Wednesday, April 18, 2007

Psalm 71

Here, we see the testimonial of a man, who, having walked throughout his life with God, is confident enough to seek His help in old age.

For You are my hope, O Lord GOD; You are my trust from my youth. By You I have been upheld from birth; You are He who took me out of my mother’s womb. My praise shall be continually of You. (vv 5-6)

As he casts his mind back over his lifelong relationship with God, he acknowledges that God has been with him from birth. His Maker's presence was a viable part of his life, from his youth. He has learned to trust in, and seen the Lord do wondrous things on his behalf.

You can do the same today. If you candidly look back over your life, you will have cause to testify of the Almighty's goodness towards you. An old song, Angels, puts it this way:


God only knows the times my life was threatened just today;
A reckless car ran out of gas before it ran my way

Near misses all around me, accidents unknown
Though I never see with human eyes the hands that lead me home.
(Amy Grant: Age to Age 1982)

In the psalmist's words:

My mouth shall tell of Your righteous acts and of Your deeds of salvation all the day, for their number is more than I know. (v 15)


The fact that you are alive today, enjoying whatever blessings you are surrounded with, is proof that God has been with you from birth. You don't know how many times His angels have rescued you and kept you from harm. You don't know how many dangers they have averted on your behalf. Because he could testify to God's help throughout his life (and possibly because he noted the acts of which he was aware), the psalmist could count on God's help in his old age.

Take two things away from Psalm 71:
  1. Teach your children (or the young around you) about the Lord as early as possible. The Hebrews, during the psalmist's time, were raised knowing God was always with them, He was taught to them as ever-present and part of their existence. That way, they grew up able to trust in His ability to deliver them, and they could experience Him personally.

  2. Recount often, to the Lord, yourself and others, how God has blessed you. Ask God to open your eyes to see how He has always been with you. Then give Him thanks.
Today, write Him a letter of testimony and thanks, just like this psalmist, so that in days to come, you can refer to it and reinforce your confidence in His ability to look after your future.


Monday, April 16, 2007

Psalm 70

MAKE HASTE, O GOD, TO DELIVER ME; MAKE HASTE TO HELP ME, O LORD. (v1)

David's prayer here, although largely for God to remember and deliver Him, could also be assessed as the prayer for two types of people in his life: he asks for deliverance from his enemies (those who sought kill him) and for God's blessing on his fellow believers.

Much as we prefer otherwise, there are those who want to harm us. They do not wish any good to come to the believer (you), either due to your trust in Christ, for their own evil advancement, or because they are tools of our eternal Enemy, Satan. David felt justified in calling for God to deliver him from their evil deeds. In fact, he asked God to help him quickly.

We learn from this psalm that we can seek God's help in an emergency. When you need rescuing, let God bear the brunt of your urgency. Before rushing off to consult with friends, the bank manager, your Pastor, or anyone you feel may be able to assist you, stop and ask the Lord to help you, and don't be shy about your demands.

The widow woman whose story Jesus told in Luke 18: 2-5 was not intimidated by the judge's godless attitude. She pestered him until she got what she wanted. God expects the same from you. Let heaven hear the sound of your voice, and the cries from your heart. Don't be lacklustre about what you need from God; and never feel God is probably fed up with hearing you. If there's one lesson you should take away from the Psalms, it is that God never tires of hearing your voice.

More pertinently, God is willing to act on your behalf, when you ask Him to move swiftly.

Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: and let such as love thy salvation say continually, Let God be magnified. (v 3)

In the second half of the psalm, David prays for the righteous; those who love God and His salvation. Those, we would say today, who have reached out to accept the saving grace of Jesus Christ.

That, my friend, is you. For,

If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved. (Romans 10: 9-10)

If Jesus is Lord of your life, this portion of the psalm speaks directly to you.

Rejoice and be glad in Him. Praise His name continually. Let God be so magnified in your sight (see Him through eyes that wonder at His greatness), that everything else (including your enemy) becomes small and insignificant.

Then you will, like the psalmist, be able to trust that He will hastily come to you!

Sunday, April 15, 2007

Psalm 69

This song, another of David's cries to God about false accusations and injustice, is quoted several times in the New Testament as a parallel for Christ's life.

The Christian who meditates on this psalm will likely experience mixed feelings - of comfort in reading what was prophesied about the Saviour centuries before His advent, and unease in knowing He was taking our place; of joy in the knowledge that He came to rescue us from suffering, and heartbreak at what He had to endure.


