🇬🇧 "Finally David comforts his heart in the mercy of God. Though he wonders where God is, and why he doesn’t arise when the enemy comes in like a flood, this is his final assurance; David has broken through; “You hear, O LORD, the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry, defending the fatherless and the oppressed, in order that man, who is of the earth, may terrify no more” (vv. 17&18). The king had been wavering; he heard of the pain; he saw the grief that his people were enduring. He saw the mighty strength and cruelty of the enemy. He cried to God for help again and again and at first there was no response but then assurance flooded his soul. God does hear. God does answer in his perfect timing; “You hear, O LORD, the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry, defending the fatherless and the oppressed, in order that man, who is of the earth, may terrify no more”. Here is the little orphan girl and she is crying to God and all of heaven is listening to defend her. The terrifying men who dominate the earth will not have the last word. God will encourage and keep all his people. Remember, God is delaying in answering your own prayers for a reason. It is not mere sovereignty that is saying No. Maybe the Lord is wisely denying a request that wouldn’t be good; or perhaps God has a better alternative plan. If we could see the big picture we’d know that God is indeed at work answering. I would also caution you to be careful about how much you feel you can demand of God. It’s true we may tell God all of our needs, and we may ask him to help with all of them, but sometimes, I’m afraid, we also think we can tell God exactly how he ought to answer, and exactly what he should do. Then if he doesn’t do it in exactly our way, we think he’s being silent. We call for help, but then we must leave it to him to decide how and in what way he will help. There’s another caution too. Don’t assume that just because God is silent it means he is inactive. Sometimes while he seems silent he is busy working out of view in the background. -GEOFF THOMAS" http://geoffthomas.org/index.php/gtsermons/does-god-hide-himself