God wants us to talk to him honestly, to speak the truth of our situation and our feelings to him. And in response, God speaks to us with honesty. As the old saying puts it, this is not religion but a RELATIONSHIP. Like any other relationship, your relationship with God grows through honest communication. David set an example of honest communication with God for Asaph and his other songwriters. Asaph’s songs contain honest words from man to God and from God to man.
GOD:
“Hear, my people, and I will speak. Every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills. I know all the birds in the mountains and the wild beasts of the field are mine. If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world is mine and everything in it. Do you think I eat the flesh of bulls or drink the blood of goats? … You thought I was the same as you, that I was altogether such a one as thyself” Psalm 50:7,10-13,21.
MAN:
“Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing I desire on earth more than you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my inheritance forever” Ps. 73:25-26. “Oh, God, why have you cast us off? Why does your anger smoke against the sheep of your pasture?” Ps.74:1. “We thank you, God. We thank you … I will sing praises to the God of Jacob forever” Ps. 75:1,9.
“God, you are more glorious and excellent than all the beautiful mountain ranges” Ps. 76:4. “In times of trouble, I sought the Lord. I remembered God. My spirit was overwhelmed. I am so troubled I cannot speak … Is his mercy clean gone forever? … The thunder of your voice was in heaven, your lightning lit up the world” Ps. 77:2-4,8,18,20.
“God, will you be angry forever? Help us and deliver us. Purge away our sins, for the sake of your own reputation. Why should the heathen say, ‘Where is their God?’ … We are your people and the sheep in your pasture” Ps. 79:5,9-10,13. “Listen to us, God. Turn us back to you. Turn us back. Help us repent. Cause your face to shine on us and our lives will be saved” Ps. 80:1,3,7,19. “Defend the poor and the fatherless. Do justice for the afflicted and the needy” Ps. 82:3.
“Keep not your silence, O God” Ps. 83:1.
GOD:
“You called in your trouble and I delivered. Hear, O my people, and I will report to you … I am the Lord, thy God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it … with honey from the rock I will satisfy you” Ps. 81:7-8,10,16.
Dear Lord, teach us to come to you often and talk to you honestly. To express all our struggles, concerns, worries, fears—to be completely open with you about everything. Help us to choose faith, and to listen to you. Give us a deeper love for your word every day, a love for the word and the insight to interpret it accurately and honestly.
AΩ
Household Words: 