Why Doesn’t God Hurry?

Posted on 18. Jul, 2010 by Jim Peters in Hearing God - Jim's Daily D

Psalm 140

Written by King David

¹ Lord, I’m calling you! Hurry up!

Listen to my voice calling you!

² Let my prayer be set up like incense in your presence;

Let me, lifting up my hands, be like the evening offering (to you)[1]

³ Lord, set a guard (over) my mouth;

Watch over the door of my lips.

⁴ Don’t turn my mind[2] to wronging thinking[3]

(about) doing[4] evil with wicked people,

With men who make trouble;

And don’t let me eat their delicacies (either).

⁵ Let (those who behave) justly hit me in kindness and let them discipline me;

It’s like oil on my head

And don’t let my head refuse it;

My prayer is still (against) the wicked[5].

⁶ Their rulers are let to fall from the cliff-sides

And they will hear my speech (which is) delightful.

⁷ Our bones have been scattered at the grave’s mouth

(As if) the earth has been ploughed and split open.

⁸My eyes (look) toward you Lord, my Owner and Master;

I run to you for protection and you don’t expose me[6]

⁹ Guard me from the power[7] of the traps they set for me

And the bait (that People who) make trouble (have set for me).

¹⁰ Let the wicked fall into their nets

While I pass by unharmed[8].

[1] NB An offering to God was an animal to be sacrificed, not a couple of dollars put in a plate as a tip to God [2] “Inner being/mind/ heart” [3] “utterances/acts” [4] “act severely/make a fool of someone/practice practices” [5] “their wickedness” However, in the context, it makes it sound like the wickedness of the just people who David wants to discipline him, which makes no sense at all in English. [6] “bare/naked soul” [7] “hand” [8] “whole/comple/unity”

Application

David had the same problem with God that I seem to have. He called and asked for help and God didn’t immediately answer. I’m sure in my heart I’ve also told God to hurry up on many an occasion. I love the way that David asks God to let his prayer be acceptable, like an offering of incense or a sacrifice of an animal. Perhaps that’s one of the reasons that praying in Jesus’ name has such power… because I am asking for my prayer to be like the blood of Christ offered once and for all. I call on the symbol of Jesus’ blood poured out before God’s mercy seat in heaven and there is no greater power.

My mouth can be my enemy if it isn’t controlled by the Holy Spirit. I need to be careful what I say and I need God to guard my mouth and for him to help me to be pure in what I think and say.

I need to be open to criticism and correction from those who are righteous. God uses people to help me to change and change is necessary if I’m going to fulfil God’s plan. I can see plenty of situations where I want a different outcome and so I can be sure that I need something different to come in order for something different to come out.

My eyes must be fixed on Christ. Ultimately, only God can help me. Flesh and bones just don’t have the strength or the insight to remain in victory. Sickness and, in the end, death come to these mortal bodies. Only God provides a hope for now and eternity. He provides for me and protects me now and he keeps me safe for eternity.

Prayer

Father, I believe in you and I come to you. Fill me Holy Spirit. Please keep me from evil thoughts and from leaving your path of righteousness. I need you to change me and I ask that you make me soft and open to the changes that you want to make, no matter how they come.

IJN Amen

Jim Peters

Why Doesn’t God Hurry?

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