The following scriptures are directly referred to in the New Testament:
  1. v 4: Those who hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of my head; they are mighty who would destroy me, being my enemies wrongfully; (John 15:25)
  2. v 9: Because zeal for Your house has eaten me up, and the reproaches of those who reproach You have fallen on me. (John 2:17)
  3. v 21: They also gave me gall for my food, and for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink. (Matt 27:34)
Other indirect references include:
  1. v 7: Because for Your sake I have borne reproach; shame has covered my face.
  2. v 8:I have become a stranger to my brothers, and an alien to my mother’s children;
  3. v 12: Those who sit in the gate speak against me, and I am the song of the drunkards.
As you read through this psalm, consider Christ. Consider His suffering. Consider the glory He exchanged for sin-stricken man. Consider the following:
  • He bore our disgrace and reproach, that we might be included in the family of God (v9,19)
  • He was despised that we might be accepted (v 8)
  • He took our sins upon Himself, that we might have His life (v 7)
  • He sought and found no comfort, that we might be comforted (v 20)
  • He was made poor that we might be rich (v 29)
  • His salvation set us on high (v 29)
Surely, our response to His goodness, mercy, and the suffering He endured must be worship and adoration: to join our voices with heaven to praise Him, and raise our song with the seas (v 34). And to declare His saving grace to a dying world.

Consider Him.

Saturday, April 14, 2007

Psalm 68

Sing unto God, sing praises to his name: extol him that rideth upon the heavens by his name JAH, and rejoice before him. (v 4)

This lengthy psalm lends itself to a study of some of God's characteristics, for which we can give Him praise. The impact of God's presence on His (and your) enemies is vastly different from His effect on the righteous. The enemies are scattered, decimated, crushed, and the godly are blessed, sing for joy, and exult before Him.

To enhance our view of God, the psalmist tells us the following about Him. He is the:
  1. Defender (vv 1-2, 12, 21-23)
  2. Protector of the helpless and Advocate of the disadvantaged (v 5-6)
  3. Leader and Guide (v 7)
  4. Victorious Warrior (vv 11-12, 14, 17-18)
  5. Ruler over nature ( vv 4, 15, 33)
  6. Strong and mighty Saviour ( vv 20, 28)
  7. Source of our prosperity ( vv 10, 12-13, 19)
  8. Triumphant King over the nations ( vv 32-35)
  9. One to whom every knee will bow (vv 18, 31)
  10. Reigning King (v 24)
  11. Source of life (26)
David also recalls Israel's mighty deliverance from their captivity under Pharaoh. It is a reminder that God prepared a dwelling place for them (vv 9-10), set them free from bondage and led them out of Egypt (v 7), conquered the enemy inhabitants of the promised land , and provided for His children.

The psalm mirrors the legacy of those who have been born into Christ.

We have been delivered from the power of death (Hebrews 2: 14-15), called out of darkness into His marvellous light (1 Peter 2:10), Christ is preparing an eternal resting place for us (John 14:2-3), we have been set free from bondage to sin (Romans 6:13-14) and the devil (1 John 3:8), and God has promised to and will supply all our needs according to His glorious riches (Philippians 4:19, 2 Peter 1:3, John 10:10).

So you see, child of God, you have just as much reason to rejoice and be glad, as the Israelites to whom this psalm was addressed. God is your Father, Defender, Vindicator, Comfort, Source and King. Take David's words to heart today, meditate on the above characteristics /names of God and make a choice, regardless of your circumstances, to:

Sing praises to God, and to His name. Sing loud praises to Him who rides the clouds. His name is the Lord -- rejoice in His presence! (v 4 NLT)


Friday, April 13, 2007

Psalm 67

God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause his face to shine upon us; Selah. That thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations. (vv 1-2)

The psalmist seeks a blessing upon himself and the hearers of this song, to the end that God's glory might be seen all over the earth. Verse 1 is an assurance from God that we can seek His blessings for ourselves. In fact, what we should seek is that He smile on us (God's Word Translation). What an awesome feeling to have the God of heaven single you out with His smile!

