Psalm 13
How Long, O LORD?
To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.
[1] How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
[2] How long must I take counsel in my soul
and have sorrow in my heart all the day?
How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?
[3] Consider and answer me, O LORD my God;
light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death,
[4] lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed over him,”
lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken.
[5] But I have trusted in your steadfast love;
my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.
[6] I will sing to the LORD,
because he has dealt bountifully with me. (ESV)
I am filled with sadness, heartbreak and anger. The new this week has been filled with great pain and loss. A few minutes ago, Charlie Kirk, whom I was not familiar with was shot at an event, where he passed into eternity not too long after. He leaves behind a wife and children. Earlier in the week, a young lady who was just wanting to get home from work had her life taken abruptly. There is no doubt that we live in a dark and sinful world, where the wicked seem to prosper and get away with evil.
In times like these, I am reminded of Psalm 13 and Revelation 6:9. David writes asking the Lord, “How long?” - The martyred saints in Revelation also ask, “How long, O Lord?”. We ask the same question, how long, O Lord will you allow this to happen? How long will you allow the wicked to prosper? How long will you allow the innocent to be slaughtered? In the midst of the righteous anger, the sadness, the depression, how does David respond? He responds by placing his trust in the Lord. He rejoices in the Salvation of the Lord. What is said to the saints after their pleas? They were told to rest.
Does the Lord care? He does. Does he forget? Does He not hear the cries of His afflicted? He hears the cries and He has not forgotten.
When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears
and delivers them out of all their troubles.
Psalm 34:17
We see in Revelation 19 of what is to come:
Then I saw jheaven opened, and behold, ka white horse! The One sitting on it is called lFaithful and True, and min righteousness He judges and makes war.12 nHis eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are omany diadems, and he has pa name written that no one knows but himself.13 He is clothed in qa robe dipped in2 blood, and the name by which he is called is rThe Word of God.14 And the armies of heaven, sarrayed in fine linen, white and pure,twere following him on white horses.15 uFrom his mouth comes a sharp sword vwith which to strike down the nations, and wHe will rule3 them with a rod of iron. xHe will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty.
Revelation 19:11-15
We are shown there is day coming where the Lord will return and strike down the wicked. There is day where evil and sin will be absolutely abolished. A day where the Lord Jesus Christ will shatter the nations and rule with pure righteousness. A day we pray for. A day we long for.
As we walk in these dark days, let us encourage one another, today. Let us come together and pray. Pray for salvation. Pray.
Be reminded and comforted with these words.
We are comforted with these words:
“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” (ESV)
Revelation 21:4
Grace and Peace my Friends.
Maranatha! 😢🙏