{Read Psalm 13:1-6.}
THE PROBLEM; V 1-2
In verses 1-2 four times David asks “Why?” He came to wrong conclusions about God in the midst of his troubles, he had wrongly concluded God had forgotten him and God had abandoned him. The length of his trials were as we would say, “getting to him.” But also they were revealing his wrong concepts about God, that the length of trial was because HE had forgotten and abandoned him! In the midst of his PERPLEXITIES his perspective was exposed, and he like us, often have wrong concepts of God. We often believe trials are His punishment towards us or His lack of love for us, when His Word reveals He often tests to develop us and display Himself to us and through us and to spiritually mature us.{Read James 1:2-5,12; 2 Cor 12:7-10}. We often conclude wrongly about Him. We fail to INCLUDE Him in our troubles and His unchanging commitment to us never to forsake us or abandon us, and His permanent presence with us.- {Heb 13:5}. One problem often can be that we live by what we “SEE” rather than what He SAYS!
PRAYER; V 3-4
In the midst of his problems and perplexities he turns to HIM and PRAYS. No one likes problems, or trials, and especially if they seem to go on and on and on and no light at the end of the tunnel. Yet this is the HINGE THAT TURNS the door from PROBLEM TO…
PRAISE; V 6
They say Prayer changes things… but note in this verse, prayer changes PERSPECTIVE, and changes the psalmist focus and as a result, though his circumstances have not changed his perspective has as he says, “I WILL SING to the LORD BECAUSE…” Now note he has reason to sing, motivation to sing and the focus of his song is the LORD…. ” The word, “BECAUSE” shows he has reason to choose to sing , not based on feelings, but on FACTS…” Because HE has dealt Bountifully with me”… He REMEMBERS, he EMPLOYS his THINKING…. on THE PAST GOODNESS OF THE LORD… to him! He goes back and from his experiences he REMEMBERS and as a result he chooses to PRAISE the LORD for how good GOD HAS BEEN TO HIM!
His PROBLEMS were still the same, though unknown to him, God was at work in the background and also at work in him…. using the difficulties of life to cause him to lean in a little closer and more dependent upon Him. God was preparing a future king to serve the people, and God was using the School of difficulties to develop His student! But note, his thinking though wrong in the initial verses… now remembers the GOODNESS of the LORD not in some abstract way, but in PERSONAL dealings with him to such an extent he chooses, and it is a choice, he chooses to SING TO THE LORD… WHY? He remembers God’s goodness to him! CONSIDER….
* It is the GOODNESS of the Lord that leads to repentance-{Rom 2:4}
* Every GOOD and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows”- {James 1:17}
* “Give thanks to the Lord, for HE IS GOOD!
His faithful love endures forever.
2 Give thanks to the God of gods.
His faithful love endures forever.
3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords.
His faithful love endures forever.
4 Give thanks to him who alone does mighty miracles.
His faithful love endures forever.
5 Give thanks to him who made the heavens so skillfully.
His faithful love endures forever.
6 Give thanks to him who placed the earth among the waters.
His faithful love endures forever.
7 Give thanks to him who made the heavenly lights—
His faithful love endures forever.
8 the sun to rule the day,
His faithful love endures forever.
9 and the moon and stars to rule the night.
His faithful love endures forever.”- {Psalm 136:1-9}
* PROVISION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT- ” So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.”-{Luke 11;13}
*PAST GOODNESS; “Surely GOODNESS and mercy shall follow{pursue}me all the days of my life”-{Psalm 23 ???}
Ask Him to remind you of how He has shown HIS GOODNESS to you, and choose to Sing His praises….”God is so good, God is so good, God is so good, He’ so good to me…”
* “For I, the LORD, do not change;”-{Mal 3:6}
Got PROBLEMS?..PRAY!...And as you focus on HIM, REMEMBER HIS GOODNESS to you, past goodness are as fuel for present faith to incite the heart to PRAISE…The psalmist says “I WILL…” whatever about others he has made his choice he “will sing to the LORD” and he has reasons he tells us as have you and me, “BECAUSE… HE has dealt bountifully with me.” He remembered HIS GOODNESS. The Bountifulness of it, his cup overflowing with GOODNESS to him and it causes a song to arise in his heart!
THINKING ON FICTION OR FACTS? Note it is in the midst of difficulties, that David had been pursued relentlessly, hounded by Saul, whose desires was to kill him. With this as the background to the Psalm, David chooses to pray and God reminds him of past goodness to him that changes his focus from “FICTION,” believing the lie that God has abandoned and forgotten him, to FACT- God has been good to him! The result is his prayer of PRAISE to God for His goodness to him. He has a history of God’s goodness to him and it primes his heart and faith to sing His praises! He looks back for “fuel” for his faith and praise the result for God’s personal goodness to him!
THINK ON PAST GOODNESS of the LORD To you to Fuel your faith ad FOCUS AMIDST PRESENT DIFFICULTIES AND PRAISE HIM! Your Mind has to go somewhere… develop the HABIT to Think, Recall His goodness to you… and PRAISE HIM!
GOD GIVES A SONG AMIDST THE SORROWS!