But the psalmist does not ask for this selfishly. Though he will benefit from God's favour, the psalmist's ultimate reason for this petition is that others will see God at work in his life and eventually experience God's saving power. On the day of Pentecost, God smiled down on the 120 disciples in the Upper Room in the person of the Holy Spirit. At this time, they were surrounded by Jews from all over the world, and as the Blessing was poured out on the Christ's disciples, this is what the onlookers said:

“How can this be?” they exclaimed. “These people are all from Galilee, and yet we hear them speaking in our own native languages! Here we are—Parthians, Medes, Elamites, people from Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, the province of Asia, Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, and the areas of Libya around Cyrene, visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism), Cretans, and Arabs. And we all hear these people speaking in our own languages about the wonderful things God has done!” (Acts 2:7-11 NLT)

Out of this blessing resulted the first crusade meeting in which thousands gave their lives to Jesus Christ!

The psalmist must have felt a similar desire, and passion, as he penned the words of this song. Again, his goal was not that the nations stop at experiencing God's blessings, but that they would know His ways. That He might be revealed to them in all His glory. He asked for the outpouring so that God might be seen not just as a boon-giver, but as a God of justice, a Ruler of nations, a Comforter (Young's Translation) [verse 4] and provider (v 6). He wanted the whole world to know God wholly.

Everyone needs the salvation of God (v 2) and one sure way this can happen is when they see God's blessing working in your life. Consider this psalm a confession and profess it to God often. Let your tongue be that of a prophet used by God to speak His will for revival to sweep through the lands. Let your life be a source through which God reveals Himself to your neighbours. I pray the following over you today:

May the Lord bless you, may the peace of Christ rule your heart and mind, may His glory radiate through your life; and may your light so shine before men that they would see your works and give honour to His holy name.

Amen

Thursday, April 12, 2007

Psalm 66

Make a joyful noise unto God, all ye lands: sing forth the honour of his name: make his praise glorious. (vv 1-2)

It's time to praise and worship the Creator. The Psalmist bursts into this song of complete adoration and exaltation, his entire attention devoted to the glories of God. He invites and is prepared to guide the whole earth through the act of worshipping the majesty of the King of kings.

“Say to God, How awesome are Your works! (v3a)

Praise is an offering to God in which we speak of His wondrous works. Of His great deeds. You can offer praise to God either by telling Him (or others) what you know about Him. To praise God is to lift your voice (in word or song) to proclaim His excellency.

The psalmist does just this. It doesn't matter whether others know God from personal experience; the psalmist has prepared a list of reasons why everyone should praise Him. Let's take a look at some of them:

  1. Through the greatness of Your power Your enemies shall submit themselves to You. (v 3b): As Lord over all, all creation is destined to submit to God's awesome power. By His grace, we can give our lives to Him and have that great power working on our behalf, but eventually, every knee (willing or otherwise) shall bow before Him.
  2. He turned the sea into dry land: they went through the flood on foot ( v6): Israelite history records these amazing deeds. God turned the Red Sea into a passageway for their exit from Egypt. Again, He dried up the Jordan River as they passed over to Jericho. In the same manner, the Lord Jesus walked across the sea to His disciples. Nature is created of God and subject to His rule.
  3. He ruleth by his power for ever; his eyes behold the nations: let not the rebellious exalt themselves (v 7): The all-seeing Eye watches over all. The Israelites saw God defeat nation after nation on their behalf. The psalmist here suggests (as he does in verse 3) that the rebellious should by no means be proud of their enmity against God, for they do not know the extent of His might. The Egyptian nation was completely destroyed because Pharaoh opposed God.
  4. Who keeps our soul among the living, and does not allow our feet to be moved. (v 9): There should be no mistaking this fact: God is the reason we exist. He breathed life into each living soul, and as soon as He withdraws his breath, we expire. The advances of man's knowledge are but a speck compared to His glory. Without Him, we are nothing. In Him, we are all we should be.
As you meditate on this psalm today, keep in mind that the highest praise you can offer God is all about Him - who He is, what He has done, and who He will always be. Learn from the psalmist's words and dedicate yourself to declaring His glorious praises. You will find several of God's names, and reasons for which you can praise Him on this website.

Spend some time calling Him by His name today - tell Him how wondrous He is. Praise Him for His mighty acts, praise Him for His glorious deeds. Lift up to Him the reasons why, if no one else will, you choose to praise His awesomeness.

God deserves nothing less.

