Sermon Cloud

Title: Hang on the rope, Help is on the way!

(But Who’s holding on to who?) 

The psalmist is going through a deep spiritual struggle. He feels abandoned by the Lord; his inner spiritual strength is gone; his previous fellowship has been taken away; the intimate delight is a distant memory. 

He is desperate for deliverance; he lacks a sense of God’s compassion; he feels God’s delay in judging his persecutors, until the point that he is despairing even of life. He is in a spiritual valley. 

“The midnight of the Psalm, and very dark and black it is” (Spurgeon). Spurgeon himself is said to have struggled at times with depression. This teaches us that even the most eminent of saints are not beyond the flaming arrows of our adversary and are not immune at times to letting their guard down and having those arrows embedded into the heart. 

Thankfully, for the believer, that no a single arrow of Satan, no matter how well suited and painful it may be, is ever a death blow. A believer may be weakened by Satan’s attacks but he is never defeated and cannot be ultimately. We have the divine resources of an indestructible life in Christ Jesus (Hebrews 2:16-18; 4:15-16; 7:25). (In the world you have troubles, but take courage. I have overcome the world [John 16:33]); what is the victory that overcomes the world: our faith (1 John 5:4). 

Read: Psalm 119:81-88.

Hope in and faithfulness to the Word of God are anchors to the soul in spiritual struggle and persecution. 

(1) Hope in Spiritual Struggle

(81) “my soul languishes (i.e. ‘is desperate for;’ lit: ‘come to an end’)”

Can feel like the psalmist in 143:7 “Answer me quickly, O LORD, my spirit fails; do not hide Your face from me, or I will become like those who go down to the pit.”

How often have I prayed and felt as if the Lord was not listening? But we know that he is (vv. 8-9). There is sometimes a conflict, or disconnect between our emotions on one side and what we know to be true on the other. It is not a hopeless despair, but a God-centered anguish. 

“I wait for Your Word”

This term for “wait” is variously translated as “wait,” or “hope.” Biblical hope is not like worldly hope. Worldly hope is essentially confidence in nothing - wishful thinking. Biblical hope is hope in the unfailing, unchanging, all-powerful, wise, holy God of creation! (1 Peter 1:13). 

“Were we to conceive of God according to the notions of our own hearts, we should give way to most unbelieving patience. But the Divine character - as it shines from in the word with such love and wisdom, such tenderness and grace-invigorates our hope.” (Charles Bridges, 214). 

1 Sam. 10:8 - Saul did not wait and missed on the blessing. 

Job 6:11-13

Note: He asks for “lovingkindness” (hesed) from his friends, but he does not get it; how unlike the solid hope of the psalmist who knows that God is unchanging and His love will never fail (88).

Job 13:15 

14:14 - his hope is in the resurrection. This is all he had to hope in. 

30:16-31 - feeling the despair of abandonment

(82) “my eyes long”

Is it that God’s Word was somehow unavailable? Or, that he was unable to get a hold of a copy? 

No, this is not the point. What he misses is the consolations of faith that God’s word gives; the inner strength that God’s word supplies. This shows also our utter dependence upon the Holy Spirit. 

“when will you comfort me?”

It is not wrong to ask God questions, as long as in reverence and faith. 

“Faith may be exercised in not seeing his reasons - not being able to harmonize his promises with his providences, or his outward dispensations with hsi Divine perfections … but leave this to him and be ‘still and know he is God’” (Bridges). 

Why does God let His servants feel this way? To make them more aware of their spiritual poverty apart from Him; to purify their desires - comfort often brings compromise and laziness; to make the experience of God’s grace all the more precious and real. 

(83) “like wineskins in smoke” - 

What is a “wineskin in smoke” like? In what way does he feel like this? 

It is the picture of a wineskin, emptied of its contents, hung to dry slowly through constant exposure to the smoke. (Prov. 17:22 “A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones”) 

The imagery here captures not the sudden pangs of spiritual pain, but the long slow and enduring sense of inward attack and abandonment. It is perseverance that the Lord is after (Rom. 5:1-5 [note: the confidence comes from the grace in which we stand]; James 1:2-3). 

So, with a sense of spiritual abandonment and having been cut off from the blessing of the Lord he feels himself to be like that wineskin slowly drying and fading and losing all the moisture of life. 

