Are you having dark time now? Having a crisis? Marriage problems, relationship problems? Having a disease? Out of job? In war?
Are you questioning God’s presence? Where is God? Why are you not answering my prayer? Why are you not helping me? Does your friends and family question you “Where is your God?”
In today’s sermon, I will answer your doubts about God showing you there is indeed God. He is present.
Let’s pray.
Dearest Heavenly Father, we live in a world with many problems. Many people wonder why are they going through this difficult time. Why do they have to suffer? They wonder whether you exist. Please Lord, be merciful and gracious to them and let them hear your word that they will know your existence. Enable to speak well your word.
In your son name Jesus Christ I pray. Amen.
Let’s read today’s sermon passage Psalm 42. I will reading from the NIV version.
Psalm 42
1As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God.
2My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?
3My tears have been my food day and night, while men say to me all day long, “Where is your God?”
4These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go with the multitude, leading the procession to the house of God, with shouts of joy and thanksgiving among the festive throng.
5Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and
6my God. My soul is downcast within me; therefore I will remember you from the land of the Jordan, the heights of Hermon-from Mount Mizar.
7Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me.
8By day the Lord directs his love, at night his song is with me- a prayer to the God of my life.
9I say to God my Rock, “Why have you forgotten me? Why must I go about mourning, oppressed by the enemy?”
10My bones suffer mortal agony as my foes taunt me, saying to me all day long, “Where is your God?”
11Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.
This Psalm was written by David when he was exile from Jerusalem fleeing from King Saul or his son Absalom revolt against him. He long to be able to in presence of God in his holy temple in Jerusalem. But because he was fleeing from his persecutors, he couldn’t be in the sanctuary of God.
Verse 1 As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. David was looking for water, living water of life. Is not the physical water. He was longing for God. Verse 2 shows us he was thirsting for God, for the living God. He wanted to go and see Him.
Earlier I asked you, are you having crisis in your life now? Dark time? Are you longing for God’s presence in your life to help you? David was also having dark time and he longed for God’s presence to help him. He was anointed by God to be King since he was a young shepherd but he was under persecution from his own father in law King Saul and his son Absalom. He had to run away from them to save his life as they want to be King. They see David as threat as enemy. Are you at war now with others? Are you longing for God or give up on God because of the war? You must be crying day and night just like David wondering when will the war be over? You must be wondering why is this happening? People might be asking you where is your God in this crisis? Why your God is not doing anything?
Sometimes in life, God is silent. He has his own reasons. You must remember the goodness of God in times of crisis just like David. In verse 4, David said These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go with the multitude, leading the procession to the house of God, with shouts of joy and thanksgiving among the festive throng.
Verse 4 shows us that David used to be leading his people in God’s sanctuary, praising God, worshiping God. They were happy joyful moments filled with thanksgiving. David must be King that time so this means that is most likely the reason for David to be going away from Jerusalem is because he was running away from his own son Absalom who want to kill him as David did not do any thing to redress his own daughter Tamar who was raped by her half-brother Amnon. Absolom, Tamar’s brother was very angry with his own dad King David for not doing anything. He planned a revolt wanting to overthrow his dad kingship. David probably didn’t do anything when his daughter got raped by his son was because he remembered his past sins with Bathesheba. He committed adultery with Bathesheba and killed her husband Uriah. David knew his sins had caught up with him, now his own son Absalom want his life. He was grief by his sins, the consequences of his sins. Yet, while he was grieving he was not completely despair. He remembered the goodness of God from his past even when others questioned him about God. He remembered God’s presence.
In verse 5, he talked to himself Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.
Do you remember your past about God’s goodness in your life? The happy time. Think of the good time when you are having dark time. This will help you turn from darkness and into his light. Have hope in God. Do not be downcast. Think of the good. God says in Philippians 4:8 whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
Remember God is your Savior, he saves you. He is your God. He will lead you to good times again. Have hope in God.
In Psalm 42:7 what is the meaning of Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me. This verse is saying that David keep having many trails one after another. They keep coming, sweeping over him. Very deep like the waterfall, sea waves and breakers. The Jews don’t really like sea. They often mentioned sea as threats, troubles in their words. David was saying this as metaphor.
.Now in verse 8, David remembered God is present with him all the time. From morning to night. In the day, the Lord directs his path the way to God. Guiding him. He mentioned directing his love, the word love is referring to his love for David, directing him. At night, David gave thanks to God through singing and prayer for helping him, guiding him.
Verse 9-10 David cries out to God, “Why have you forgotten me? Why must I go about mourning, oppressed by the enemy?” My bones suffer mortal agony as my foes taunt me, saying to me all day long, “Where is your God?”
Is perfectly ok to cry out to God in times of trouble. God does hear your cry. He sees your tears and collect your tears. He recorded them down as mentioned in the Bible Psalm 56:8 You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book. Do you remember that your days were already written, planned before you were born as stated in the Bible in Psalm 139? God is your creator. He knows all about you. He knows where you seat, go, lie down. He knows your every action.
