We are not sure who wrote this Psalm but it is possible that it was written in the
days of Hezekiah the King of Judah. The prophet Isaiah was prophesying judgment
on the Northern Kingdom of Israel by the invading Assyrian army and it wasn’t
looking good for the Southern Kingdom of Judah as the Assyrians were
threatening them also.
The chapter begins with the psalmist remembering the stories of his father’s
generation, who told them how God had protected and blessed the nation in times
past and gave them this wonderful Promise Land (vv.1-8). During that time the
people could said, “In God we boast all day long and praise Your name
forever” (v. 8). But in verses 9-16, it was obvious that God’s presence was
gone from the nation, and they were in an oppressed state.
Now in verses 17-26, it appears that there must have been a faithful remnant in the
land who had not forgotten the Lord and was making a plea for mercy! Hezekiah
was a good king who “did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, according
to all that David his father had done” (2 Chronicles 29:2). The psalmist
declares the “God knows the secrets of the heart” (v. 21). In other words, he is pleading with God on
behalf of those who are genuinely, from the heart, living for the Lord and His
glory.
I am so thankful to know that even today in our country, there are those whose
hearts are right with the Lord, and have become the intercessors in prayer for
our nation and the lost world around us. It is amazing that Paul quoted verse
22 when he was reminding us that despite the fact we appear to be like sheep
being lead to the slaughter, we can believe and know that nothing can separate
us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord!
Romans 8:35-39: “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation,
or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it
is written: "For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as
sheep for the slaughter." Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors
through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor
angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come,
nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us
from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Yes, it might appear that God is asleep (v. 23) in our time of affliction,
oppression, and distress! But my friend, we are assured that “He who keeps
Israel shall neither slumber or sleep” (Psalm 121:4). We might feel like Job in the time of great
suffering that can’t be explained, but by faith we should still say like he did,
“Though He slay me, yet I will trust Him” (Job 13:15).
Despite how bad it might look for us, and around us, there is one thing we can and should
always remember. On this Good Friday we remember the great love of God in
giving His One and Only Son as a sacrifice for our sins! “What then shall we
say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not
spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him
also freely give us all things? (Romans 8:31-32). Don’t forget God! He has
not forgotten you!
God bless!