External trials are not the most burdensome pains for the child of God, it is those inner struggles of the heart that bring a Christian to such despair. That sense that God’s blessing has been removed, that His answer is too long and   strength will fail. 

“I do not forget Your statutes” 

This is the buoy of hope; the lighthouse through the fog and cold and tossing sea when like a wearied sailor, tired, hungry, and weak we see the light of hope before and find strength to persevere and carry on: 

“The strength of the strongest of God’s people proves but small, when afflictions press heavily, and expected help is delayed. But though the soul fainteth it cannot fail. We depend not on what we see or feel, but on what the word promises. If GOd has engaged, it must be fulfilled, be the difficulties - nay, impossibilities - what they may. (Rom. 4:18 “In hope against hope” Abraham believed the promises of God). 

We can respond one of two ways in the midst of a trial:

(1) with faith 

(2) with grumbling and complaining. It is possible to come through a trial with a bitter and cynical attitude, or with a greater humility and trust in God. A perseverance of faith (Rom. 5; James 1). 

“Let us watch then against the proud sullenness under every little trial - such as the coldness of friends, the unkindness of enemies, or our Father’s providential dispensations. How sinful to allow hard thoughts of him, who name and character, ‘without variableness or shadow of turning,’ is ‘Love!’ A steady trust in the long and wearisome seasons of tribulation, is indeed ‘to glorify God in the fires.’” (Bridges, 221). 

What affect do trials have on your life? For most of us we can probably think of examples of both, but the failures all the more should encourage us to not give and persevere in faith. 

(84) “How long … when will You …” (first verse to not mention God’s word directly or by some synonym). 

Is it wrong to ask questions like this of God? Does it demonstrate a lack of faith, or are they simply the cries of anguish that can take place even amid trust in God?

The latter, the heart attitude is the issue. Is it accusatory, or genuine inquiry that is willing to wait on the Lord? 

Saints often are noted as asking questions of God; 

Abraham

Martyrs (Revelation 6)

It is wrong to say that God does not answer prayers (like the country song “some of God’s greatest gifts are unanswered prayers”). He always answers; sometimes “yes,” sometimes “no,” sometimes “wait.” 

(2) Faithfulness in Personal Attacks

(85) “arrogant …”

A common description of those who do not submit to the Word of God. They are proud and in this case determined to attack the humble. This is a personal attack, not the general hostility of an ungodly world. They are after him, and they are pursuing him with lies (86). 

(86) “all Your judgments are reliable” 

Though he does not feel the comfort of them, yet he knows that they are true (cf. Matt. 13:20-21). Persecution brings about perseverance and confidence in the child of God. Why? Because it validates the reality of their faith. 

“help me”

Sometimes the only prayer we have when under the crushing weight of a trial. But even such a short prayer when offered in faith to the God of heaven and earth; to the Lord of all creation whom purchased with His own blood - it is enough; it is enough to bring down all the mercy, compassion, power, and sustaining grace of heaven and to put in motion all the resources of heaven. 

The problem we have sometimes is the failure to leave our burden their after such a prayer. We take the burden to Him, lay it at the feet of Him who sits upon the throne, and then pick it up and carry back with us along the way. We need to cast our burdens on Him and then leave them there! (1 Pet. 5:7). 

(87) “they almost destroyed me”  

Same idea as v. 81 - a sense of despair over the weight of feeling abandoned and undergoing attack; yet, with a steadfast confidence in God’s Word. 

(88) “lovingkindness … revive me” 

This is the final plea and the place where he must rest. 

This must be our constant prayer in times of trial and distress. Our relief will not come from a stronger determination on our part, as necessary as this might be. Inward renewal is the work of the Holy Spirit, and while it requires diligence in the means of grace (word of God, prayer, fellowship), the confidence must be in the Spirit Himself and not our effort in implementing the means!

“testimonies … Your mouth”

Practical application of the doctrine of inspiration. 

Theology makes a difference on how we approach life. He could trust God’s Word to address the issues he faced because he believed that is exactly what they were; God’s words (2 Tim. 3:16). 

If theology does not affect the way we live and approach the issues of life, it shows a lack of faith and a lack of genuine understanding of that theology.