Why are You Way Over There, Lord?

Today’s reading is Psalm 10.

Psalm 9 ended with a call to the Lord to do something. “Arise! Judge them. They are wicked. Humble them. Defeat them.” But Psalm 10 opens with a shocking realization. God hasn’t done any of what the psalmist begged. It’s as if the psalmist is saying, “Why are you way over there, Lord? Come here and do something about this.” I remember back in the 90s when Christians blistered Better Midler for singing “God is watching us from a distance.” Bumper stickers responded, “If God is watching from a distance, He isn’t the one who moved.” I chimed in and agreed. I hadn’t read the psalms as much back then. I’m singing a different tune today. Sometimes, God does back up. Sometimes, He doesn’t rush in to fix and deliver. Sometimes, He is watching from a distance. Why? He doesn’t always give answers. Perhaps He is giving the wicked time to repent, just like He gave you and me time to repent when we were the ones committing the sins. Perhaps He is growing us to see how truly helpless we are so that, having been driven completely to our knees and casting ourselves completely on His mercy and grace, we become instruments He can use in ways more powerful than we could imagine. Perhaps He is waiting because He is glorified more by conquering Pharaoh and his entire army in the Red Sea than He is by Pharaoh simply letting Israel go three days into the wilderness to worship. Perhaps He has a reason that is beyond our finite, human speculation. I don’t know why He is way over there, but if you are wondering, why don’t you ask Him? You’re allowed. That is what this psalm demonstrates. Sometimes God doesn’t behave the way we expect. That can be frustrating, disappointing, disheartening, discouraging, even angering. Don’t walk away from God. Bring it to Him in prayer. I’m not saying God will give you answer. I’m simply saying when you think God isn’t doing His job, don’t give up on Him; talk to Him. But may I encourage you to maintain the faith the psalmist had? Maintain the faith and hope that even though He is doing so from a distance, He is watching. He isn’t missing anything. He may not explain His reasons to you and me, but He will eventually act. Praise the Lord!

Tomorrow’s reading is Psalm 10.

A Word for Our Kids

Hey kids, I’d simply like to let Psalm 10 stand as a reminder to you and me that God doesn’t always behave the way we want Him to. He isn’t a puppet forced to act the way we demand even when we are praying in faith. If the God we believe in always acts exactly the way we expect and want, He’s probably a god we made up. When God doesn’t act the way you expect, it doesn’t mean He isn’t there. It doesn’t mean He doesn’t care. It doesn’t mean He has given up on you so you should give up on Him. I know it doesn’t satisfy us to learn that God has His reasons. But if we are going to believe in a God of the universe who created and runs all things, we have to get used to a God whose reasons don’t always satisfy us. Even when my parents had good reasons for what they did, their reasons didn’t always satisfy me or even make sense to me. Now multiply that by the infinite, eternal God. So, when God doesn’t behave the way you expect or want, keep hanging on just like this psalmist does. I promise, in the end, you’ll be glad you did.

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