The Word of God declares the omnipresence of God. (Psalm 139) (Pro 15:3) (Jer 23:23-24)
When man has the thought process that the Lord is afar off or that God is hiding himself, it is not that God is not there but rather that either God has chosen to withdraw the tangible evidence of his presence from man, or man has circumstantially been brought to a place of not being able experience his presence.
When God has withdrawn the tangible evidence of his presence from man it is an effort of God's part to repair man's relationship to him, or strenghten his relationship.
Sin causes a breech between God and man causing God to hide his face.
Ge 3:8 And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden. And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?
Ge 4:6 ¶ And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?
Ps 66:18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:
Isaiah 1:15-20, Isaiah 30:9- ff , Is 59:1-8
Jer 7:16, Jer 13:17 secret places – hiding places (Ezk 39:29)
Jas 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
Satisfaction in Spiritual condition can lead to God hiding his face.
Job 23, 42:1-7 / 1Peter 1:3-9, / Phil 3:10-15
Ps 17:15 As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.
Soverign will of God can cause it to seem that God is hiding his face
Joseph (Gen 37-50) / Hannah (1Sam 1-3) James 1:1-12 / 1Pet 1:1-9)
Here in our text there is no indication of chastening of sin, rather it appears that God would strengthen the poor and the humble!
Are you tired of being the poor, are you tired of being put through the refiners fire? Take heart Child of God you are the object of his affections! IT is not that God has forgotten you or that God is not there, rather it is in his allowance of the difficulties in your life that you will be blessed!
1Sa 2:8-10 He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the LORD'S, and he hath set the world upon them. He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail. The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken to pieces; out of heaven shall he thunder upon them: the LORD shall judge the ends of the earth; and he shall give strength unto his king, and exalt the horn of his anointed.
Mt 5:3 ¶ Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Here in our text we find 2 types of people mentioned.
A. The Haughty aka the wicked (vs 2-11)
1.In his pride he persecutes the poor (vs 2)
2.Boasteth of his heart's desire (vs 3)
3.Blesseth the covetous (vs 3) =to show respect, praise, salute
4.Through the pride of his countenance will not seek after God (vs 5)
5.God is not in all his thoughts (vs 5)
Thoughts = specifically purposes, wicked intents, witty inventions
6.I shall never be moved for I will have no adversity (vs 6)
7.His mouth is full of cursing and deceit, and fraud Under his tongue is mischief and vanity (vs 7)
8.He sneaks and waits to devour the poor (vs 8-10)
9.He dismisses his accountability to God for his actions. (vs 11)
Here we find the reason why the psalmist believes that God is hiding from him. The Wicked prosper by devouring the poor.
B. The Humble (vs 12-15)
1.Seeks the help of God (vs 12)
2.Does not understand the wicked attitude toward God (vs 13)
3.Realizes by faith the justice and power of God. (vs 14)
committeth = abandon, depart, leave behind, forsake
4.Trusts God with the recompense of evil. (vs 15)
II. The Lord Hears (vs 16-18)
A. His Kingdom (vs 16)
1.Is eternal
2.Is preserved
B. His Compassion (vs 17)
prepare = to stablish firmly, fix, to be settled.
C. His Judgment (vs 18)
judge = to hear the controversy, govern, act as a law giver.
Proverbs 29:14 The king that faithfully judgeth the poor, his throne shall be established for ever.
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