Psalm 74:9-11 (NIV)
We are given no signs from God; no prophets are left, and none of us knows how long this will be. How long will the enemy mock you, God? Will the foe revile your name forever? Why do you hold back your hand, your right hand? Take it from the folds of your garment and destroy them!
Do you ever want God to do something really BIG to show the unbelieving world – and perhaps remind His own children, as well – that he is real and active and powerful? Tiger Woods was the most famous athlete on the planet when his very public fall from grace began in 2009 as reports of serial infidelity hit the public airwaves. As a 2017 article in the Miami Herald stated, “An ugly divorce. A confession to sex addiction. Rehab. Celebrated to scandalized, overnight. Woods’ manicured public image was ruined. The major wins stopped. The back problems started. Age encroached. Younger stars emerged. Comebacks were aborted.” Can you imagine what would have happened if somewhere in the midst of all that darkness, Tiger Woods became a born again Christian and began his long comeback as an outspoken follower of Christ?
Wow.
But that day never came. Big-time celebrities are not getting saved (that we know of) and big-time miracles are not trending on social media. Europe is post-modern and post-Christian and America seems to be in hot pursuit to do the same. Wrong has not only become right but is celebrated. Shame is dead and pride rules the day. Although the context of Psalm 74 has been disputed in terms of which temple destruction it alludes to, the application of its principles has not. God’s people a few thousand years ago sometimes wondered, “Where are you, Lord?”, and so do we. As Charles Spurgeon puts it in his commentary on this psalm, “We, too, as believers, know what it is to lose our evidences and grope in darkness; and too often do our churches also miss the tokens of the Redeemer’s presence, and their lamps remain untrimmed. Sad complaint of a people under a cloud! There is no more any prophet. Prophecy was suspended. No inspiring psalm or consoling promise fell from bard or seer.”
As we wonder where God is in all of this modern mess, we sometimes forget that He is still speaking to us through His Spirit, but even more so, through His Word. “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Tim. 3:16-17). Pick up that book. Scroll over to that app. Open up the Word of the Lord and hear from Him today, tomorrow, and every day after. You don’t need a preacher or a counselor or a podcast to hear from God…you can hear from Him yourself…if you would but listen. And when you wonder why evil seems to be winning, you need to remember that God is just waiting…and every day that He waits is counted as mercy for those who are outside the family of faith.
In terms of signs and wonders, do you really think a few well-placed miracles would shake the unbelieving millions to confession and repentance? Jesus did miracle after miracle and fulfilled prophecy after prophecy, yet most of the people chose not to believe. People reject God – not because they can’t believe, but because they don’t want to believe. Additionally, perhaps we long for signs and wonders because we don’t want to do the work of an evangelist (2 Tim. 4:5). We would prefer the Big Show with the Big Results because it gets us off the hook. No awkward exchanges and no rejection required…but alas, that is not the Lord’s plan. But take heart! A day is coming! “Look, he is coming with the clouds,” and “every eye will see him, even those who pierced him”; and all peoples on earth “will mourn because of him.” So shall it be! Amen. (Rev. 1:7)
Amen indeed.
