Psalm 13 - Omnipresent God

INTRODUCTION.

Read Psalm 13

If you haven't concluded from my writings already I am sure you will today  - my favorite description of my Heavenly Father, other than LOVING, is of an EVER PRESENT (OMNIPRESENT) God.

Unlike the song `God is watching us from a distance' presumes, I observe a Heavenly Father that is always close by.  Oh there are times I may feel `forgotten' and that I am `struggling on my own', but that is not because God has moved away; but usually because I have.

The title of my first book `In the Palm of His Hands' was based on the verse in Isaiah:

"See, I have written your name on the palms of MY HANDS." (Isaiah 49:16)

Later in Psalm 16, David writes:

"I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken for He is ALWAYS WITH ME."
 (Psalm 16:8)

In this Psalm we will see a David struggling with an enemy that is pulling him down again, but David likes a good fight, and His confidence and faith is renewed again in his OMNIPRESENT God.

As we discovered in Psalm 12, GOD IS OUR PROTECTOR, and if we continue to trust in our OMNIPRESENT Heavenly Father, in spite of those `down' times, our faith and confidence will rise above them.

1.  What are your favourite words to describe God?  Why?


DESPAIR AND DESPONDENCY - THAT SINKING FEELING

Read Psalm 13:1&2, Read  1 Samuel 18:9-15, 28-29, 20:30-33.

These first two verses are certainly a prayer that grew out of what Charles Swindoll would say, "David's struggle with despondency", a time before he became king of Israel when God was `preparing him for an immense task and these trials were being used to shape him into a man of maturity an inner strength'.

In the last two Psalms we learnt from David's story that Saul, someone who David admired, had turned against him and now wanted to murder him. It seemed he only had one friend - Saul's son, Jonathon. Still, David had to run for his life. He had to escape into the hills of Judea.  Now `hunted and haunted', at his real lowest, we find him again, having these doubts.

One of the things we talked about with the children at VBS last week was what it was like when they had that `sinking feeling' - those doubts and despairs, when nothing seemed to be going right. We gave them some hints during the week about how they could `STAND STRONG' during these times.

* You can rely on GOD'S LOVE.
* You can seek out those FAMILY & FRIENDS.
* You can PRAY and READ THE BIBLE.
* You can TRUST IN THE LORD.

I am sure David would have agreed with them too, for as a young shepherd boy there would have been many a time he had only the Lord to turn to. But even with all this knowledge and understanding, he still fell into despair and despondency, he still had that `sinking feeling',  and who could blame him.

For the last 6 months I have been falling deeper and deeper into despair and despondency.  Not because I have forgotten God's promises of His love and omnipresence, not because I have forgotten all of the above `hints' that I have been teaching the kids these week - though it was great to be reminded of them.

 No, God is just been preparing me for a new journey and I have just been a little bit overwhelmed by it all. The testing has just gone on a little bit longer than I thought it would and His plan isn't exactly what I had in mind.  Sound familiar!  I wouldn't be surprised if David didn't feel a little this way, which is why I believe he `got down on his knees'.

                    "We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps." Proverbs 16:9

2. Which of these feelings (if any) are you having at the moment:

a) God has forgotten me.
b) God doesn't care about me.
c) This plan isn't exactly what I had in mind. 
d) This test is going on a little too long.

Take it to the Lord.  I assure you, he is WITH YOU!!   Find a friend or family member to talk to about it. 

DEPENDENCE ON GOD - ON OUR KNEES

Read Psalm 13:3&4

In the next few verses we see a different David; a David who knelt before the Lord. I wonder what happened between these two verses to change his frame of mind and his stature.

1. In Verse 3 we see there is a change between the `distance' he feels between God and himself. God is now spoken of as `My God'.

2. He now seeks to have that `sparkle' return to his eyes.

3. Instead of worrying about his enemy, now he is releasing him to the Lord and letting Him take care of the results.

One of the things that has been really difficult for me since my surgery has been losing my smile. Oh they say the sparkle is still in my eyes, but over the last 6 months, I haven't had that `sparkle - that joy' inside me, so if I haven't had it inside, how can other people see it on the outside.  My joy and enthusiasm in serving the Lord was something I was `famous' for, especially in my teaching and children's ministry.  A little of that came back last week.

It was also great to be able to release a lot of the fears and worries I have had to the Lord, and allow Him to take complete control; as I taught lessons, I really needed to hear myself.

"If you stop asking God to change your external circumstances and pray instead a prayer of surrender, asking Him to change you, what do you think would happen?  Notice the marked change that occurred in David when he decided to lay it all before God in prayer."  Charles R Swindoll.

3. Have you noticed any changes in you since you have surrendered your will to the Lord? What about your circumstances?

REJOICING AND PRAISING - ON YOUR FEET

Read Psalm 13:5-6

David's circumstances had not changed. Saul was still hunting him. He was still running. He was still hungry. But we can read in these last two verses that he has certainly risen above his circumstances and was rejoicing and praising the Lord.

We've heard it said before, but Psalm 13 is another reminder that trials are used by God to `transform us'. They may seem distressing at the time, but we haven't learnt the lesson God had planned for us unless we can say like David did, "He has dealt bountifully with me." (V6)

"It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I may learn your statues.
I know, O Lord, that your statues are righteous, and that in faithfulness
you have afflicted me."  Psalm 119:71, 75

4. How can we be like David and rise above our circumstances, using our trials to transform us?

CONCLUSION

This kind of prayer is one we need to be praying every day when we feel that `sinking feeling' coming upon us, because it will come again; even though we have a certain trust in our omnipresent, loving God.  Why? Because we are human. Despondency will `wrap its clammy fingers around you and drag you under', but if you begin to sing this song of hope, it will lift you up and `put you back on your feet', and the loving, omnipresent God will wrap His arms around you.