The clouds are gathering and the skies are growing darker. The roll of distant thunder and faint flashes of lightning can be heard and seen. The forecast is foreboding – an atmospheric river unlike any other is headed our way
Four times in Psalm 13 the Psalmist cries out – “How long, O Lord?” The famous British preacher CH Spurgeon called Psalm 13 “The Howling Psalm.” As we look at the state of our world, we join with David’s cry, “How long?” How long before God shows His might and power?
We see the descent of all things “Israel” and the ascent of all things “Islamic.”
“How long, O Lord?”
Do we see the Church surging in revival or fighting for survival? Is She aflame with the love and holiness of God or going down in flames?
“How long, O Lord?”
We see the departure from all things moral and the approach, not just of immorality, but of all things A-moral.
“How long, O Lord?”
Reason fails. Some of our highest officials do not know what a woman is.
“How long, O Lord?”
Science is failing. Many are denying the evidence of their biology and think they can alter the verdict of nature.
“How long, O Lord?”
Community is failing. Technology makes us more connected than ever while at the same time serving to disconnect us more than ever before. The epidemic and emptiness of loneliness is swelling.
“How long, O Lord?”
Government is collapsing. Officials seek to fill us with their lies and empty us of our money. Truth falters as laws multiply and Lady Justice weeps.
“How long, O Lord?”
Hate is rising. Greed is growing. Ideology is soaring. Volume is increasing. Deafness is mounting. No wonder Spurgeon called this “The Howling Psalm.”
As dark and dour as the body of Psalm 13 seems, it ends with this: “But I have trusted in Your lovingkindness; my heart shall rejoice in Your salvation. I will sing to the LORD, because He has dealt bountifully with me.”
Howling becomes bowing. Woe turns to worship. Though the skies are darkening and the storm is coming; though all that I value is being devalued and dismantled; though all the cultural props are being kicked out and the law of God disdained – yet will I bow before the Lord my God and raise my hands and confess His salvation. I will sing of His bounty and love.
The words of another Psalm inspired me. “Yea, though I walk through the Valley of Death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me.”
“Though the fig tree should not blossom and there be no fruit on the vines, though the yield of the olive should fail and the fields produce no food, though the flock should be cut off from the fold and there be no cattle in the stalls, yet I will exult in the Lord, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation. The Lord God is my strength, and He has made my feet like hinds’ feet, and makes me walk on my high places.” Habakkuk 3:17-19
Brothers and Sisters, do not fear. The Lord has the situation well in hand. He is the God of yesterday, today, and tomorrow. He is the God of eternity and the God of history. May your eyes be continually lifted on high. May your howling become bowing. May your fear become faith. Our God will soon come and will not tarry. And though the nations may roar and tear His fetters apart and cast His chains far from them, He who sits in the heavens is Lord of all.
Tim Brown has been in some sort of ministry since February of 1973 – as a youth pastor, an assistant pastor, and a senior pastor. Tim planted Calvary Chapel Fremont in January of 1997 and continues to pastor there. Tim has been married since August of 1976 to Fran. They have three children and nine grandchildren.