Wednesday, April 11, 2007

Psalm 65

O thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come. (v 2)

What a joy to read this wonderful exposé of the goodies awaiting those who approach God. If there were any doubt in your mind that God listens when you pray, erase it now by memorising the above verse. God hears when you call out to Him. Prophesied by David in this psalm, this promise is repeatedly confirmed in the Bible (see Romans 10:12, Isaiah 35:4, Acts 2:21). So, whatever your needs, do not hesitate today to bring them before the Lord, truthfully and sincerely (Psalm 145:18).

You may also find pleasure in the knowledge that He does not restrict His help to a few. The psalmist stresses that ALL flesh will come to the Lord. If you have an unsaved one who appears beyond help, here is a promise that God will never turn them away. Many people feel they cannot approach God because of sin, thinking He is waiting to pour out wrath upon them for the lives they've led. As we see from this psalm, this is not the case. God wants everyone to come to Him and Jesus Christ died to make this possible. This assertion is confirmed in verse 3-4:

Though we are overwhelmed by our sins, you forgive them all. What joy for those you choose to bring near, those who live in your holy courts. What festivities await us inside your holy Temple. (NLT)

There is no one too sinful for God to save, He wants them, not to do penance, or first make themselves worthy, but simply to believe in Jesus, as that most famous of verses points out:

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)

And as they approach the Lord, there is a glorious celebration. In Jesus' own words:

...there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven’t strayed away! (Luke 15:7 NLT)


If you are already saved, and your heart weighs heavy for someone who is not, all God requires is that you pray fervently, sincerely and persistently for them. He willingly pays attention to your every prayer, especially those offered according to His will and you can be certain your loved one(s) will not remain lost to Him forever.

And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: and if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him. (1 John 5:14-15)

Tuesday, April 10, 2007

Psalm 64

Hide me from the secret plots of the wicked, from the rebellion of the workers of iniquity, who sharpen their tongue like a sword, and bend their bows to shoot their arrows—bitter words, that they may shoot in secret at the blameless; suddenly they shoot at him and do not fear. (vv 2-4)

In this psalm, we see how great a weapon the tongue is, and how it can be used to deflate, distress and destroy, as David finds himself on the receiving end of treacherous plots against his person and reign.

The tongue, when employed in flattery and lying can be entirely deceitful. The wicked often use their tongues as arrows and swords to destroy, slander and cut righteous reputations to pieces. Their evil plots are also characterised by secrecy. But the child of God need not fear the secret plotting of evil people.

Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable. (Hebrews 4:13)

In 2 Kings 6, the king of Syria waged war against Israel. To his dismay, every time he tried to set an ambush against the Israelites, his plans were foiled. The following conversation ensued between the king and his men:

The king of Aram became very upset over this. He called his officers together and demanded, “Which of you is the traitor? Who has been informing the king of Israel of my plans?”
“It’s not us, my lord the king,” one of the officers replied. “Elisha, the prophet in Israel, tells the king of Israel even the words you speak in the privacy of your bedroom!” (2 Kings 6:11-12)


You see, their secret plans were constantly exposed because God was right there in their midst. David knew this, so rather than expend his energy trying to figure out how to avoid being harmed, he simply reported his enemies to the omniscient One who was able to thwart their schemes.

James tells us that the tongue can kindle a fire, and while the evil use their tongues to concoct lies and destroy, children of God can use the power of the tongue as a weapon against the Enemy of our souls.

Just as the wicked create destruction with their tongues, you can create life with yours. When you constantly speak the truth found in God's word - over your life, circumstances, family and even over the nation - you generate power to turn around even the most hopeless of situations.

Why not go into warfare today? Only, unlike the wicked, choose to speak good. Let the words coming from your mouth be seasoned with salt, and full of life, so that the hearer is blessed,
good seeds are sown, and in due season, you will reap a harvest of blessings.


Thursday, April 05, 2007

Psalm 63

O God, You are my God; early will I seek You; my soul thirsts for You; my flesh longs for You in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water. (v 1)

Being stuck in the wilderness and not knowing when his trials would end did not stop David from carrying out a blatant love affair - with God. Years of relationship - through good times and bad - stood him in good stead, and gave him the impetus to pen this love song to God, during a particularly difficult time of his life.

