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A Living Complaint

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A Living Complaint

8 minuten leestijd Arcering uitzetten

David says in Psalm 61:2, “From the end of the earth will I cry unto Thee, when my heart is overwhelmed, lead me to the rock that is higher than I.” Precious words, inspired by the Spirit of the Lord. They flow out of the heart of one who sees nothing but darkness. One who can no longer understand the pathway that he must walk upon.

David is fleeing away from Jerusalem. The sword of his own son, Absalom, has driven him away from this throne and city. But more than that, each step takes him further away from Cod’s temple, the place where so often he experienced His blessed communion. Away from the place where the promise of the Lord has filled his life.

He crosses the Jordan River and there far away from what was formerly his life, he cries out, “From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee.” A blessed place when the child of the Lord may be there! He cannot help himself. All what he has formerly possessed, seems so far away. There he may cry unto a God who is no stranger for his soul.

By nature, we do not know this cry. There can be many questions in our life, but we do not know that living complaint. We all, because of our deep fall in Adam, are exiled from that which we formerly possessed. A separation comes between God and the soul.

How terrible when our eyes are blinded for this! In this state we have many complaints. But we are a stranger of a living complaint. For this is a complaint which is given and may return unto the Giver. What a wonder of God’s grace when for the first time He makes one an exile. This is one who has no home anywhere, but is driven unto the ends of the earth. One who is at a place where there is no friend or guardian who stands by. Do you know of such a place? For the natural man this place has nothing attractive. But in the life of God’s people, they become blessed places. They miss that which they cannot miss anymore.

David crossed the Jordan River. He entered into a land where he felt as an exile. That people cross rivers which they did not know existed. And then there is no friend, no helper at the end of the earth. This is a place where all human strength has come to an end. Then it becomes my guilt that I am so far away from the Lord.

David says, “When my heart was overwhelmed.” There his heart smote him. He thought of Bathsheba, of Uriah. He saw all what his life had been. Nothing but sin and shortcomings from his side. He became the guilty one. The Lord was righteous in all His doings.

There on the other side of the river comes the enemy. And the enemy may do and say what he wishes. Because the Lord has sent him. You can see him coming. Shimei, of the family of Saul, may come and curse him. He may shout, “Come out thou bloody man, thou man of Belial.”

Oh, David feels it, his heart is overwhelmed! The Lord has come as a righteous God, holy and just. David cannot stand in the sight of this God. His faithful servant, Abishai, cannot stand it any longer. He says, “Why should this dead dog curse my lord, the king? let me go over I pray thee, and take off his head.”

But David may see this as God’s hand. “Let him curse for the Lord hath bidden him.” What a wonderful place for God’s child! He may bow before the Lord, may see his unworthiness and God’s righteousness. Here the church does not sink away in eternal despair. But here, by grace, they may reach out unto that only life-line which is left.

Peter knew of this, for when sinking in the waves, he cried, “Lord, help, me.” This is the cry of the church at the end of the earth with a heart which is overwhelmed: “Lord, help me.” All human help has become vain.

For God’s church, this is always a way against flesh and blood. We are enemies of such a way. For, in this way, I lose what I cannot miss to maintain myself. But what a wonder that the Lord knows what is good for His people. He deems it necessary that they are led in ways of strife and difficulty, so that the church with a heart overwhelmed with what they are, may bow before Him and may pour out their entire heart at His footstool.

And those who may know something of this, know that even when the trials are there, even when we are at the end of the earth with a heart that is overwhelmed, matters have become different. Blessed are they who may learn to come to His footstool in this way. For there they learn yet another prayer, another supplication. For with all that they have experienced, they have no seal upon God’s work in their life. They know of a beginning and are no stranger of a wilderness journey. But with all, they still miss the Surety for their never-dying soul.

This may be seen in the life of David. He cannot be satisfied with the end of the earth, neither with a heart which by the grace of God may cry unto the Lord. No, the church of the Lord cannot be satisfied with that. Not that there are not the times when there may be a fulness in what the Lord has given. Times when they may rejoice and believe. Times when their cup overflows. And whether it is then a thimble or a bucket, when it is full nothing needs to be added.

But the Lord says, “What I have builded I will break down, what I have planted I will root up.” This is so that His people may be driven to that place where they may rest upon.

David says, “Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.” Oh, he knows that is a place where of himself he cannot come. Therefore, he cries unto heaven that the Lord may lead him. Lord help me, give me faith to look away from myself, and see that Rock as the only resting place. Give me a need in my heart for the righteousness of the Lord Jesus.

Give me eyes to see Him who was pierced because of my sins. Give me the end of the earth and a heart that is overwhelmed so that I cannot find life in anything outside of this Rock. Grant that outside of this Rock I may hunger and thirst.

How very true that God’s people one day will always eat without ever being hungry, will drink without ever being thirsty! For in heaven those people will never hunger and thirst again. But here below they will always hunger before they will eat, always thirst before they will drink. Here below the Lord leads from darkness unto light, and from light unto darkness. For His people must come unto the Rock that higher is than they.

And, therefore, the ways of strife are ways which so often I cannot understand or desire. The Lord leads His people in such ways that all ground outside of this Rock may fall away. Outside of this Rock, I must perish. There I may cry, “Lord, lead me unto the Rock that higher is than I.”


The Lord leads His people in such ways that all ground outside of this Rock may fall away.


Today there is so much resting outside of this Rock. That the Lord may teach you to bow your knees — a place where we may confess our great guilt and deep need. One thing is certain. When the Lord places His people on that Rock, then only is it well with us. That Rock never trembles. From the stillness of eternity that Rock was given as the only resting place for a poor and needy people. Not because of their poverty and need, but because a holy God was moved from within Himself.

Therefore, in the fulness of time this Rock has opened a way which we have closed.

Have you learned that the way is closed and can never be opened by you? This is where the Lord begins. They there begin to learn that the way of God with His children is often a difficult way. But through it all, they may learn of a living complaint. “Lord, lead me to the Rock that higher is than I.”

May you know that Rock? That is the only hiding place. There is not a safer place. That is a place bought with the price of blood. And even when your sins are risen higher than the mountains, do you know that this Rock is higher? This Rock has satisfied the justice of God.

May there be a living complaint in your heart, “Lord, take me by heart and hand and lead me upon ways that are only good.”

Rev. J. Den Hoed is pastor of the Netherlands Reformed Congregation of Rock Valley, Iowa.

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Bekijk de hele uitgave van zaterdag 1 november 1986

The Banner of Truth | 28 Pagina's

A Living Complaint

Bekijk de hele uitgave van zaterdag 1 november 1986

The Banner of Truth | 28 Pagina's