice in hope, endure in afflictions, and always strive in prayer. Let's become saints who do not forget the Lord during tribulation, remember His covenant, and earnestly pray to the Lord.
My heart never left.
Verse 18 says, “Our hearts have not turned back, neither have our steps departed from the way of the Lord.”
When I say "I didn't retreat", I mean "I didn't curl up and back down."
The people of Israel did not deviate from the truth even during the agony of being taken into captivity in a foreign country. Rather, the Israelites longed for grace more.
The saints must not deviate from the truth even if they face hardships, suffering, and struggles in the world, and their steps must not deviate from the Lord's way.
A believer must have the pillar of truth standing in his heart even in tribulation (Proverbs 25:19).
We grow when we face tribulation. Self-reflection and self-reflection will lead to improvement in quality, character growth, and progress in faith. When we face tribulation, we come to know God's love and mercy, seek God earnestly, firmly believe in His word, keep it in prayer, and become humble (Romans 5:4, 1 Thessalonians 1:6).
Therefore, even if we are persecuted, hated, criticized, despised, imprisoned, beaten, or lost our possessions, we should be courageous and joyful when we face tribulation.
Believers who face tribulation, suffer, lack confidence, become frustrated and discouraged, do not pray, sing, read or listen to the Word, are like birds that have lost their wings.
If we wait for the end of the tribulation and do not use the gifts and abilities we have received, and if we do not give service, loyalty, and devotion to the church, we will only go backwards. And we become attached to the world and become part of the world for ever and ever.
Therefore, no matter what kind of tribulation we are in, we should continue to pray and sing praises to God without ceasing and keep close to the word of God. Loyalty, service, and dedication must not be neglected. You need to do better in your duties and responsibilities. In that case, God's small voice and problem solving, along with our faith, will stand firmer.
The steps did not leave the state.
When a person encounters a path that is not beneficial to him or a path of suffering, he leaves that path and tries to take a more comfortable and broad path.
If you look at the disciples of the Lord, Jesus slept in the Garden of Gethsemane when he prayed that his sweat became drops of blood, and in the Court of Trial of Caiaphas, he even cursed and denied him, and when he was carrying the cross of suffering he ascended Golgotha. They left Jesus (after Matthew 27:27).
In this way, people like to take the wide road of the world, but they do not like to take the narrow road to God. However, the broad way is the way of destruction, but the narrow way is the way of the cross, the way of life, and the way of eternal life (Matthew 7:13-14).
The descendants of Korah did not depart from the way of the Lord even in the midst of suffering. I have not departed from your truth. They say, "If we had forgotten the name of God and turned away from the Lord's way to a foreign god, wouldn't God have known it?" (verses 20-21).
Just as they confessed that they did not depart from the Lord's way, even in the midst of tribulation, their steps must not depart from the Lord.
Why shouldn't your steps leave you?
It is because the Lord knows all mysteries (text verse 21, Psalm 139). Also, our steps must not depart from the Lord, for God directs our way and makes all things work together for the good (Romans 8:28). And you must not leave the Lord to see the miracles of God.
He performed the miracle of the Red Sea where he buried the Egyptian army (Exodus 14:14), helped Gideon's 300 warriors who defeated the Midianite army (Judges 7:22 and below), and together with King Hezekiah, delivered 185,000 men. Even in the midst of tribulation, God miraculously helps His people, just as He gave them back (2 Kings 19:35ff)
So let's not stray from God's way, the narrow way. God who knows even our secrets, let us become saints who walk with the God who leads our way and shows us miracles.
In John 16:33, Jesus said, “I give these names to you that you may have peace in me. In the world you will have tribulation, but take courage, I have overcome the world.”
Let's rely on these words and do not forget the Lord even when tribulation comes. Let's not lose God. Let us think only of the cross that the Lord carried for us. Let's not leave that road. When that happens, we will live a life of blessing in which we experience true joy, eternal life, victory, and miracles every day.