Sunday, September 2, 2012 pm
WHY DO YOU CAST OFF MY
SOUL?
Psalm 88
But, one thing unique about this psalm is its sad tone.
From beginning to end there is despair and no sound of hope.
It is described as a song of,
“hopeless sorrow.” In fact, what
it deals with is unknown, though speculation lends toward it being 1) A
national lament of distress in exile, 2)the dying prayer of a leper (the
mention of isolation from friends), or simply 3) the saddest psalm of
them all. Unlike most
psalms, there is no hope of deliverance as God is approached, at least
from the imminent death the psalmist alludes to.
Because of this hopelessness, as we examine this psalm, we want to spend
some time addressing the text, but we also want to make application to
those times in our lives when we feel such despair.
With this let us notice the lessons gleaned from such occasions.
a.
This is the ONLY positive
acknowledgement of God in this psalm.
It reveals that we have here a believer.
We can but assume he has rightfully trusted in God up to this
point, but now he is discouraged and sees no hope.
All he has left is his cry.
b.
Even in despair, his
cries to God are continual (day and night) AND he understands that God
hears his prayers (though he cannot see them answered).
He is requesting a hearing before Him.
This is NOT one who has denied His Lord.
c.
Have you ever had a time
when you didn’t feel like praying?
Perhaps you didn’t feel worthy or for some reason, you are
frustrated because something you know is good is not materializing.
Let me encourage you, it is in those moments of despair and
discouragement that you need to pray the MOST!
1 Thess. 5:17 – pray without ceasing, i.e. “don’t abandon
prayer”.
a.
The psalmist, it seems,
doesn’t want to die
b.
He is not ready as his
soul is full of troubles – perhaps things left undone, perhaps friends
and acquaintances with whom he seeks reconciliation, perhaps changes he
wants to make, either in his own life or that of others.
Whatever the case, he is staring death in the face.
c.
I cannot sympathize with
him, but I do know that death is uncertain and at times unwelcome.
We are told in Heb. 9:27, it is appointed for men to die once,
but after this the judgment.
The appointed time – does that mean God has a specific moment in life
when our time is up OR that we are going to die and we cannot stop it!
Either way, when we face it – we will stand in judgment.
Are you ready to die? Are
you afraid of death? If so,
maybe you need to take a good, hard look at your life and see what needs
changing! Just as I know
that for some death is unwelcome, I know that for others, they are
waiting for it – like Paul (2 Tim. 4:6-8, Phil. 1:21-25).
d.
How truly sad it must be
to face death with bitterness.
e.
BTW, vs. 5 – God has NOT
forgotten the dead!
Especially those who belong to Him.
Though many believe that there is nothing after death (especially
for the wicked), we know that God knows all things – Eccl. 12:7
a.
Laid in the lowest pit
and the depths of darkness describe one in misery.
In these verses you find why some commentators believe this to be
descriptive of lepers (or some other terrible contagious disease), who
were cut off from society, and sadly – accounted as dead because of
their incurable disease.
b.
Vs. 7 - He attributes
his state to the wrath of God.
It is observed that even though he does this, there is no
acknowledgment of sin or seeking forgiveness (as in many of the other
psalms).
That leads to the
question, should be blame God when we are suffering?
i.
Far too many do.
Even in Jesus’ day, His disciples ask, “Who sinned?” (John 9:2-3)
Jesus answered, “neither!”
ii.
There are times when we
suffer as a result of sins.
Sometimes it is our fault and at other times it is the result of the
sins of others. Sometimes,
in this life (other than the curse of the earth from Gen. 3), we suffer
and sin has NOTHING to do with it.
iii.
But regardless, we ought
not blame God! Let us
realize that the reason there is any suffering at all, and the reason
for death is because man sinned in the garden.
(Rom. 5:12)
iv.
Nevertheless, God has
established this world in such a way that when you do wrong, there ARE
often consequences for such.
That is part of the incentive to do what is right!
c.
Vs. 8 – his friends are
gone and he is shut up as if imprisoned.
Here is one who is alone.
How tragic it is to die when you’re not ready.
How much more tragic it would be to be alone!
Friends, let us NOT abandon one another!
d.
Vs. 9 – in tears, he
languishes in affliction.
a.
The psalmist makes an
appeal for the extension of his life.
b.
He has been faithful and
prayed to God daily (we have here that one reasoning that what is
happening is not fair).
c.
He asks a series of
question with which he seems to declare that he can be of greater good
for God if his life is spared.
Vs. 10 – “Will you work wonders for the dead?”
Vs. 10, “Shall the dead arise and praise you?” (How can I glorify
you to others from the grave?); Vs. 11, Same – “Shall your
loving-kindness be declared in the grave?”; Or your faithfulness from
the place of destruction?;
Wonders in the dark (Vs. 12); His righteousness in the land of the
forgotten.
d.
