I was startled by the words I read this morning. I’m sure I’ve read them before but their brutal honesty grabbed me in a fresh way. I was reading Psalm 44 which says,
(v.23) Awake! Why are you sleeping, O Lord?
Rouse yourself! Do not reject us forever! (ESV)
The Psalmist is asking God to “Wake up!” It’s as if God is asleep. It’s as if God is not aware or doesn’t care. It’s as if God has better things on his “to do” list than to be involved.
Ever feel that way? I would imagine most, if not all of us, have at one time or another. We may feel as if God is not involved or not aware. The Bible gives us a picture of God’s people expressing their frustration and disappointment. Here, in the inspired words of this Psalm, the cry of a fearful and anxious heart comes forth with raw emotion.
While the Bible encourages us to pour out our hearts to God, we are not encouraged to do so as demanding, petulant children. While this Psalm shows us the freedom to be human in a fallen world, it also shows us where we always need to rest in the final analysis.
Verse 26 of that same Psalm says,
Rise up; come to our help!
Redeem us for the sake of your steadfast love!
The Hebrew word for “steadfast love” is the wonderful word “hesed”. It’s God’s covenant love. It’s His committed lovingkindness. God will not forget His covenant nor forsake His covenant people. He will respond to such a plea for help and mercy. It’s on the basis of God’s “hesed” that the Psalmist ends the Psalm with a prayer for God’s aid.
God may seem asleep as we go through trial but according to Psalm 121:4, Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. Our God is not asleep and He never forgets a promise. We should be encouraged to pour out our hearts to Him as did this Psalmist and then claim His covenant mercies on our behalf- covenant mercies won for us through His Son, Jesus Christ.
God has not hit the snooze button. He’s still the same compassionate, caring, covenant-keeping God He’s always been.