He is silent

Here again, I complain about the time and lack of sleep. This proves to be almost a daily challenge for me even now many months later since I began journaling. You will notice that a link to YouTube is given for the song or songs of worship that I begin my quiet time and journaling with. This really enhances the worship time, but can be very time-consuming. Please continue to pray for me. The Lord is good and helps me get through every day. I am strong in His presence.

August 04, 2015

Worship: Hymn: Holy, Holy, Holy; Agnus Dei

 Holy, Holy, Holy

Words: Reginald Heber

Music: "Nicaea" by John B. Dykes

Rev 4:8

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!

Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee;

Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty!

God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!

Holy, holy, holy! All the saints adore Thee,

Casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;

Cherubim and seraphim falling down before Thee,

Who was, and is, and evermore shall be.

Holy, holy, holy! Though the darkness hide Thee,

Though the eye of sinful man Thy glory may not see;

Only Thou art holy; there is none beside Thee,

Perfect in power, in love, and purity.

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!

All Thy works shall praise Thy Name,

in earth, and sky, and sea;

Holy, holy, holy; merciful and mighty!

God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!

(from Biblesoft Hymnal, PC Study Bible electronic database Copyright © 2003-2006 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Agnus Dei"

Alleluia
Alleluia
For the Lord God Almighty reigns

Alleluia
Alleluia
For the Lord God Almighty reigns

Alleluia
Holy
Holy are You Lord God Almighty
Worthy is the Lamb
Worthy is the Lamb

You are holy
Holy are you Lord God Almighty
Worthy is the Lamb
Worthy is the Lamb

Amen

https://youtu.be/0dYKWMtEMHU  - Holy, Holy, Holy

https://youtu.be/FYnWp2ueQDI - Agnus Dei

https://youtu.be/0dYKWMtEMHU  for further worship experience

Personal: I haven't heard from my wife till now. Guess she got a moment to message me without others knowing. Lord please rescue her from her self-imposed imprisonment. Not much going on today. Fixed my grand daughter's Cable situation. I shopped for groceries. Now I sit here, tired as usual, and little time for the word. May I be a better steward of the time You have given me.

Word: Ps 22:4-5

4 In you our fathers put their trust;

they trusted and you delivered them.

5 They cried to you and were saved;

in you they trusted and were not disappointed.

NIV

Observations:

The psalmist recounts the history of deliverance by the Holy One (see also Psalm 44:1). Here is faith met by a faithful God:

The patriarchs "trusted" - He "delivered them"

The patriarchs "cried to You" - You "saved" them

The patriarchs "trusted" - "were not disappointed"

Commentary:

Barnes says:

[Our fathers trusted in thee] This is a plea of the sufferer as drawn from the character which God had manifested in former times. The argument is, that he had interposed in those times when his people in trouble had called upon him; and he now pleads with God that he would manifest himself to him in the same way. The argument derives additional force also from the idea that he who now pleads was descended from them, or was of the same nation and people, and that he might call them his ancestors. As applicable to the Redeemer, the argument is that he was descended from those holy and suffering men who had trusted in God, and in whose behalf God had so often interposed. He identifies himself with that people; he regards himself as one of their number; and he makes mention of God's merciful interposition in their behalf, and of the fact that he had not forsaken THEM in their troubles, as a reason why he should now interpose in his behalf and save him. As applicable to others, it is an argument which the people of God may always use in their trials-that God has thus interposed in behalf of his people of former times who trusted in him, and who called upon him. God is always the same. We may strengthen our faith in our trials by the assurance that he never changes; and, in pleading with him, we may urge it as an argument that he has often interposed when the tried and the afflicted of his people have called upon him.

(from Barnes' Notes, Electronic Database Copyright © 1997, 2003, 2005, 2006 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)

 However:

 Many times in the past, the Lord had kept His covenant promises to Israel and fought battles, so why was He distant now? Compassion, justice, and the sacred covenant were strong arguments for God's intervention — but He was silent.

(from The Bible Exposition Commentary: Old Testament © 2001-2004 by Warren W. Wiersbe. All rights reserved.)

Clarke says:

[Our fathers trusted in thee] David is supposed to have been, at the time of composing this Psalm, at Mahanaim, where Jacob was once in such great distress; where he wrestled with the angel, and was so signally blessed. David might well allude to this circumstance in order to strengthen his faith in God. I am now in the place where God so signally blessed the head and father of our tribes. I wrestle with God, as he did; may I not expect similar success?

(from Adam Clarke's Commentary, Electronic Database. Copyright © 1996, 2003, 2005, 2006 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)

So there is a tension here. God answered of old and delivered, should He not also deliver now? Yet for now, He is silent.

Lord,

I feel that tension. Crying out for deliverance. Crying out for comfort. Crying out for patience as I wait on You to deliver me from this time of stress and sorrow and abandonment. Remember Your works of old LORD when You heard your peoples' cries and delivered them. You have heard my cries day and night. You have not forsaken me, but in the silence and the waiting, my soul faints, and I seek Your caring embrace and Your comforting words and to know Your compassionate presence in my life experientially.