The Psalmists were frequently disturbed by God's apparent inactivity or absence. Here is a sampling of their struggles. In Psalm 6, David cries out: "How long, O LORD, how long?" (v. 3). The author of Psalm 10, possibly David, asked: "Why, O LORD, do you stand far off?" (v. 1). Again, in Psalm 13, David agonizes over God's seeming dormancy: "How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever?" (v. 1). With words that Jesus quoted on the cross, David pondered: "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Ps. 22:1). Asaph bordered on despair when he asked: "Has God forgotten to be merciful?" (Ps. 77:9). Ethan the Ezrahite voiced the question: "O Lord, where is your former great love?" (Ps. 89:49).
