ADULT SPECIAL SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES (STS)
*LESSON 954: VOLUME 74.*
DATE: 21-06-2020
TOPIC: SEEKING GOD'S HELP
MEMORY VERSE: "Consider and hear me,
O LORD my God: lighten mine eyes, lest I
sleep the sleep of death; Lest mine enemy
say, I have prevailed against him; and those
that trouble me rejoice when I am moved"
(Psalm 13:3,4).
TEXT: Psalms 10 to 13
God is good, kind and powerful; He manifests these attributes to save, heal, deliver and bless all who seek Him according to His will and word. Since He
created and redeemed us to depend on Him for all our needs, the stoutest and richest of men or believers is incapable of wading through the troublous web and mire of life alone without His help. While we are frail
and limited, He is omnipotent, omnipresent and omniscient, “the helper of the [helpless)” who is "plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon [Him]”
(Psalms 10:14; 86:5).
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David, who composed many of the psalms that form the text, was persecuted, oppressed and afflicted. His strong passion to please the Lord in all situations was punctuated with moral failure, humiliation, divine chastisement, cncmies' assault and other troubles. In moments of life's struggles, distress and anguish, he learnt to seek the Lord for His intervention, security, deliverance and justice. God is unchanging; He is always willing and ready to help everyone who prays to Him aright. Since our "help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth” and He is the "rewarder [helper) of them that diligently seek him” by faith (Psalm 121:1,2; Hebrews 11:6), believers should seek Him in prayer for all their needs. God's unchanging
attributes and unſailing promises give assurance of His intervention and care in critical situations of life (Jeremiah 33:3; 2 Chronicles 16:9).
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Question 1: Why should all people seek God's help?
SEEMING DIVINE DELAY AND CALL FOR
INTERVENTION IN TIMES OF TROUBLE (Psalms 10:1,12-18; 11:5-7; 12:1,6,7; 13:1-4; 2 Peter 3:9; Mark 16:15,20; 2 Corinthians 6:1; Psalm 142:5-7; Ezra 8:21,22; Genesis 32:9-11,22-28; Exodus 14:10; 2 Chronicles 13:14-16; 14:11,12)
The text opens with two rhetorical questions about the Lord's supposed delay in showing up to speedily judge the wicked. “Why standest thou afar off, o LORD? Why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble?”
(Psalm 10:1). Counting on God's holy attributes, the psalmist sought to unravel why He, the only Source of help, allows the wicked to continue oppressing the poor
and the helpless. Feeling isolated, emotionally broken and helpless under sorrow-inflicting might of a boastful
enemy in another scenario, a similar question is voiced out: "How long wilt thou forget me, O LORD? for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me? How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? how long shall mine enemy be exalted over me?” (Psalm 13:1,2).
Like these psalmists, many are puzzled by God's silence in the face of multiplicity of evil. Habakkuk also found the prevalence of sin and silence of God irreconcilable. “Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity: wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously, and holdest thy tongue when the wicked devoureth the man that
is more righteous than he?” (Habakkuk 1:13). Questions that raise doubt about God's care during adversity arise from limited understanding of His unchanging principles in relating with God's silence atthe sceming triumph of cvildoers
should not be misconstrued as support of same. Being holy and just, He is free from hurried justice that leaves no room for evildoers to repent and be saved. He docs
not want anyone to perish. Two, the period of God's "longsuffering” or “space to repent” that men take for His silence is given to believers to reach sinners with
the gospel (2. Peter 3:9; Revelation 2:21; Ezekiel 3:17-21).
Three, it is also a period of intercession or standing in the gap for souls - a divine-human partnership in saving the lost and stemming the tide of evil (Ezekiel 22:30; Mark 16:15,20; 1 Corinthians 3:9). Four, God
acts according to His words and promise; He acts when we act by way of intercession and soul-winning. When the apostles acted, we have the Acts of the Apostles. Five, believers will suffer persecution, affliction and oppression in the hands of the sinful. By divine design, these will result in reſining the believer's character, converting sinners and bringing glory to God if borne
with godly attitudes. Divine patience triumphed when the injurious Saul of Tarsus and the wicked Philippian jailor with his household became converted to the Lord through circumstances that brought pain to the rightcous. Six, sccming divinc delay is not abandonment as seen in the case of Lazarus. Christ surfaced at His
own right time to raise him to life and this led to the conversion of many souls (John 11:21,38-41). Seven, God sometimes hides His face for the purpose of correction, proving or pruning (Luke 18:1-8).
Though amazed by God's silence, the psalmist sought Him for justice. "Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up thine hand: forget not the humble. Break thou the arm of the wicked and the evil man... judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that the man of the earth may no more oppress” (Psalm 10:12,15,18). Two, he also called upon Him for revival of righteousness and godly living, “Help, LORD; for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men” (Psalm 12:1,6,7). Three, he prayed for preservation of doctrinal purity. Four, he asked for deliverance from trouble and premature death (Psalm 13:3,4).
Question 2: What can believers learn from the prayer of the psalmists?
God has granted the privilege of access to Him through prayer. Asking negative questions, self-pity, murmuring, gossiping, unbelief and discouragement will aggravate
suffering. The sinner must first repent of sin and exercise faith in Christ for reconciliation to Him. Believers should
seek God for purity of heart and baptism with the Holy meltdown, lack or loss of job; healing in times of ill Spirit; seek His help for provision during economic health; success during exams; mercy and protection premeditated murder of the poor, the innocent and the general state of apprehension and lear arising from conspiracy and plot to climinate the rightcous or the Church that threaten the foundation of a peaceful society (11:1-3); ſive, certainty of future damnation of
prayer of the psalmists? when travelling; deliverance from reproaches; preservation from demonic attacks and victory over
temptations; strength to triumph over trials of faith; comfort during bereavement; fruitfulness in ministry and sufficient grace to persevere in holiness till the end
Question 3: In which areas can the believer seek God's help?
