O Lord, How Long?

From the ongoing conflict with Iran, to floods in Nepal, to ever rising cost of living, to

the drug wars, to cultural and political wars in our country, to a never ending list of pain

and suffering, I find myself asking, ‘God, how long will this go on?’

This is one of the most common questions people have asked over the years. Numerous

times, especially in the Psalms, biblical writers ask God, ‘O Lord, how long?’ Psalm 89

is a great example of this.

Psalm 89:46-49

46 O Lord, how long will this go on?

Will you hide yourself forever?

How long will your anger burn like fire?

47 Remember how short my life is,

how empty and futile this human existence!

48 No one can live forever; all will die.

No one can escape the power of the grave.

49 Lord, where is your unfailing love?

The writer of this Psalm is identified as Ethan the Ezrahite. Ethan was a Levite who was

appointed by King David to serve as a worship leader in the Temple. He began this psalm

with the words,

Psalm 89:1-2

1 I will sing of the Lord’s unfailing love forever!

Young and old will hear of your faithfulness.

2 Your unfailing love will last forever.

Your faithfulness is as enduring as the heavens.

How did Ethan go from singing of God’s ‘unfailing love forever’ to questioning ‘Lord

where is you unfailing love?’ Maybe Ethan looked at the troubles that surrounded him

and became afraid, or doubtful, or even frustrated that God was seemingly nowhere to

be found.

I have to admit, I have had those same emotions many times over the years. It is hard

to suffer, to watch people you love deal with the horrible effects of disease, to read

about atrocities and devastation throughout the world, to continue to hold on when it is

so difficult to do so.

Yet, my faith in Jesus Christ gives me hope that suffering will end, that God will turn our

mourning into dancing, that in His perfect time we will see the salvation of the Lord. I

long for that day even as I continue to ask, ‘O Lord, how long?’

Ethan doesn’t give us any easy answers. Rather, he closes Psalm 89 with these words.

Psalm 89:52

52 Praise the Lord forever!

Amen and amen!

God’s goodness is unquestionable. His love for us is never-ending. Even amid our

suffering, we can still ‘Praise the Lord forever.’

I invite you to join us on Sunday as we praise the Lord with singing, teaching, fellowship,

and especially with Holy Communion.

Pastor Marty