Forsaken?

David cried out in his messianic Psalm, "My God, my God why have you forsaken me?" (Psalm 22:1). Christ cried the same thing from the cross (Mark 15:34). Yet, God promises to "never leave or forsake" us (Hebrews 13:5). How should we consider these verses? The first situation is a perceived but false impression. The Father had hidden his face from David and Christ in his humanity but not forsaken them. Hebrews 13:5 IS REALITY as it is God's promise to us...and his promises never fail. God may sometimes hide his face from us. We may be dry and distant and in less intimate communion for a time, but he never leaves or forsakes us.

Causes Of Spiritual Declension

• Formality in holy duties, under the constant outward performance of them.
• Vehement engagements in the affairs of life.
• An over valuation of sinful enjoyments.
• Growth on carnal wisdom.
• Neglect of daily mortification of such sins as men are naturally disposed to, with a secret influence from the prevalent temptation of the days in which we live.

--John Owen, The Glory Of Christ

When God Is Gone

There are times when the palpable presence of God in my life disappears. The void is heavy and the satisfaction of my soul is missing. It may be associated with some persistent sin in my life or related to a period of decreased seeking for him, but sometimes these episodes occur seemingly "out of the blue." There are atleast two good things that come out of these times from my perspective. (I am sure God has more). First, the absence of God contrasts greatly with the presence of him in my life, as a moonless night contrasts with the mid-day sun. I would not fully know the joy and satisfaction of being with him if I could not compare it with times when he is missing. Second, my faith usually arises from these periods strengthened and deepened. I believe God has his sovereign purpose for these times. He is omnipresent in nature and trancends time and space, and yet his person can withdraw and leave us momentarily "forsaken" (Psalm 22:1). John Owen has some insight into periods in life where God seemingly has disappeared.


From "The Glory of Christ: His Office and His Grace." by John Owen

I Sought Him, but I Found Him Not

"Sometimes it may be that he is withdrawn from us, so as that we cannot hear his voice, nor behold his countenance, nor obtain any sense of his love, though we seek him with diligence. In this state, all our thoughts and meditations concerning him will be barren and fruitless, bringing in no spiritual refreshment into our souls.....The Lord Christ is pleased sometimes to withdraw himself from the spiritual experience of believers, as to any refreshing sense of his love, or the fresh communications of consolatory graces."

"Our duty in this case, is to persevere in our inqiries after him, in prayer, meditation, mourning, reading and hearing of the Word, in all ordinances of divine worship, private and public, in diligent obedience, until we find him, or he return to us, as in former days."