How long O Lord?
The question “How long?” is repeated over and over throughout Scripture. We ask similar questions, we want to know His plan and we want to see His plan come to pass. We grow impatient… quickly! “How much longer?” “Are we there yet?” “When?” “Why isn’t it happening yet?” Waiting has become more and more agonizing as our world makes everything instant. (Cooking, cleaning, news & info, communication…) Waiting seems to communicate a different message because of this. For example in text messages, if we don’t get an immediate response, we assume the other doesn’t care as much as we do. Offenses and hurts arise for no sensible reason.
These questions reaching for some kind of timeline, asking God “how long?” are not questions of impatience but rather an expression of an ache in the heart. Throughout Scripture the prophets ask in response to what God is doing or what they see in opposition to God and His kingdom. They know who He is and know His promises but they see events in opposition to what they know. The obvious question is to ask just how long God will allow these things to happen before change comes.
Habakkuk asks, “O LORD, how long shall I cry, and You will not hear?” (Hab. 1:2)
David asks, “How long, O LORD? Will You forget me forever?” (Ps. 13:1)
Isaiah asks how long he’s to preach to the Israelites who will not hear. (Is 6:11)
Jeremiah asks how long he has to watch destruction come upon his people. (Jer 4:21)
Daniel and an angel ask how long persecution and destruction will last. (Dan. 12:6,8)
Over and over these questions are asked because we see things that don’t seem to be according to God’s kingdom. How long will You let things go this way?
But every time He shows that He has even greater plans by using the enemy to judge His people, by allowing suffering to make us stronger, by being silent for a time so we hear Him more clearly. He even answers as we ask by giving timelines or ‘landmarks’ showing that things will be that way until something big happens. Are we content with the answers He gives? Are we satisfied knowing that He has everything under control? We should be – nothing can stand against Him.
We are not the only ones who ask “how long?” As I mentioned with Daniel an angel joined in to ask as well as with John in Revelation. But God to asks this question of us. He asks Pharaoh in Exodus 10:3 “How long will you refuse to humble yourself before Me? And in the gospels Jesus asks, “How long shall I be with you & bear with you?”
The question seems more of a prayer and expression of the heart.
Bring forth Your promises, O God, I don’t want to see evil abound, people ignoring Your ways, destruction for Your people… Come quickly Lord Jesus.
These questions reaching for some kind of timeline, asking God “how long?” are not questions of impatience but rather an expression of an ache in the heart. Throughout Scripture the prophets ask in response to what God is doing or what they see in opposition to God and His kingdom. They know who He is and know His promises but they see events in opposition to what they know. The obvious question is to ask just how long God will allow these things to happen before change comes.
Habakkuk asks, “O LORD, how long shall I cry, and You will not hear?” (Hab. 1:2)
David asks, “How long, O LORD? Will You forget me forever?” (Ps. 13:1)
Isaiah asks how long he’s to preach to the Israelites who will not hear. (Is 6:11)
Jeremiah asks how long he has to watch destruction come upon his people. (Jer 4:21)
Daniel and an angel ask how long persecution and destruction will last. (Dan. 12:6,8)
Over and over these questions are asked because we see things that don’t seem to be according to God’s kingdom. How long will You let things go this way?
But every time He shows that He has even greater plans by using the enemy to judge His people, by allowing suffering to make us stronger, by being silent for a time so we hear Him more clearly. He even answers as we ask by giving timelines or ‘landmarks’ showing that things will be that way until something big happens. Are we content with the answers He gives? Are we satisfied knowing that He has everything under control? We should be – nothing can stand against Him.
We are not the only ones who ask “how long?” As I mentioned with Daniel an angel joined in to ask as well as with John in Revelation. But God to asks this question of us. He asks Pharaoh in Exodus 10:3 “How long will you refuse to humble yourself before Me? And in the gospels Jesus asks, “How long shall I be with you & bear with you?”
The question seems more of a prayer and expression of the heart.
Bring forth Your promises, O God, I don’t want to see evil abound, people ignoring Your ways, destruction for Your people… Come quickly Lord Jesus.
posted by Korryn at
2:06 PM
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