You are His beloved child. He will answer in His time when you cry out to him. Many people in the Bible cried out to God in times of trouble and God answered them in His time. They have to wait for God. When you face questioning by others “Where is God”, you may not know how to answer them. Be like David, questioning yourself why are you downcast? Why so disturbed by others? Do not be distracted by their comments, remarks. If you are absorb by their comments, you will fall into dark side. There will be sorrow, pain and sadness. Instead turn your eyes to God. Look to Him. Hear from Him. Focus on God. Tell yourself “ I will put my hope in God and praise him, my Savior and God.”
Another situation where people questioning you are you truly Christian? You are fake. When you hear this comment, remind yourself you have the Holy Spirit living in you. God is present in your life always. Living with you. He is always there. As a believer, you know He is present in your life.
Sometimes, even disciples of Jesus Christ doubted He is present. They need to see Him in person. We can see it in Thomas, one of Jesus 12 apostles. When Jesus on the evening of his resurrection Sunday, while his disciples were together except Thomas, Jesus appeared before them even though they thought he was dead and the door was locked when Jesus appeared. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw Jesus was alive but when they told Thomas when he came back. He didn’t believe them. He said “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it.” Then 1 week later, the disciples were in the house again this time together with Thomas and the door was locked, Jesus suddenly appeared and stood among them saying Peace be with you. Jesus knew Thomas doubted he is alive. He told Thomas to put his finger on his hands. Then Thomas believed Jesus is alive saying to Jesus, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus then told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed”
Many people I met those unbelievers when I asked them why they don’t believe in God, they said they need to see there is God. They need evidence of God’s presence. I didn’t answer them that time. Lately, God has being showing his presence in my life a few times letting me know he knows where I go, what I do. I believe these are clearly physical evidence to proof to others there is indeed God presence. Let me show you some photos evidence and I will explain about His presence.
On 14 May 2023 this year, Mother’s Day at the beginning of Church service at my friend’s church. I notice the carnation flowers were put in a vase with the word “Coney Island” on it. The day before on 13 May 2023, I just went to Coney Island for a hike and the next day 14 May 2023, I saw the word “Coney Island” in church. No one from this church knows I went to Coney Island. I didn’t tell any of my friends about it. Only God knows where I went. He shows His presence showing to me He knew where I went.
2nd photo about Cherry Flowers. On 27 May 2023 after my hike from Chestnut Nature Park to Mandai Wildlife Reserve, I went to Khatik MRT Station nearby looking for a coffeeshop to have my lunch. While searching, came across Singapore very own Cherry Blossom pink flowers in full bloom. Is very nice. Beautiful. I was thinking about seeing these flowers after reading in Channel News Asia a few days ago that in Singapore we have our very own Cherry Blossom too. I was very pleased to see this as our Cherry Blossom only lasted a short time and not every place is able to see this.
The next day 28 May 2023, surprised to see Utmost.org showing pink color Cherry Blossom flowers too. God is present. The verse from Utmost.org that day was John 16:23 In that day you will ask Me nothing.
That day the day when you are one with God the Father, you will have no more doubts, questions.
I like to share with you another evidence of God’s presence that day while hiking at Chestnut Nature Park. I met a little girl from France during the hike. She was a tourist visiting Singapore together with her mum. She asked the organizer of the hike can she see monkeys in the hike at the beginning of the hike during the briefing. He told her try other places in Singapore. Shortly after our walk, we came across some monkeys. She got to see monkeys during the hike. God likes children and answer their request with pleasure. God knows what you want. If it pleases Him, He will answer it. She was very pleased, very happy during the hike. She smiled.
With this, I like to end this sermon reminding you there is indeed God. God is present. He is your creator, your Abba Father who loves you and care for you. He knows you where you go, what you need. He knows your name. Everything about you. He did not forsake you.
Let’s pray.
Dearest Heavenly Father,
Forgive us for our sins. Forgive my sins. I am your child O Lord I am your child. You said that I am your child. Every tears are collected by you. You know my pain my sorrows O Lord. Please deliver me from my trials. You have your reasons why this is happening. I trust that everything you do there are some reasons for it. No matter what you are my God. You are my saviour, my God, my Lord. You are present in my life, I will never leave your or forsake you. You will never leave me. I am your dearly beloved child. For those persecuted me, is still persecuting me, accusing me. Let them realize their mistakes O Lord. They will repent. Let there be reconciliation. Let there be peace and Lord please also provide your provision for those who are in need of your provisions. Many people are suffering in this time, in this very difficult time. People are out of jobs, there is high inflation. Provide for us O Lord. Provide for us. Let those who doubt about you be fully confidence that you will provide for them in this difficult and trying times. May you be the light to the path and guide the way out of this darkness in life. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.