In Psalm 89, Ethan writes from the raw thoughts of his heart during what must have been agonising personal and national circumstances. From our modern way of thinking, Ethan has a peculiar order of writing in this Psalm. He begins by declaring his commitment to speak well of God, to declare God’s good character, and His promises for Israel. Then Ethan asks God in verse 46, How long, O LORD? Will you hide yourself forever? Ethan lived in our earthbound reality, and it was not pleasant.
From his earthly perspective, he then asks Godto remember how short my time is (Psalm 89:47). Isn’t this the truth of it! As Christians, we are also aware of the shortness of our lives, of the limitations that constrain us, and the inner struggles that result. It is this awareness that can lead us to feel that God has hidden Himself and is ignoring us. But in heavenly reality, nothing could be further from the truth. Therefore, we need to speak to our hearts, reminding ourselves of God’s perspective, God’s reality.
When we placed our faith in Jesus Christ, God the Spirit adopted us, entering us into fellowship with the Father through Jesus Christ (cf. Romans 8:15; 1 John 1:3-4). In our new adopted family, Jesus Christ operates as our highest ranking Priest in heaven. His ministry, which serves on our behalf, is both unseen and unheard by us, yet is very real and effective. We read of this clearly in Hebrews 4:14-16. Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Like Ethan, setting our belief in God, and ordering our priorities correctly in our minds, helps direct our hearts to trust God, and to accept His presence within the circumstances of life when all seems dark.
Now, acceptance is by no means passive or idol. Rather, acceptance actively thinks through, and prayerfully surrenders to the heavenly realities spoken of in Hebrews 4:14-16 in the context of our lives. Christ is presently your heavenly High Priest and Advocate. We believe this because God’s Word says so, and we choose to hold fast to this confession of faith in Christ. We acknowledge that Christ is sinlessly sympathetic to our circumstances, our weaknesses, our failings, our inabilities, and our frequent wrong responses to life and temptation. Therefore, we tell ourselves that Christ is worthy of our confidence in Him, regardless of what others, or our emotions may say. Through this, we look to Christ to flesh out in our lives His grace, especially in our times of greatest need.
As always, throughout this unnatural walk of faith, we should continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving (Colossians 4:2). Talk with the Lord with a grateful attitude, explain your struggles, including if you don’t understand how He’s responding to you. Talk to the Lord of your life from His perspective. Just as God said to Israel, I will not forget you. Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands (Isaiah 49:15-16). So it is in Christ, God has not forgotten you or me. Belief it, trust Him, and live in the acceptance of these truths.