NOTICE the descriptions
of death! They are physical
indicating finality and in times forgetfulness.
Also, in man’s eyes he sees the uncertainly in terms of darkness
and destruction.
e.
But, lest we forget –
death is NOT the end!
There is a sense in which after death God will be glorified – in
the resurrection – John 5:28-29, the hour is coming when all who are in
the graves will hear his voice; Phil. 2:9-10 – every knee will bow…
a.
Even in his suffering,
he prays every day. This
verse is as a promise – if he is granted another day, he will begin it
with prayer.
b.
What about us?
When we go to bed, do we pray?
When we awake do we prayer with gratitude for another day?
VI.
Vs. 14-18 – Despair,
possibly misunderstood
a.
Vs. 14 – the psalmist
feels that God has abandoned him.
Has he?
b.
Vs. 15 – afflicted and
ready to die from his youth – perhaps descriptive of a tragic life
filled with troubles, or at least it seems that long.
Some live that way, born with ailments and destined to a life
with disabilities or even disease.
It doesn’t seem fair, but it is life.
But know this – not all who are born in such circumstances are
bitter. Many simply accept
their lot and live!
c.
Vs. 15b-17 - The
psalmist though seems to be frustrated attributing his despair God.
I cannot help but think of Job’s wife who told him to “curse God
and die.” (Job. 2:9-10) Job
didn’t accept it!
d.
Vs. 18 – his loved ones
and friends have left him.
None are around. He closes
speaking of his acquaintances are in darkness.
What a sad ending – darkness!
Hopelessness!
a.
This psalm is difficult
because it expresses feelings that very likely are erroneous – i.e. who
is God! Unless there are
things we are not aware of concerning this psalmist, which is always a
possibility. Nevertheless,
there are some lessons worthy of consideration.
b.
Why does God allow
suffering?
i.
That is the question
everyone wants to know the answer to.
And while we can give you various answers, it is a subject we may
never fully understand in this life.
ii.
But there is still much
good that can come from suffering.
Here are a few thoughts:
1.
Why blame God?
How do know He is the one inflicting the suffering?
Is it not a product of the evil of Satan?
Often, is it not the product of man’s sinful conduct?
The truth is we suffer, because evil is in our midst.
Put the blame where it belongs!
2.
Where evil exists, good
has the opportunity to abound!
How often do we see good materialize out of disasters, both
natural and man-made? Rom.
5:3-4
3.
Often suffering, causes
man to evaluate his life and turn to God.
This prepares him for the judgment of eternity.
4.
What if there were no
suffering? What incentive
would there be to turn to Him? Suffering keeps the world from becoming
too attractive.
OR What if God relieved the suffering of the righteous?
Then all would turn to him, for purely selfish reasons, rather
than out of love and loyalty.
5.
Suffering can
humble us, purify us, make us
better people – consider Paul 2 Cor. 12:7 – his “thorn in the flesh”
6.
Who determines what is
the right amount of suffering?
The challenge we face with critics is they want certain types of
suffering to stop. Who is to
say the world would be better spiritually if certain types of suffering
ceased? We don’t know.
BUT GOD DOES!
7.
Much more could be said
about this, but these are a few reasons to help us understand that good
can come from suffering. It
is a matter of perspective.
Also, let us not forget the words of Job to his wife, “Shall
we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?”
(Job 2:10)
c.
On whose terms should we approach God?
We need to be very careful before we start blaming God or
complaining to Him. While we certainly can let our request be made known
to Him (Phil. 4:6), we must remember who we are approaching – our
heavenly Father! Be careful
before you accuse! Notice
James 1:13, “Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am tempted by God’; for God cannot
be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.”
This is in the midst of a text that reminds us that when we give
in to temptations it is our fault!
Rom. 9:19-20 warns us not to reply against God.
d.
The spirit intercedes
with our prayers
–in this psalm we find hopeless despair.
We cannot assume a sinful attitude in his request.
We have not “walked in his shoes.”
But even if his prayer to God seems bitter, let us know that God
knows what He intends. And
the same is true with us in our prayers.
We are blessed that the Spirit does know what we mean when we
pray – Rom. 8:26-27.
And
thus we see another psalm and some possible lessons to consider.
I conclude with this thought.
Weigh the words of this psalm in light of our suffering Savior,
impaled to a wooden cross, rejected and forsaken by his own friends,
suffering like never before and about to face death.
He is on that cross because of OUR sins (which are the cause of
God’s wrath) and about to die.
He feels so alone that He says, “My God, My God!
Why have You forsaken Me? (also in another psalm).
And HE dies - for us!
I don’t know that if that is what the psalmist has in mind, but consider
these things and realize that if you are faithful to Him, even death
will not rob you of eternal hope and reward.