Train Wreck
In my distress I called to the Lord, and he answered me. Psalm 120:1 ESV
Distress – Did you really seek emotional anguish? Probably not, but it showed up anyway. You thought your life was under control. You thought you were doing the right things. Suddenly something happened. News you didn’t expect or want to hear. An insult you didn’t anticipate. Betrayal by a friend. The victory of an enemy. A death. A tragedy. The maelstrom of emotions were released without warning and you’re drowning, gasping for spiritual air, reaching for some stable handhold. This is Greek pascho in its raw form; something that comes over you, that floods you, knocks you off your feet. Where is the sovereign hand of the God who cares now?
First we have to correct the syntax of this translation. According to the English text, the emphasis of the verse falls on bats-tsaratah, “in my distress.” But that isn’t the emphasis in the Hebrew. In Hebrew, the verse literally reads, “toward YHVH in my distress I call.” David isn’t focusing on the emotion. He is focusing on God. The very first thing he does when the emotional tsunami arrives is to look toward YHVH. Bang! It comes. Eyes up toward heaven. Mouth open to speak with the Lord. Ears listening for His voice. No self-pity. No complaint. No introspection. As the wave washes over, the face is turned toward the Father.
Distress is the Hebrew tsarah. TWOT notes that it “describes the personal anguish one encounters in adverse circumstances.”[1] There are apparently two roots spelled Tsade-Resh. The first describes “anything which is narrow or confining.” The second, clearly related, is our word here, the feelings of being hemmed in, bound, tied. The emotions of adverse constraint. “It indicates intense inner turmoil (Ps 25:17). It describes the anguish of a people besieged by an enemy. It is comparable to the pain of a woman bearing her first child (Jer 4:31). It refers to terror at the approach of a raping army (Jer 6:24). It defines the quality of time when Judah suffers her severest punishment for violating the covenant (Jer 30:7; cf. Ps 78:49).”[2]
If God is good, why do such things happen to us? Why is tsarar even a word in Hebrew? There is no word for doubt in the Torah. Why is there a word for this kind of faith-shaking experience? The Bible doesn’t give us a theological solution to this paradox. God is good, but bad things still happen. God is good, but the world is broken. God is good, but sin damages. What the Bible offers is not ethical answers but rather practical instruction. Did you get knocked down? Look up! Did your world collapse inwardly? Reach out! Were you overwhelmed? Get the sentence in the right order. God answers. That doesn’t mean He explains. It means He shows up while we are crying and puts His arms around us.
Topical Index: distress, tsarar, Psalm 120:1
[1] Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament. #1973 (R. L. Harris, G. L. Archer, Jr. & B. K. Waltke, Ed.) (electronic ed.) (779). Chicago: Moody Press.
[2] Ibid.
In the Beatitudes, Yeshua taught that we must build our foundation on the Rock, or we will be swept away when that tsunami comes, and it will. But, we have to get to bedrock before we can build. I have found that those tsunamis are also useful for exposing that bedrock.
I thought I knew who the Lord was. I really did. Then the storm came “and swept it all away”. Time to start over. This time from the depths of distress. But this time, I am not so easily fooled or swayed. Its one thing for something to sound good, but the acid test is what remains when all is gone. THAT, that is what I must have to build on. Apparently, there is only one way to find out what sounds good vs. what is good – what I like vs. what can save me. Nothing like a little adversity to expose what does not work!
False religion is what sounds good to the unregenerate heart. False religion supports us in our rebellion and gives us a way to duck accountability, but false religion is also what is going to fail us when the chips are down. We are infected through and through with false belief systems posing as the truth. Adversity is our double-blind, fail-safe proof test. Adversity separates the Saviour from the posers. There may be many ways to God when things are going my way, but there is only one Way out from the bottom. Guaranteed.
Adversity is the acid test. Yes, Laurita, – amen! It is so. The faith that cannot be tested cannot be trusted.
We have been promised, “in this world we will have tribulation..” and (?).. “it is so.” Lo, and behold, we do. Just as He promised. No tears, no test, no trial, no tribulation, — no “testimony!”
