Study 71

Text: Psalm 22

WHEN GOD IS SILENT

One of the most difficult of struggles is to comprehend the silence of God. Sometimes when we are greatly embattled, we wish that God would answer more directly. This was a problem that the psalmist David struggled with in his life.

"O my God, I cry in the daytime,
But You do not hear;
And in the night season, and am not silent."
Psalm 22:2

1. What the silence of God does not mean!

It is vital that we understand the significance of the silence of God. We begin by talking about what it does not mean!

a) It does not mean that God will not hear!

b) It does not mean that God is helpless and wickedness wins

c) It does not mean that God is not interested in our human problems!

2. What the silence of God means!

We must look at the flipside of the issue! There are reasons why God maintains silence! There are at least four things we must consider!

a) It is to test our faith and trust in Him

b) It is to strengthen our soul

c) It is to deepen our understanding of Him

d) It is move us to seek Him in greater prayer efforts

BEWARE- OVERSENSITIVITY!

There are certain dangers that we must beware of as we seek the Lord in prayer. One of the challenges is the problem of oversensitivity!

1. Oversensitivity to our acute problems can cause us to have misgivings toward God!

2. Oversensitivity to our sense of personal distress can cause us to doubt God!

3. Oversensitivity to spiritual attacks can cause us to feel dread and fear and we end up overreacting!

Let us be aware of this problem. Let us train ourselves to be cool and steady in our faith and trust in the Lord!

~ Pastor Charlie Tan ~

Released 17th April 2005, © Bethany Independent-Presbyterian Church, Singapore