Psalm 22:1 My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?
Oh my Friends, that sure is a mournful plea; one which all of us have uttered at some time. It’s a cry of heartbreaking anguish, indicating a terrible feeling of loneliness and abandonment. It occurs when we’re futilely struggling against gigantic odds, with no signs of help, of the favour God promises to His diligent followers. Bruh David apparently found himself in a rather serious predicament; beset by enemies before and behind, and it sure looks as though he had lots of them. In this situation he was lost, unsure of how to proceed against the might of his foes. To make matters worse, no assistance appeared to be forthcoming from the God of his fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, whom he’d worshipped his entire life. Wow! A man of such great and steadfast faith, going unattended by his God! Can you imagine how he must have felt totally forsaken? ‘O my God, I cry in the daytime, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent.’ (vs.2) Ah my people, what can I say eh? It’s all part of God’s great plan, which we obviously won’t understand because it’s above our comprehension, but also because it involves pain, heartache and suffering, things we’re not very good at undergoing. And it’s significant that that’s the same cry of anguish and forsakenness that Jesus uttered in the last moments of His life on the cross. ‘And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?’ (Mat.27:46) The only difference here Friends, is that Jesus’ plea is tinged with a touch of victory, for He knew that once He died, He’d have won the battle for our sinful souls: He’d successfully paid for our sins. But His anguished cry was nonetheless real, in keeping with His human embodiment; that of a tortured soul, for His Father, as Supreme Judge and Jury, had to actually forsake Him, so that He could die the death that would restore us to right standing with Almighty God. And Friends, though at times our problems overwhelm us, and the Lord seems indifferent to our urgent supplications, those are the very times we should definitely not give up, but hold strong and steadfast to our faith and the promises of our ever LOVING, ever Merciful, ever Forgiving God. As Bruh David contends: ‘Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them. They cried unto thee, and were delivered: they trusted in thee, and were not confounded.’ (Ps.22:4-5) The same should be said of us my people by future generations. I know it’s difficult to keep keeping on when everything just seems to be simultaneously tumbling down on us, especially in these recessionary days, where the news is almost always bad and disheartening. But let me remind us that when our Saviour, Jesus, trod this earth, He never took and easy step. From the day He was reputed to be gestating in His unmarried mother’s womb, till today, two thousand years after He died, rose and ascended back to His Heavenly Father, all for our sinful sakes, His Holy Name has been blasphemed and tarnished with every imaginable slur and negative comment. But what was, is and will always be His reaction? ‘Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.’ (Luke 23:34) Granted, we’re not as holy and strong as Him, but our stated goal is to become more like Him. So, when the hard times do strike, we need to dig down deep, keep calling, keep crying out, keep pleading for that heavenly strength to stay a faithful and steadfast course. And it will be granted eventually. Just don’t doubt. I know that’s easier said than done, but remember when we chose to follow Jesus, we knew, or should have been told, that it was going to be a rough and rocky road to travel, but with the Lord’s help, if we stood strong, we’d make it to our eventual destination with Jesus and be well rewarded. ‘I go to prepare a home for you…So that where I am, ye may be also.’ Oh Friends, in these uncertain times, it’s absolutely necessary to encourage ourselves and others in our God, else we’ll fall apart like the host of the unbelievers are doing. Just keep sticking to your God, like white on rice. (smile) Do your part as best you can, but keep calling on Him, reminding Him of His promises. ‘When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, Lord will I seek.’ Therefore, ‘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.’ (Ps.27:8-9) We can’t afford to give up my people, cause we are the salt of the earth and the light of the world, and if the salt loses its flavour and the light turns to darkness, then all hope is lost and we have let Jesus down. It’s therefore good for us to proclaim: ‘I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.’ So, ‘Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait I say on the Lord.’ (Ps.27:13-14) Yes my Friends, all we can do is our best, then cry out for help and believe that it will come, even though it’s just in the nick of time, then wait patiently for it to arrive. I know that’s hard, but it will. Much LOVE!…keep strong my people…work and pray…believe and wait…