He is able also to “save them to the uttermost” who come unto God by Him. Who (sumdumguy inquired) is our strong Deliverer? Our Sovereign Savior? What is His Name? (or better yet) what is His Son’s Name?
We (who are His) have been promised — “and my God will provide all your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” While this sounds all nice and cozy-rosy, What if? [it is true!] “Trouble” [which does include sorrow and suffering] is one of our “needs?” [Oy!]
~ For it became Him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the Captain [the Author] of their salvation perfect through [His] sufferings ~ (Hebrews 2.10) The Messiah, as the Second Adam, fully God and fully human, was “matured” or “perfected” how? The very same way we are. Friend, the servant (us) is not above His Master (Him). “No pain — no gain!”
It’s time for us to call in our Southern-bred Accountant. [You reckon?] “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time [are] not worthy [to be compared] with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” (Romans 8.18) When placed upon the scale for balance, the “weight of glory” will (Hallelujah!) tip in our favor! -[Every single time!]
May I?
It will be worth it all
when we see Jesus!
Life’s trials will seem so small
when we see Christ.
One glimpse of His dear face,
all sorrow will erase.
So, bravely run the race
till we see Christ.
At times the sky seems dark,
with not a ray of light;
We’re tossed and driven on,
no human help in sight.
But there is One in Heaven,
Who knows our deepest care;
Let Jesus solve your problems,
just go to Him in prayer.
Life’s day will soon be over,
all storms forever past;
We’ll cross the great divide
to Glory, safe at last!
We’ll share the joys of Heaven:
a harp, a home, a crown;
The Tempter will be banished,
We’ll lay our burdens down.
It will be worth it all
when we see Jesus!
Life’s trials will seem so small
when we see Christ.
One glimpse of His dear face,
all sorrow will erase.
So, bravely run the race
till we see Christ.
~ Looking [ever, always, only, – not a casual glance, but a careful gaze!] unto Jesus, the Author and — “Perfecter” of our faith! ~
Amen
In hindsight, the “bottom” for me wasn’t tied to place or circumstance – though at the time that was all I could see. My bottom was coming to the end of me, of the end of denial, the end of running, the end of life on my terms. In my desperation i cried out “Save me or kill me now.” Rescue me He did
I love a good paradox and welcome a good mystery, especially in the Scriptures. It sends me to thinking, to seeking answers, to asking difficult questions, to study and most often to the acceptance that I just don’t know the answer now and may never be certain ever. I don’t have it nailed, nor do probably most people, though many are quick to offer a homily or two, that many “church-world” people have heard over and over. I was always quick to mouth those, but now I’m content to say ‘I don’t have an answer for that’ or ‘I could be wrong’. Awful things happen in this good creation. Good things happen to bad people, bad things happen to good people and the worst of the worst often live to a ripe old age, whereas my cousin Marian died of leukemia before her eight birthday. I don’t know, but I accept and I trust. I trust that God is good, that he made the creation good, that he has planted the seed of the new creation, with the resurrection of Yeshua. I have been distressed many times and expect to be many more times. But that’s ok. That’s part of the mystery and the paradox. I think of Yeshua’s ‘stuff happens’ reply found in Luke 13:4-5 : “Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? I tell you, no!” I am comfortable with the Messiah’s reply. I don’t have all the answers, but I keep looking and I keep trusting. It’s way more difficult when you’re distressed. I have a part to do, to be my best and to come from love. The rest may lay hidden in the mystery, that I don’t get quite yet, but then I love a good mystery and paradox. Fires up my neural networks and makes my synapses arc. And in those arcs may well be the spark of real life.
Dr Skip Moen, I thank God for using you in this world for His glory. I do not have words to put in proper way to describe your depth of knowledge in truth expounding. Let God be glorified for ever more hence forth through our purposes of existence and Amen! Thank you very much!!!
Maybe just because our “I’s” are too close to each other…
First rule that first responders learn: Don’t panic. And we of all people are supposed to respond–to God’s instructions, to the needs of those around us, to our own distresses.