SUNDRY PRAYERS FOR GOD'S INTERVENTION
(Psalms 10:2-11; 11:1-3; 12:2-4,8; 13:1,2,4; Romans 3:10-12; Matthew 24:12; 2 Timothy 3:13; 2 Thessalonians 2:3; Luke 18:1-8)
The psalmist sought the Lord's help because of, one, the evil devices against the poor and their persecution by the wicked who boasts in pursuit of their desires (10:2,3); two, their disdain and deliberate refusal to "seek after God” in their sinful audacity and impunity that discountenance retribution (10:4-7); three, the insecurity of life through laying of ambush and sinners (Psalm 11:6); six, disappearance of morals or massive backsliding that shows in vain speech, flattery, double-dealing and sinful liberty reminiscent of the spiritual deadness of the church in Sardiş (12:3,4; Revelation 3:1,2,4); seven, exaltation and reign of the vilest surrounded and supported by the wicked (12:8); eight, God's silence and supposed abandonment of the upright who is suffering and has sorrow in the heart
“daily” while the wicked oppressors triumph and boast that God does not see or care about justice (13:1,2,4).
The prevalence of sin, evil, impunity, atheism and backsliding that became the subjects of prayer for divine intervention in the text attests to the depravity and sinfulness of all men and confirms the predictions of Scripture about the end-time (Matthew 24:12; John 16:2). Paul the apostle affirms that "evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived", and will give rise to massive backsliding and multiplicity of evil in the last days (2 Timothy 3:13; 2 Thessalonians 2:3; 2 Timothy 3:1-4). There already exist many antichrists who inspire creation, practice and proliferation of evils in the world (1 John 2:18). From David's experiences, we learn that, one, all
believers go through one kind of suffering or the other (Hebrews 12:8); two, the Christian pilgrimage is not a
bed of roses (Mark 8:34,35); three, we should always seek the help of God when we come to a crossroads or our wit's end (Ezra 8:21-23); four, believers are always
in warfare and should not repose, retire or be complacent; five, when answer to our prayers seem delayed, we should persevere until God' intervenes (1Thessalonians 5:17); six, God is faithful and all things will eventually work for the good of His chosen people and for His glory (Romans 8:28); seven, we need to trust God in difficult times (Daniel 3:16-18).
Question 4: What should be our inner disposition during persecutions and difficulties?
CERTAINTY AND ASSURANCE OF DIVINE
INTERVENTION AND HELP
(Psalms 10:14,17,18; 11:1,4,7; 12:5; 13:5,6; 18:3-9,16,17,19-20; Exodus 15:24-25; 1 Samuel 1:13-18; 7:9,10; 1 Kings 18:37,38;
2 Kings 19:19,20; Jonah 2:2-7; Luke 1:13; 22:39-43; Acts 16:25,26)
David's unwavering faith drove him to seek God for solution to his many perplexities. Even when he was pressured to flee for fear of the wicked, he was sure that the Lord was in control. “In the LORD put I my
trust: How say ye to my soul, Flee as a bird to your mountain?” (Psalm 11:1). Faith in God's mercy filled and deliverance. He claimed “...He hath dealt his heart with joy and he sang of His expected salvation
bountifully with me” (Psalm 13:6). Abraham, Joshua 7:6-9; 8:1-3; Jeremiah 20:7-11; 2 Chronicles 20:3-12; Judges 3:15; 4:3; 6:7; 10:10). He will grant all that heaven can afford in answer to the prayer of faith
Jehoshaphat with Judah, Paul and Silas all praised God in anticipation of divine intervention (Romans 4:20; 2 Chronicles 20:21-23; Acts 16:25,26). God is a present
help indeed.
Question 5: What are the benefits of trusting and depending on God in times of trouble?
God's answer to the psalmist's prayer is: "For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the LORD; I will set him in safety from him that puffeth at him” (Psalm 12:5). He intervenes and displays His divine power and majesty to bring His praying children the needed relief, comfort
and peace. Believers' strength is renewed in Him and they obtain greater energy to forge ahead on life's dogged path (Isaiah 40:28-31). Those who seek Him are assured of timely help and rescue as seen in the cases of Jacob, Jabez, Joshua, Jeremiah, Jehoshaphat with Judah and the children of Israel during the reign of the Judges (Genesis 32:9-11,24-28; 1 Chronicles 4:9,10;
that accords with His will (John 14:13,14).
In conclusion, answer to prayer is assured if we seek God wholeheartedly, purposefully and passionately with
knowledge of His promises; seek Him in fasting and prayer with clean hands, pure hearts, forgiving spirit, love, peace and goodwill towards fellowmen and submission to His will (Deuteronomy 4:9; Isaiah 38:2,3; 1 Timothy 2:9; Daniel 9:1-4; Jonah 3:5-9; Job 8:5,6; 22:21-28; Hebrews 12:14; Acts 7:59,60; Mark 14:36). Besides, realisation that God hates evil but loves
righteousness should spur every believer to requisite action of prayer and soul-winning, knowing full well that righteousness only comes from Christ through the gospel (Romans 1:16,17).
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