From The Heart
When God Seems Far Away
July 17, 2022
Ryan Rainey, Minister, Vista Ridge
The Branch Church
Song of Solomon 5:2-7 (NIV)
I slept but my heart was awake.
Listen! My beloved is knocking:
“Open to me, my sister, my darling,
my dove, my flawless one.
My head is drenched with dew,
my hair with the dampness of the night.”
I have taken off my robe — must I put it on again?
I have washed my feet — must I soil them again?
My beloved thrust his hand through the latch-opening;
my heart began to pound for him.
I arose to open for my beloved,
and my hands dripped with myrrh,
my fingers with flowing myrrh,
on the handles of the bolt.
I opened for my beloved,
but my beloved had left; he was gone.
My heart sank at his departure.
I looked for him but did not find him.
I called him but he did not answer.
The watchmen found me
as they made their rounds in the city.
They beat me, they bruised me;
they took away my cloak,
those watchmen of the walls!
Song of Solomon 5:2a (NIV)
I slept but my heart was awake.
Listen! My beloved is knocking:
Song of Solomon 5:2b (NIV)
“Open to me, my sister, my darling,
my dove, my flawless one.”
Song of Solomon 5:3 (NIV)
I have taken off my robe — must I put it on again?
I have washed my feet — must I soil them again?
Song of Solomon 5:4-5 (NIV)
My beloved thrust his hand through the latch-opening;
my heart began to pound for him.
I arose to open for my beloved,
and my hands dripped with myrrh,
my fingers with flowing myrrh,
on the handles of the bolt.
Song of Solomon 5:6 (NIV)
I opened for my beloved,
but my beloved had left; he was gone.
My heart sank at his departure.
I looked for him but did not find him.
I called him but he did not answer.
Song of Solomon 5:7 (NIV)
The watchmen found me
as they made their rounds in the city.
They beat me, they bruised me;
they took away my cloak,
those watchmen of the walls!
The Dream Teaches Two Things About Us …
- We are selfish.
Revelation 3:20 (NIV)
“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.”
- We are vulnerable.
The Dream Teaches Two Things About God …
- There are times when God hides Himself from us.
Isaiah 45:15 (NIV)
Truly you are a God who has been hiding himself … .
Job 23:3 (NIV)
“If only I knew where to find him; if only I could go to his dwelling!”
Psalm 42:3 (NIV)
My tears have been my food day and night, while people say to me all day long, “Where is your God?”
- God will use distance to ignite a new passion in us.
Song of Solomon 5:8b (NIV)
… if you find my beloved,
what will you tell him?
Tell him I am faint with love.
Song of Solomon 6:3b (NIV)
I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine … .
When You Feel Like God Is Far Away …
- Admit that you need God.
James 4:(NIV)
Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.
- Tell God you love Him.
Psalm 18:1-3 (NIV)
I love you, Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I called to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I have been saved from my enemies.
- Ask for His presence to be felt.
Jeremiah 33:3 (NIV)
“Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.”
- Pray for sincerity.