Our problems can often push us away from God, either by presenting themselves as bigger than Him, or worse, making Him out to be their source. David's attitude was entirely the opposite. There was a thirst in his soul that only God could fill, and being away from the place where he freely and publicly expressed his appreciation for His Lord was virtually unbearable. Also, his affection for God was not merely spiritual, even his physical body desperately yearned for God's presence. In an attempt to rediscover that glory and power he experienced in the sanctuary (v 2), David did the best he could in a terrible situation. He called on his memories.

When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches. Because You have been my help, therefore in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice. My soul follows close behind You; Your right hand upholds me. (vv 6-8)

If you've ever been away from a loved one, remembering the good times can be a lifeline, so you picture them in your mind's eye, wonder how they're doing and recall all sorts of meaningful elements of your relationship. David's attention was focused, not so much on his problems, but on that special something in his relationship with God. He called to mind God's wonderful works in his life, and spent so much time meditating (contemplating, reflecting on, pondering and mulling over) the good times that he eventually began to see God alive and working in his current situation. Suddenly, his enemies weren't so powerful after all (vv 9-10), and they would definitely get what was coming to them.

God, whom David loved and served, is the same, yesterday, today and forever. He is a sun and shield who gives grace and glory to those who walk uprightly, to those who love and obey Him. As described by another psalmist:

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. (Ps 46:1)

If you are fairly comfortable with your life right now, it is the ideal time to cultivate that loving, thriving relationship with God. Get to know Him. Begin a marker of all He's blessed you with, so that when the need arises, you'll be able to recall and meditate on them.

On the other hand, if your life is a turmoil-ridden wilderness, take a leaf out of David's book and begin to recall the beauty and power of God. If you cannot recollect any specific events in your life, open up the scriptures and ask Him to shed light in your heart over His great deeds. Take a look in Exodus for the miracles he did on behalf of the Israelites. Check out the way He delivered David from the Philistine giant; walk with Christ through the first few chapters of Mark's gospel to see His concern and provision for those who approached Him with difficulties we can only imagine.

Then begin to meditate on these examples until a vision of God comes alive within your heart, and as your perspective changes, you will be assured enough to sing, like David:

I will praise you as long as I live, lifting up my hands to you in prayer. You satisfy me more than the richest feast. I will praise you with songs of joy. (vv 4-5 NLT)


Wednesday, April 04, 2007

Psalm 62

Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved. (vv 1-2)

David often approached God with petitions; but this psalm is a meditation and observation rather than a prayer request. In his soul and mind, where turmoil takes place, where worry, stress and pressures can cause the greatest unrest, David has found refuge in the presence of God, and there he waits.

Quietly. Silently. Observantly.

He is silent; having long recognised that without God’s prompting, no person can help him. He will not seek go running to others to complain about his problems, let alone seek their assistance. He will not depend on man. Instead, he sits in silence before the Lord, watching and waiting.

“…he who talks much of his troubles to men is apt to fall into a way of saying too little of them to God” — Charles H Spurgeon

He is quiet: refusing to panic or be worried. Quietness is defined by the dictionary as a situation 'marked by little or no motion or activity', 'free from noise or uproar'. Having repeatedly heard God's voice, knowing that God is powerful, and full of loving kindness, He confidently expects his salvation to come from that higher source.

He is observant: Tucked away in an impregnable fortress from which he views the world around him, he recognises the wicked's efforts for what they really are - ineffectual. While he is under God's protection, they can do him no harm. In God's sight, the high and the low become insignificant (v 9).

Our lives are hid with Christ in God. So says Paul to the Colossian Christians (Colossians 3:3), and in this psalm we begin to understand how that works. As you rest in God's presence, do not be distressed about when your victory will come, because it's a certainty - God will come through. Do not worry about being overwhelmed by your problems - God is working on your behalf.

Like a man clings to a rock in the middle of turbulent seas, David knows that his enemies' huffing and puffing will not move him as long as his attention remains fixed on God; and from this posture, we learn the following:
  1. God is totally dependable
  2. God has power to save
  3. God gives honour
  4. God is merciful
  5. God's love is unfailing
Let your full confidence and trust be in the Lord, he advises. Go before His presence and empty your heart of your fears, struggles, bitterness, sorrows and desires. (v 8)

You will reap the rewards of patience in due course (v 12)

Tuesday, April 03, 2007

Psalm 61

The Four "I Wills"

In David's communion with God, he intends to take four steps, purely as an act of his will. Let us make the same our heart's determination as we journey through this psalm.
  1. ...from the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed (v 2): There may be great distance between him and God - as far as the North end of the earth is from the South - but David will not stop calling out to the Lord. When our Lord Jesus Christ hung upon the cross, under the horrific weight of our sin, He cried out to God, despite knowing that God turned His back on the sin Jesus carried (Matthew 27:46).