Oh my Friends, that sure is a mournful plea; one which all of us have uttered at some time. It’s a cry of heartbreaking anguish, indicating a terrible feeling of loneliness and abandonment. It occurs when we’re futilely struggling against gigantic odds, with no signs of help, of the favour God promises to His diligent followers. Bruh David apparently found himself in a rather serious predicament; beset by enemies before and behind, and it sure looks as though he had lots of them. In this situation he was lost, unsure of how to proceed against the might of his foes. To make matters worse, no assistance appeared to be forthcoming from the God of his fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, whom he’d worshipped his entire life. Wow! A man of such great and steadfast faith, going unattended by his God! Can you imagine how he must have felt totally forsaken? ‘O my God, I cry in the daytime, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent.’ (vs.2) Ah my people, what can I say eh? It’s all part of God’s great plan, which we obviously won’t understand because it’s above our comprehension, but also because it involves pain, heartache and suffering, things we’re not very good at undergoing. And it’s significant that that’s the same cry of anguish and forsakenness that Jesus uttered in the last moments of His life on the cross. ‘And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?’ (Mat.27:46) The only difference here Friends, is that Jesus’ plea is tinged with a touch of victory, for He knew that once He died, He’d have won the battle for our sinful souls: He’d successfully paid for our sins. But His anguished cry was nonetheless real, in keeping with His human embodiment; that of a tortured soul, for His Father, as Supreme Judge and Jury, had to actually forsake Him, so that He could die the death that would restore us to right standing with Almighty God. And Friends, though at times our problems overwhelm us, and the Lord seems indifferent to our urgent supplications, those are the very times we should definitely not give up, but hold strong and steadfast to our faith and the promises of our ever LOVING, ever Merciful, ever Forgiving God. As Bruh David contends: ‘Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them. They cried unto thee, and were delivered: they trusted in thee, and were not confounded.’ (Ps.22:4-5) The same should be said of us my people by future generations. I know it’s difficult to keep keeping on when everything just seems to be simultaneously tumbling down on us, especially in these recessionary days, where the news is almost always bad and disheartening. But let me remind us that when our Saviour, Jesus, trod this earth, He never took and easy step. From the day He was reputed to be gestating in His unmarried mother’s womb, till today, two thousand years after He died, rose and ascended back to His Heavenly Father, all for our sinful sakes, His Holy Name has been blasphemed and tarnished with every imaginable slur and negative comment. But what was, is and will always be His reaction? ‘Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.’ (Luke 23:34) Granted, we’re not as holy and strong as Him, but our stated goal is to become more like Him. So, when the hard times do strike, we need to dig down deep, keep calling, keep crying out, keep pleading for that heavenly strength to stay a faithful and steadfast course. And it will be granted eventually. Just don’t doubt. I know that’s easier said than done, but remember when we chose to follow Jesus, we knew, or should have been told, that it was going to be a rough and rocky road to travel, but with the Lord’s help, if we stood strong, we’d make it to our eventual destination with Jesus and be well rewarded. ‘I go to prepare a home for you…So that where I am, ye may be also.’ Oh Friends, in these uncertain times, it’s absolutely necessary to encourage ourselves and others in our God, else we’ll fall apart like the host of the unbelievers are doing. Just keep sticking to your God, like white on rice. (smile) Do your part as best you can, but keep calling on Him, reminding Him of His promises. ‘When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, Lord will I seek.’ Therefore, ‘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.’ (Ps.27:8-9) We can’t afford to give up my people, cause we are the salt of the earth and the light of the world, and if the salt loses its flavour and the light turns to darkness, then all hope is lost and we have let Jesus down. It’s therefore good for us to proclaim: ‘I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.’ So, ‘Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait I say on the Lord.’ (Ps.27:13-14) Yes my Friends, all we can do is our best, then cry out for help and believe that it will come, even though it’s just in the nick of time, then wait patiently for it to arrive. I know that’s hard, but it will. Much LOVE!…keep strong my people…work and pray…believe and wait…
SCRIP-BITS 