How Long, Oh Lord?

An observation, Gods Slooooow cooking. ( to our Americana mind, it is slow, but then, we are but a vapor)

If ultimately things will get worse and worse until God has to just remove the remainder…Why did he tell us to go and make disciples of all Nations? (Ha Ha I knew you couldn’t do it!)

In Psalms you can see something repeated over and over, that of, “How Long?”
10 O God, how long shall the adversary reproach? shall the enemy blaspheme thy name for ever?Psalms 74:10 (KJV)


16 With hypocritical mockers in feasts, they gnashed upon me with their teeth. 17 Lord, how long wilt thou look on? rescue my soul from their destructions, my darling from the lions. Psalms 35:16-17 (KJV)


3 LORD, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked triumph? 4 How long shall they utter and speak hard things? and all the workers of iniquity boast themselves? 5 They break in pieces thy people, O LORD, and afflict thine heritage. Psalms 94:2-5 (KJV)

They go all the way through Psalms. The question is left open….but never, never is there any doubt about God triumphing. Never is it hinted that all will just go to pot. Its always, how long? It is framed to us as as componant of worship. Have you ever heard it as a part of a modern worship song?

This was a people who were in captivity for how many years before God moved to bring them out of Egypt. Could they see any physical signs of hope?

God allowed 1400 yrs to pass before having the bible assembled in a manner that households could dream of owning,even if just one. Slow cooking.

We today have the entire historical record of Gods movement and control of history. But for the most part the church today see’s no hope that God will overcome through his people. We don’t think that the leaven of the Kingdom of God can make it through the whole loaf.

This is partly because we only see how it should leaven certain areas of our lives. We deny its right to leaven everything in us. If its not applicable to us, his people, how can it be meant for the rest of the world. Today the cry is not “Lord how long?’ till you show your hand, But rather “come quickly Lord Jesus” and take us home.

10 For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills. 11 I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are mine. 12 If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof. Psalms 50:10-12 (KJV)

3 Say unto God, How terrible art thou in thy works! through the greatness of thy power shall thine enemies submit themselves unto thee. 4 All the earth shall worship thee, and shall sing unto thee; they shall sing to thy name. Selah. Psalms 66:3-4 (KJV)

27 All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the LORD: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee. 28 For the kingdom is the LORD'S: and he is the governor among the nations. Psalms 22:27-28 (KJV)

4 O let the nations be glad and sing for joy: for thou shalt judge the people righteously, and govern the nations upon earth. Selah Psalms 67:3-4 (KJV)

8 He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth. 9 They that dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him; and his enemies shall lick the dust. 10 The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents: the kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts. 11 Yea, all kings shall fall down before him: all nations shall serve him. Psalms 72:8-11 (KJV)

. 9 All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee, O Lord; and shall glorify thy name. Psalms 86:8-9 (KJV)

These words of worship from Psalms harmonizes with Jesus saying…go make disciples of all nations and with God telling Adam to take dominion.

Yes I can see how this “can” be made to line up with our new understanding of the last 150yrs, the idea of a rapture and God just letting man burn himself out. But I step back if that route means it no longer can harmonize with his written word.

To our eyes, we think no way….. just like the Israelites in Egypt. But God says…. you thought I was altogether like you….. psalms 50:21

Which route is harder, which route looks impossible, which way would bring God more glory. Put your pile of chips on that way, and then hold on.

More and more I am seeing how the word fits together, front to back, without needing dispensations, excuses or fancy foot work. Like God wrote it or something. Glorious!

How big is your God? Do we need to truncate and fold his word so it is within our minds grasp. Do we have a need to see his word harmonize with the current events around us. How big is the God you are presenting to your children? Our God is a slow cooker. Can you imagine spending 100 years to make a boat?

It is time for us to yield to the example of worship in our prayers, to start asking ...."How long, Oh Lord?" I am afraid we have not asked ,because we dont believe