“THE SILENCE OF GOD”

PSALM 13:1-6

ETS: The Psalmist longed for God’s presence.

ESS: There are times when God hides his face.

When I think of God’s silence, I am reminded of the story of a mother’s anguish when her 17-year-old, model son, who never gave his mom or dad any trouble, was tragically killed in car accident. The mother, broken, and so distraught - became bitter and totally resentful of God as she cried out in soul anguish, again and again; “WHERE WERE YOU GOD WHEN MY CHILD NEEDED YOU?” This silence, with no apparent answer, drove her into a deeper abyss of total darkness. She found herself going into recluse with an enormous gulf separating her from the God she had been in love with since she was a young child!

How many of us can identify with her? I know I can! And, I’m sure, somewhere looking back over the pages of our walk with Jesus, most everyone can. Yet, it doesn't stop there!

After suffering in a dungeon of hatred and bitterness; not allowing anyone to talk to her about God’s Grace and Goodness, one day alone crying, (this had become her lifestyle) she bellowed out in a scream, “WHERE WERE YOU WHEN MY SON DIED?”

Removed, as she so often wanted to be and being exhausted, she fell across the bed; however, within a few moments, a silence came into the bedroom, she heard a soft, tender, and loving voice that spoke back to her: “THE SAME PLACE I WAS WHEN MY SON DIED!” Adapted from Dr. Raleigh D. Jenkins

Silence.—Be silent, or say something better than silence.—PYTHAGORAS.

I. First I want you to notice His FRUSTRATION (v:1-2)

Silence is wonderful to listen to. Thomas Hardy

Ec 3:1 & 7 To every [thing there is] a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

Why does God allow the frustrating time of silence? What is His purpose?

In order to:

A. Get our attention - You know you’re in bad spiritual condition when you don’t even care about the presence of God.) To provoke a response.

B. Encourage us to seek God (Are we taking God for granted? (Psalm 27:7-9)

Ps 27:7-9 Hear, O LORD, [when] I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me. [When thou saidst], Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek. Hide not thy face [far] from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.

C. Lead us to depend upon God (Psalm 69:16-18)

Ps 69:16-18 Hear me, O LORD; for thy lovingkindness [is] good: turn unto me according to the multitude of thy tender mercies. And hide not thy face from thy servant; for I am in trouble: hear me speedily. Draw nigh unto my soul, [and] redeem it: deliver me because of mine enemies.

D. Motivate a serious attitude (Psalm 89:46-48)

Ps 89:46-48 How long, LORD? wilt thou hide thyself for ever? shall thy wrath burn like fire? Remember how short my time is: wherefore hast thou made all men in vain? What man [is he that] liveth, and shall not see death? shall he deliver his soul from the hand of the grave? Selah.

Ps 90:9-10 For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: we spend our years as a tale [that is told]. The days of our years [are] threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength [they be] fourscore years, yet [is] their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.

Ps 90:12 So teach [us] to number our days, that we may apply [our] hearts unto wisdom.

E. Encourage us to seek God’s will (Psalm 143:7-8)

Ps 143:7-8 Hear me speedily, O LORD: my spirit faileth: hide not thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit. Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.

F. Lead us to repentance (Isa. 59:1-2)

Isa 59:1-2 Behold, the LORD’S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid [his] face from you, that he will not hear.

II. Second, I want us to notice his FOCUS (v:3-4)

Before God, he was:

A. Humble “consider and hear me”

B. Hopeful “lighten my eyes” for wisdom

C. Honest “I can’t take anymore” “sleep the ...”

D. Hurting (v-4)

III. Third, I want us to notice His FAITH (v: 4:6)

A. the mercy of God

B. the salvation of God

C. the worthiness of God

He would not be blinded by his circumstances. God was worthy of all His suffering.