    No matter how long the answer to your prayer takes, keep calling upon God. It takes determination to carry on knocking on a steadfastly closed door, so be resolute. The more overwhelming your trials are, the more familiar heaven should be with your voice.

  2. I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever (v 4a): Our problems must draw us closer to God's presence. We must not, when we have financial troubles, choose that time to stop serving Him. Our marital difficulties should not give us reason to abandon the house of the Lord, and problems with other Christians cannot justify us leaving church altogether.

    God resides in every Christian's heart, but it is up to you and me to cultivate that awareness of His presence. Problems can amplify themselves so much in our lives that God's presence is marginalised and we find ourselves bowing down before the altar of our troubles. We cannot replace prayer with busyness. Do not move house, change location, or take your prayers and service elsewhere. Instead:

  3. I will trust in the covert of thy wings (v 4b): Or, as another psalmist put it: My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. (Ps 121:2)

    God knows where, when and how your situation will be resolved, and His solution to your problem will far exceed anything you may come up with. Don't let the enemy's whisperings convince you that God isn't thinking of you. You are not an invisible speck to His all-seeing eye. Trust that He will move you closer to Him as you seek His face, and that He will deliver you from trouble, and subdue the enemy on your behalf.

  4. So will I sing praise unto thy name for ever, that I may daily perform my vows. (v 8): In light of the above, David's final decision is to praise God. He knows where his confidence lies, and regardless of the time or outcome of his present circumstances, he will be a Praiser.

    Exchange the garment of sorrow for rejoicing as you wait on God. Know that He is: Worthy of your praise and adoration; greater than any situation you may face; full of might and power; able to part the Red Sea before you, and full of grace and glory.

    Even if you never receive one more blessing from God all your life, He still deserves your praise - for He created you for His own pleasure (Revelation 4:11).
Let David's "I will's" be your determination today.

Monday, April 02, 2007

Psalm 60

O God, thou hast cast us off, thou hast scattered us, thou hast been displeased; O turn thyself to us again. (v 1)

David begins this prayer with a cry that has surely ascended to heaven from many hearts before his time and since. In verses 1-3, we see him calling upon God to revisit His people, for reasons of which we are unaware (perhaps he recalled Israel's staggering defeat by the Philistines that resulted in the deaths of King Saul and his sons, or it might refer to an unspecified defeat suffered during the present battle [see psalm header]). What is clear is that at some point while writing this psalm, David felt abandoned by God.

Why does God sometimes appear invisible?

He has promised never to leave or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5), but we will go through trials during which we cannot see God at work. The following scriptures may point to some of the reasons:
  1. The presence of sin: If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened; (Psalm 66:18 NIV)
  2. Building godly character: ...but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. (Romans 5:3-4 NKJV)
  3. Strengthening our faith: In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. (1 Peter 1:6-7)
  4. Producing patience and maturity: My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. (James 1:2-4)
For these and other reasons (including the fact that we may simply need to retune our listening frequency to hear God clearly - see Elijah's encounter with God), God may be silent, or seem to ignore our plight.

For we walk by faith, not by sight: (2 Corinthians 5:7)

But the psalmist does not stop there. God had guaranteed that Israel would inherit the promised land, and right there, as he stood in God's presence, prophetic words began flowing from David's lips:

God hath spoken in his holiness; I will rejoice, I will divide Shechem, and mete out the valley of Succoth. Gilead is mine, and Manasseh is mine; Ephraim also is the strength of mine head; Judah is my lawgiver; Moab is my washpot; over Edom will I cast out my shoe: Philistia, triumph thou because of me.

Even in the midst of your greatest trials, as you bring your griefs and burdens to God, He can and will speak to you. He will remind you of His promises. Just be sure to listen. Don't approach Him listlessly, but like the woman with the issue of blood, let your grief and desperation place a demand on His power. Let there be no doubt in your heart that, as David says,

Through God we shall do valiantly: for he it is that shall tread down our enemies.

God's faithfulness never, ever fails.