Read: Psalm 13:1-2 |
A journalist was assigned to the Jerusalem bureau of his newspaper. After a brief search, he found an apartment overlooking the Wailing Wall. After several weeks, he realized that whenever he looked at the Wailing Wall he saw an old Jewish man praying vigorously.
The journalist immediately recognized that this might make a great article. One day, he went down to the wall and introduced himself to the old man. He told him: “You come every day to the wall. What are you praying for?”
The old man replied: “What am I praying for? In the morning I pray for world peace, then I pray for the brotherhood of man. I go home, have a glass of tea, and I come back to the wall to pray for the eradication of illness and disease from the earth.”
The journalist is taken by the old man’s sincerity and persistence. “You mean you have been coming to the wall to pray every day for these things?”
The old man nods.
“How long have you been coming to the wall to pray for these things?”, asked the journalist.
The old man became reflective and then replied: “How long? Maybe twenty, twenty-five years.”
The amazed journalist finally asked: “How does it feel to come and pray every day for over 20 years for these same things?”
“How does it feel?” the old man replied. “It feels like I’m talking to a wall.” [Source: Sermon Central, Noal Atkinson]
David may have felt something like this after being anointed to be King about the age of 10 but having to wait until he was around 30 taking the throne. In Psalm 13 he poses the question of “How long…” four times to emphasize that the season of waiting for God’s plan was passing by at a snail’s pace.
About
Psalm 13, written by David, is divided into three parts:
- Cry of anxiety and lament – verses 1-2
- Pray with Faith and Hope – verses 3-4
- Rejoice in his bounty – verses 5-6
Scholars do not agree on the timing of this Psalm, but it is believed to be near the end of Saul’s persecution when he had forced David into the land of the Philistines.
Main Message – Cry “How long?” –> Pray “Deliver me!” -> Rejoice “Thanks for Deliverance”
How long?
There are many situations in our lives when we could echo David’s cry. In fact, a quick examination of scripture shows multiple instances of saints experiencing similar long periods of waiting for God’s intervention.
- A certain man lay at the pool of Bethesda, who had an infirmity thirty and eight years [John 5:5]
- A woman had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, before she was “loosed.” [Luke 13:11]
- Lazarus labored under disease and poverty, till he was released by death and transferred to Abraham’s bosom [Luke 16:20-22]
- Job felt everything was futile and openly wondered how long and why he was suffering [Job 7]
- Joshua asked the Israelites whose 40-day journey took 40 years, “How long will you put off entering to take possession of the land which the Lord, the God of your fathers, has given you?” [Joshua 18:3]
As we grow in Christ, our cry should never be devoid of hope. It should be infused with believing and remembering prayer. A prayer that believes that God is our shield and remembers that God has and will provide. Time will prove that we will exit the storm stronger than when we entered it.
Conclusion
Whether the waiting time is a day or a decade, trust God to provide at the appointed time. For some of us, we will have to wait like David. If so, we should be just as proactive as David. Press on to seek God’s direction and allow our faith and trust in God to grow. As we grow and continue seeking God, God will prepare us for our promised land. [Read my Waiting on God Series (link)]
Questions:
1. Discover –
A. How often do you say or feel like saying, “How long, oh, Lord?
B. My mom and a few perceptive friends can read between my words and facial expressions to tell that something is weighing me down. While I can fake it with most people, their radar picks up my true vibes. How about you? Can others read what you are going through by your demeanor and speech? How do you handle it?
2. Develop –
A. When you feel sad or despondent, how does it affect your relationships, your job, your personality and/or your health? How does it affect your relationship with Christ?
B. Do you know anyone who no matter what they are going through, they are always up? Ask them what is their secret? Can any of their solutions be applied in your life?
3. Demonstrate –
A. Seek God’s help to be able to be a witness especially when you are going through hard times. After all, your reaction may be what convinces someone to trust God or causes them question if God can help them.
