Ligon Duncan - When Pain Is Real and God Seems Silent: Finding Hope in the Psalms

When Pain Is Real and God Seems Silent: Finding Hope in the Psalms

Copyright 2020 by Ligon Duncan

Published by Crossway
1300 Crescent Street
Wheaton, Illinois 60187

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher, except as provided for by USA copyright law. Crossway is a registered trademark in the United States of America.

Cover design: Dan Farrell

Cover image: Lithograph by tienne Lopold Trouvelot

First printing 2020

Printed in the United States of America

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the ESV Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked NASB are from The New American Standard Bible . Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Used by permission.

All emphases in Scripture quotations have been added by the author.

Trade paperback ISBN: 978-1-4335-6905-0
ePub ISBN: 978-1-4335-6908-1
PDF ISBN: 978-1-4335-6906-7
Mobipocket ISBN: 978-1-4335-6907-4

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Duncan, J. Ligon, 1960 author. | Dever, Mark.

Title: When pain is real and God seems silent : finding hope in the Psalms / J. Ligon Duncan ; foreword by Mark Dever.

Description: Wheaton, Illinois : Crossway, 2020. | Includes bibliographical references and index.

Identifiers: LCCN 2019029589 (print) | LCCN 2019029590 (ebook) | ISBN 9781433569050 (trade paperback) | ISBN 9781433569067 (pdf) | ISBN 9781433569074 (mobi) | ISBN 9781433569081 (epub)

Subjects: LCSH: Bible. Psalms, LXXXVIIILXXXIXCriticism, interpretation, etc. | SufferingBiblical teaching. | PainBiblical teaching.

Classification: LCC BS1430.6.S8 D86 2020 (print) | LCC BS1430.6.S8 (ebook) | DDC 223/.206dc23

LC record available at https:// lccn .loc .gov /2019 9589

LC ebook record available at https:// lccn .loc .gov /2019 9590

Crossway is a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

2020-03-03 09:28:00 AM

Foreword

Andrew Murray, quoted in Amy Carmichael, Though the Mountains Shake (Madras, India: Dohnavur Fellowship, 1943), 12.

Dr. and Mrs. Howard Taylor, Hudson Taylor in Early Years: The Growth of a Soul (Philadelphia: China Inland Mission, 1912), 291.

Chapter 1

John H. Walton, Victor H. Matthews, and Mark W. Chavalas, The IVP Bible Background Commentary: Old Testament (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2000), 544.

88, http:// www .ccel .org /ccel /henry /mhc3 .Ps .lxxxix .html .

Carl Trueman, What Can Miserable Christians Sing?, 9Marks, updated March 25, 2019, https:// www .9marks .org /article /what -can -miserable -christians -sing/ . This essay first appeared in Carl Trueman, The Wages of Spin: Critical Writings on Historical and Contemporary Evangelicalism (Fearn, Ross-Shire, Scotland: Christian Focus, 2004), 15763.

Derek Kidner, Psalms 73150: A Commentary on Books IIIV of the Psalms (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1973), 319.

Charles Simeon, Horae Homileticae (London: Holdsworth and Ball, 1832), 104.

K. [likely Robert Keen], How Firm a Foundation, 1787.

Chapter 2

John Calvin, Commentary on the Psalms , vol. 1, Christian Classics Ethereal Library, preface, https:// www .ccel .org /ccel /calvin /calcom08 .vi .html .

James H. Fillmore (18491936), I Will Sing of the Mercies of the Lord, ca. 1860s1870s.

William Cowper (17311800), God Moves in a Mysterious Way, 1774.

Samuel Rodigast (16491708), Whateer My God Ordains Is Right, 1675, trans. Catherine Winkworth (18271878), 1863.

Contents

Mark Dever

The Bible is strikingly candid about human suffering, including the vexing reality that Gods own people sufferand often suffer excruciatingly and lastingly. Where do we find help? Ligon Duncan, one of the most faithful Christian teachers of our time, takes us deeply into the Psalms in a book that will be of great encouragement to all believers. I am so thankful for Ligon Duncans devotion to Gods word and the care of souls. Read this book, and you will understand why.

R. Albert Mohler Jr., President, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

Here is a book that is short enough for the person who is gripped by suffering to actually read and yet rich enough to meet that individuals need for perspective and hope in the darkest of times.

Nancy Guthrie, Bible teacher; author, Hearing Jesus Speak into Your Sorrow

Ligon Duncan shows us beautifully how, even in our deepest despair, we can have hope in God. We can run to him because he cares and understands. Through this book, Duncan continually lifts our gaze and reminds us that no matter our circumstances, our great God is sympathetic, sovereign, and sufficient. Read this book for yourself, or make it a gift to those struggling in their suffering. Heres the truth: You are not alone. The Lord knows, and he hears.

Greg Gilbert, Senior Pastor, Third Avenue Baptist Church, Louisville, Kentucky

Dont let the brevity of this book fool you. It is packed with wisdom. Ligon Duncans insights from Psalms 88 and 89 are simple and fresh yet at the same time moving and profound. When Pain Is Real and God Seems Silent greatly encouraged me in my own suffering. Id recommend it to anyone who has felt confused, isolated, or forgotten in their pain and who longs for a hope that endures.

Vaneetha Rendall Risner, author, The Scars That Have Shaped Me: How God Meets Us in Suffering

In the midst of our suffering we need a wake-up call to the truth that Gods steadfast love never ceases. The Psalms are a gentle and real reminder that even in the hardest moments, God is there. Ligon Duncan offers a wonderful companion to two of the most honest psalms in the Bible. He helps us marvel at the beauty and wonder of our God as he is described in these psalms. Were reminded that our hope can be found only in God. Get out your Bible, read Psalms 88 and 89, and then read this short book. Your heart will be comforted by these truths.

Dave Furman, Senior Pastor, Redeemer Church of Dubai; author, Being There and Kiss the Wave

With pastoral care and theological precision, Ligon Duncan guides us through Psalms 88 and 89 to help us better understand suffering. When Pain Is Real and God Seems Silent is an honest assessment of life in a fallen world with the hope we have in Christ. In this short and accessible book, Duncan steers clear of trite phrases and clichs and instead provides solid truth that will actually sustain us in trials.

Trillia Newbell, author, Sacred Endurance ; If God Is for Us ; and Fear and Faith

Psalms of lament are missing in the church and in most believers prayers. Ligon Duncan helps us recover this historic language in his careful and thoughtful examination of these two important psalms. Overflowing with pastoral instinct, rich exposition, and helpful application, this short book on Psalms 88 and 89 is long overdue.

Mark Vroegop, Lead Pastor, College Park Church, Indianapolis; author, Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy: Discovering the Grace of Lament

A Song. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah. To the choirmaster: according to Mahalath Leannoth. A Maskil of Heman the Ezrahite.

O L ord , God of my salvation,

I cry out day and night before you.

Let my prayer come before you;

incline your ear to my cry!

For my soul is full of troubles,

and my life draws near to Sheol.

I am counted among those who go down to the pit;