Do not be far from me… (Psalm 35) 070308
Yesterday, I watched a movie called The End of the Spear. It was about five young men who were missionaries to a very fierce tribe in Amazon being killed by the people whom they were reaching out to. I was deeply touched and moved by the delication and commitment of these young men. They were willing to even die for the cause of mission. I remember one scene very clearly.
The son of one of the missionary asked his father if he would shoot his gun at those tribal people if they were to attack him with their spears. The answer given was that he would never shoot at anyone of them, because he was ready to meet God in heaven, but these tribal people were not ready.
This particular scene really has a very deep impact on me. It is not because I want to become a missionary, it is because I am challenged to face death without a shadow of doubt that I am ready to meet God in heaven. Am I ready to meet God? I know that God is ready to receive me, but am I ready to meet Him?
I am not doubting my salvation, but I am reflecting upon my life. How confident am I that my life is pleasing to God? How confident am I that God is not far from me even now?
Reading Psalm 35 gives me a mixed feeling. I know that I am saved in Christ (v3b); but in reality, I am so panicky at times when troubles and problems seem overwhelming. I know that God is unique and no one is like Him (v10), but yet there are times I hope that God can be conformed to what I hope Him to be. There is a saying I heard recently: We do not only believe that we (humans) are created in the image of God, but we also create the kind of God in our own image too. May this never be! God is unique!
I know that God is at work, but I still ask: how long will You look on (v17)? This really reflects my heart. This really shows that I am more concerned about my own agenda rather than God’s agenda. I want justice to be done. I want my life to be changed. I want instant transformation. I want my ministry to flourish. I want to be out of depression and always stay happy. Is God hearing me? Is He doing anything? Why is He just look on and do nothing? No, He is doing a very important thing when He simply look on at me.
It may not be the time for Him to act, but His eyes have never leaved me. I am always within His range of vision. There is no way for me to be out of His line of sight. How long will He look on? Forever. Eternity.
If God sees what is happening, why does He keep silent (v22)? Is God really silent? Or am I too far away from Him so that I cannot hear Him? God speaks. His words is in the Scripture. He is always speaking. His word is the very sustainer of life. By His word, the entire world came into being! By His word, I have life. But His word, I am healed. Why can’t I hear Him?
I am too far from Him. As the Psalmist cried out: Do not be far from me (v22), he knew that the reason he could not hear God and perceived Him to keep silent was because God was too far from him. God was far from him is not because God kept away from him, it was because he was walking too far ahead of God.
Imagine the picture of a toddler running too far ahead of his father and fall down. He cries for help. All along, as this toddler is walking or running, he has never left the sight of his father who loves him dearly. When the little boy falls, the father is very concerned and calls out to him, but because the little is too far ahead of his father, he cannot hear the voice of his father.
Do not be far from me. I need to be slowing down my pace of life, to take time to walk closer with God, to take time to take a stroll with God in His Garden, and to even stop and take a deep breath and enjoy the company of God.
I confess that modern day life is very hectic and not easy for me to slow down and to get near to God. Past two and a half year, I have been walking too fast in life, I have been walking too far ahead of what God intended for me. I have learned my lesson and ready to take it easy. Walk slowly, close up the distance between me and God. Listen to what God has to say to me, for He has not kept silent. Gaze into the eyes of God to enjoy the attention and love God has for me, for He has been looking on at me.
God, do not be far from me. This is my desire and prayer. Has God been too far from you? Have you notice that God is looking at you? Have you notice that God is whispering His love into your ears? Are you too far from God to notice all these?
HHS…
Abel…
