But now you have spurned and rejected him; you are full of wrath against your anointed. You have renounced the covenant with your servant; you have defiled his crown in the dust. You have broken through all his walls; you have laid his strongholds in ruins. All who pass by plunder him; he has become the scorn of his neighbours. You have exalted the right hand of his foes; you have made all his enemies rejoice. Moreover, you have turned back the edge of his sword, and you have not supported him in battle. You have removed the sceptre from his hand, and hurled his throne to the ground. You have cut short the days of his youth; you have covered him with shame. (Psalm 89: 38-45)

Faced with disaster the descendents of David perceive that God has withdrawn. They see in their pain God's punishment. They see God's hand in the ascent of their enemies.

It seems to me that, rather, the enemy can succeed despite God's help.

Perhaps the descendents had misunderstood God's intention. Perhaps at a crucial decision-point fear overcame faith. Perhaps on a particular day evil confounded good.

The enemy of good is creative, capable, and strong. On any particular day, the enemy many be stronger than we are, even at our most faithful.

Too often when we perceive God is absent it is because we have replaced God with something of our making: fear, pride, anger, or despair.