CORPORATE PRAYER NIGHT

WEDNESDAY MARCH 21^ST, 2012

PSALM 13

“THE HOW LONG PSALM”

It has been said that a week of winter is longer than a month of summer. Such is true in the seasons of the soul. Every single Christian, with no exceptions, experiences the seasons of the soul. The freshness of Spring, the sunshine of Summer, the changing colors and temperatures of Fall, and the barrenness and coldness of Winter.

Psalm 13, which can also be called the “How long God Psalm’ refers to the winter season of the soul.

Psalm 13:1 ¶ <<To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.>> How long wilt thou forget me, O LORD? for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me (look the other way)?

2 How long shall I take counsel in my soul (wrestle with my thoughts; lay up cares within me; struggle with anquish), having sorrow in my heart daily? how long shall mine enemy be exalted over me (how long shall the enemy have the upper hand)?

3 Consider and hear me, O LORD my God: lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death;

4 Lest mine enemy say, I have prevailed against him; and those that trouble me rejoice when I am moved (shaken, fall).

5 But I have trusted (leaned on;) in thy mercy (unfailing love; lovingkindness;); my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation.

6 I will sing unto the LORD, because he hath dealt bountifully with me.

The promise of God is that He will never leave us nor forsake us. The Father can no sooner forsake you beloved, than He can forsake His only begotten Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ.

The 4 “How longs” of David tell us that David is interpreting the circumstance of his life through the frail and ever changing barometer of his emotions. While it is true that all of God’s saints may feel as if God has left them “out in the cold”, it is impossible for God to deny Himself and His promises to us.

Yes, in the providence of God, there are those seasons when we do not sense His presence, but the promise of God is clear saints:

• Heb 13. 5For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." 6 So we may boldly say: "The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?"
• Meditate that tonight as you break up into your prayer groups. God will never leave you. God is your father and He will never abandon you….never. Secondly, He is your Helper. A very present help in time of trouble. The Father is The One from Whom we tonight will find mercy and grace to help in time of need.

Verse 2 is no stranger to any person in this sanctuary tonight. Who has not wrestled with his or her thought life? Who has not felt that anguish and despair in the depths of our minds? That is not strange beloved, it is a part of our fallen condition.

• Mental sorrow and anquish are a part of life this side of glory. In one sense they are unavoidable, but in another sense, they must not be allowed to have dominion over us, for as a man thinketh in his heart, so is he. Note that the heart and thought life are connected…..God, reveal Yourself to our hearts tonight. Show us Your glory. Grant us Your comfort.
• The Bible does not teach the “power of positive thinking”, but is does command us to set our affections on things above. It does tell us to lift up my eyes to the hills-From whence comes my help? 2 My help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth.
• As you pray with one another and for one another tonight, remember that every event in our lives if Father filtered. Bring those destructive, joy killing thoughts into captivity. Never make a peace treaty with the wintry thoughts of darkness…..redirect your focus on Christ and His sacrifice for you on the cross as you pray tonight.
• Bring the cause or source of your sorrow to The Lord tonight. Jesus said that His elect cry out to Him day and night in Luke 18. 

Consider and hear me….this is the turning point of this Psalm. Why? Because the focus shifts from the anquish in his mind and the coldness of his soul to the goodness and faithfulness of God.

• Remember beloved that prayer is all about God and His will being done in your life, always, and never about you and your will being done, never. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
• As you pray, consider the beauties of God’s grace. Consider His mercy and goodness. Consider His power and might. Consider His wisdom. Rest in His love. Remember the cross, if you doubt His love for you tonight.

Verses 5 and 6 are the fruit of God directed, Spirit ignited prayer….

• Note that David’s focus on God restores his faith in God. I have trusted in Him….I will rejoice in Him….I will sing praises unto Him. Why? for He has dealt bountifully with me.
• AS we now break up into our prayer groups, remember that the Great Shepherd Jesus Christ is right there in your midst! Look to Him….consider His mighty deeds as we see in the Gospels…He is the same, yesterday, today and forever.

As we take the bread and drink the cup tonight, may The Spirit of God remind us that our justification before God is not a result of our performance, but because of the grace and obedience of Jesus Christ. 

• Justification is by grace alone (not mixed with our merit) through faith alone (not mixed with our works) on the basis of Christ alone (not mingling His righteousness with ours) to the glory of God alone (not ours).
• Have you taken Christ as your justification before God my friend?  To refuse to do so will damn your precious soul for all of eternity. Only by grace through faith in Christ can a sinner be made righteous…will you open your heart and let the King of glory in…not for an overnight visit, but as King and Lord.