CALL UPON ME

Psalm 50:15a: “Call upon Me in the day of trouble.”

LET us, for a moment, behold Adam in the holy state of creation. Peace and joy fills his heart and surroundings. Adam has no concerns, he has no troubles. Adam is free of sin and the consequences of sin. However, he did not remain in this glorious state. Adam sinned, and all human creatures in and with him. Paul says, “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.” Rom. 5:12.

In the first two chapters of our Bible, we do not read of the word “trouble,” but if we proceed further we read of very many pitiful illustrations of trouble throughout the entire Bible. Trouble is a result of sin. Job has said, “Although affliction cometh not forth of the dust, neither doth trouble spring out of the ground; yet man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward.”

Ever since sin came into this world, it is full of trouble; man being a sinner, his whole life is filled with trouble. Do we know that we, personally, are the cause of our trouble? The cause of it lies in our original sin. O, to know it, believe it, and bewail it! Have you ever felt thus, reader? All people experience trouble, more or less, during their lifetime, many ending their life in trouble, and what shall eternity be for their poor lost soul? They remain strangers of soul-trouble and never have cried out of the depth of misery to Him, Who says in the text, “Call upon Me in the day of trouble.” The psalmist says, “I am troubled; I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long. For my loins are filled with a loathsome disease: and there is no soundness in my flesh. I am feeble and sore broken: I have roared by reason of the disquiet-ness of my heart. Lord, all my desire is before thee; and my groaning is not hid from Thee.”

Many people, when experiencing outward difficulties, go to man with their trouble, thus trying to help themselves; or, they will cry to God when no creature can or will help. They do not need Him, except when in great need. Often, God in His great mercy and goodness will help and deliver them, but very frequently God will not hearken and lets them perish in their troubles. God has said to a rebellious and unthankful Israel, “Call upon your strange gods, let them help and deliver you.” Some have called upon God in great distress of conscience, fearing death and the great eternity, and making vows unto the Lord for a better life and conduct if they are spared. But, being helped and spared, they soon turn back to their former way of life and evil practices.

God’s dear children have not only their outward, but also their inward troubles. As long as they were dead in sin and trespasses, they remained strangers of the inward soul-trouble. If we study the life of Jacob, we find that he experienced many outward troubles. Having been delivered from one difficulty after crying to God, soon other troubles would arise. The outward struggles often would lead to soul-trouble. Is it any wonder that he confessed before Pharoah, saying, “The days of the years of my pilgrimage are an hundred and thirty years: few and evil have the days of the years of my life been.”

Consider also the life of David, where we find that many inward and outward troubles filled his life. And thus it is with every quickened soul, more or less, as long as they are in this howling wilderness. They shall become conformed unto their blessed Head and King, Christ Jesus, Who was in unspeakably great troubles when atoning their sins and bearing their curse. He has cried, as we find in Psalm 69, “Hear Me, O Lord; for Thy loving kindness is good: turn unto Me ac-cording to the multitude of Thy tender mercies. And hide not Thy face from Thy servant; for I am in trouble: hear Me speedily. Draw nigh unto My soul, and redeem it; deliver Me because of Mine enemies.” Etc.

It is this blessed God and King, Who invites His beloved ones in this sinful world to call upon Him in the day of trouble. O, blessed invitation and instruction! He had great love and affection towards these children of His Father, being His sheep and dove. He yet says, “O My dove, that art in the clefts of the rock, in the secret places of the stairs, let Me see thy countenance, let Me hear thy voice; for sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely.”

He, Who says to His troubled followers, “Call upon Me in the day of trouble,” is the Almighty and strong God. He has proved to be so; from everlasting to everlasting He is God. He has been given by the Father as a great Redeemer and Helper. We say with the psalmist, “For Thou art the glory of their strength: and in Thy favour our horn shall be exalted. For the Lord is our defence: and the Holy One of Israel is our King. Then Thou spakest in vision to Thy Holy One, and saidst, I have laid help upon One that is Mighty; I have exalted One chosen out of the people.”

It is truly a great wonder of love and grace that this mighty King and Redeemer invites poor, helpless, unclean, and hellworthy worms to call upon Him in the day of trouble. And be assured that in the day of trouble they will call upon Him. When in great trouble and need, it shall be given to them to cleave unto Him and call upon Him till they are blessed. When all ways are closed, and all creature-help fails, the way to this mighty Redeemer shall be opened— He Who says, “Call upon Me.”

He gives the assurance of help and deliverance, as we hope, the Lord willing, to consider in the next issue.

Oh, that many sinners would be led into their sin and misery by the blessed Word and Spirit of God, and learn to call in all their troubles to Him, Who says, “Call upon Me in the day of trouble.” Oh, that our young people also would learn to know a time of soul trouble, and call upon the Lord and honor Him.

This calling upon the Lord should be performed in faith, in sincerity, and with fervency; and though it should be made at all times, in private and in public, yet more especially should be attended to in a time of affliction, whether of soul or body, whether of a personal, family, or public kind.

We live in times of great wickedness and dangers, and God is lowering his judgments upon mankind, and threatening worse to come, as a righteous and sovereign God. O, that young and old would be taught to cry to God, breaking off sin, confessing sin, and doing what is good in God’s holy sight!

Reader, are you experiencing inward and outward trouble? Be encouraged in calling upon God; He has promised to be with you and to send deliverance. Hearken to the song of the church in olden times:

To Jehovah then they cry
In their trouble, and He saves,
Drives the darkness from the sky,
Calms the storm and stills the waves,
Makes their sad forebodings cease,
To their haven guides in peace.

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