Be With Me: 7 Minutes of Biblical Wonder
Be With Me is a daily 7 minute chronological walk through the New Testament hosted by Michael Smith. It is for everyone who is curious about what Jesus actually said and did in the gospels. Most episodes will leave you with at least one good thought to chew on for the rest of the day. We start with the Bible and hopefully end with Awe. We are walking through the chronological events of Jesus' life and then thoughtfully considering them. It is meant to spur the devotional life of the Christian and the not-yet-Christian. We occasionally venture into the Old Testament when it helps our understanding of the New Testament events. Everybody has 7 minutes. Everybody needs to wonder. Be With Me is hosted by Michael Smith who has absolutely no special qualifications to do a podcast. He is not a pastor. He has not been to seminary. He does not lead a mega-church. He is not a professional and he has no more credentials than you do. He does, however, follow a great God with an observant eye and a curious heart. Each day, he starts with a study bible and aims for astonishment. ‘be with him’ for 7 minutes as he sets out daily to discover the God who invites us to ‘Be With Me.’
Be With Me: 7 Minutes of Biblical Wonder
On the day when you find that you cannot find God s30e112 Ps13
Welcome to the "Little Psalm that Could", with a nod to the Little Engine That Could. It is a 50 SECOND psalm. Oh, but it packs a punch.
First, David has a few complaints: He feels forgotten, hidden, alone, and stomped on. This is the psalm when you feel like your are forgotten forever.
This is for the day when you find that you cannot find God…
It is worth 50 seconds of your time.
https://youtu.be/QU52mG8bjRc
On the day when you find that you cannot find God s30e112 Psalm 13
This is The Little engine that could. The little psalm that could.
One of the shortest 6 verses. 50 SECONDS TO READ. 7 minute attention?
How Long, O Lord?
13 To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.
1 How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
2 How long must I take counsel in my soul
and have sorrow in my heart all the day?
How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?
3 Consider and answer me, O Lord my God;
light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death,
4 lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed over him,”
lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken.
5 But I have trusted in your steadfast love;
my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.
6 I will sing to the Lord,
because he has dealt bountifully with me.
The Little engine that could. The little psalm that could.
Cry out: HOW LONG?!?!?!?!
First, it is a cry out TO THE LORD. Adonai. Moses at the burning bush: The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?” 14 God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I am has sent me to you.’ ” 15
Just because this is your first day in trouble before the Lord, does not mean that this is everybody’s first day of trouble before the Lord.
David here is addressing God familiarly, I don’t mean casually, for this is the most reverenced and holy name in the OT.
Cry out towards that which is worthy of crying out: O LORD
He can take it
When you and I face the feelings of what David felt: “I feel FORGOTTEN:” How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever?
.Not only do I feel FORGOTTEN, I feel like I am FORGOTTEN FOREVER
When you feel like your are forgotten forever.
Remember, David is not forgotten. Remember, David FEELS FORGOTTEN
How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?
I feel hidden. How long will you hide your face from me?
Not hidden in, which is a comforting, protected concept,
but hidden FROM the Lord. That is right, David, our knucklehead spiritual hero feels separated from God,
like He cannot be found, almost like He WILL NOT be found.
Specifically, I feel like God is hiding His face from me
Break that down: Is God hiding His face from David? Ultimately NO
David enjoys one of the most tumultuous, intimate (ps23) and recorded spiritual journey’s this planet has ever seen.
I think we can safely say that God may be disciplining David, as He did many times, but He is ultimately NOT hidden.
However, David and you and me can, often? FEEL LIKE God is HIDDEN
Therefore, on the day when you find that you cannot find God…
Remember, you are not the first. You are not the Last.
You have an opportunity, just like David here, to do this right:
Get it off your chest and then get going. But not yet.
V. 2 I feel alone. I feel sad.
2 How long must I take counsel in my soul
and have sorrow in my heart all the day?
.Somedays, not only do I not feel like “You are good enough”, somedays I just don’t feel you at all.
I go for a visit in my soul, and the only person I note there is MYSELF
Just lonely little ol’ me taking counsel there.
A place that You Lord have typically occupied WITH ME is now occupied by ONLY ME.
I am alone in my soul
Plus: I feel sad. I have sorrow in my heart all the day.
Finally, How long shall my enemy be exhalted over me
I feel stomped on, conquered and my enemies are doing a happy-dance over me.
This psalm so far, is not THEOLOGICALLY correct. David is not Forgotten. Hidden from. Alone. Not ultimately conquered. We all know how this actually ends.
What David is,however, is feeling all of it.
If you are feeling all of this : forgotten hiden alone sad stomped on
If you are feeling the anguish of being human.
If you are crying out: how long? How long must I endure. Must this go one.
If this is the day when you find that you cannot find God…
Then turn with me to the little psalm that could.
Who do you turn to, and what do you turn on?
He’s going to Get it off your chest and then get going. Come back tomorrow for the
For Today: on the day when you find that you cannot find God…cry out TO HIM.