Psalms 43:1-5
There is a question that men ask when the trials and storms of life gather. Often you will hear them ask, “Why do bad things happen to good people.” Has this question ever plagued your mind? Of course it has! We all want to know why the bad things in life happen to good people we know, or even to good people like ourselves. One day, a woman asked R.C. Sproul that particular question and his answer to her was a classic. Dr. Sproul said this, “I don’t know, I haven’t met any good people.” His answer was designed to accomplish two purposes. First, it was designed to remind the lady that we are all sinners. None of us a really good people! Secondly, he wanted her to understand that no one is immune from trouble. This second truth is driven home in the Psalm we have before us…
There is some debate as to who penned this particular Psalm. Some have suggested that it was David when he was fleeing from the revolt of his son Absalom. Others have suggested that it was king Hezekiah when Jerusalem was under attack from the Assyrians. Regardless of whether or not either of these is true, it would seem that the author of this Psalm is going through a time of stress, personal attack and inner turmoil. His life has brought him face to face with circumstances that are out of his control and they have brought pain and confusion to his heart.
The fact is, we have all faced times in our lives when we were embroiled in turmoil, pain and heartache. Those are the times of life that define us as believers and confirm or deny our testimony concerning our faith in and love for Jesus Christ.
As we read this Psalm, it becomes quickly evident that the Psalmist is a broken man. Yet, he clings to his faith in God as a man thrown overboard into the ocean clings to a life preserver. As this man lifts his prayer to the Lord, he cries out in his despair, “O, Deliver Me!” I want to look at this man’s prayer for deliverance from his troubles. I want us to see both the depth of his pain and the height of his faith in the Lord. We need this because there are times when we all cry out to the Lord “O, Deliver Me!” This Psalm offers us some reasons for encouragement in the midst of our troubles.–“Sermon Notebook”
