Lamentations

To lament is to cry out to the Lord about what is happening in life. It is mournful. It speaks of our feelings that we may seek him and find him.

Mark Vroegop in his book, Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy, has observed laments in the bible as having four elements: turn, complain, ask, trust

[Background for Mark and Sarah]

[Our lives]

[Lament in the Psalms]

[Jeremiah]

Lament:

Turn

Complain

Ask

Trust

Turn to the Lord… not be angry with God, but turning to the Lord to talk to him, to speak honestly with him, to begin the process of healing that He alone can give

Complain… again, not being angry with God, but honestly communicating how it feels in the moment

Ask… we will see this element next week

Trust… what is true about the Lord? What have we seen of him in the past? What is the truth about him which he has revealed in scripture?

Lament: Turning to God in the longest lament in the Bible

Lamentations is Jeremiah’s lament, I believe as an example to the people of Judah, to encourage them to lament, and how to approach God in their suffering.

It begins with turning to God in prayer.

Lamentations 1:1–2 NIV

How deserted lies the city, once so full of people! How like a widow is she, who once was great among the nations! She who was queen among the provinces has now become a slave. Bitterly she weeps at night, tears are on her cheeks. Among all her lovers there is no one to comfort her. All her friends have betrayed her; they have become her enemies.

Lament: Complain

As Jeremiah turns to God in prayer, he voices his complaint—the extreme suffering they were going through at the Lord’s hand.

Lamentations 1-2 are acrostic, each line beginning with a letter of the Hebrew Alphabet, speaking of the complete horror that they were living through.

As he voices his complaint, he recognizes that the Lord has done this for a reason.

Why were they living through this?

Lamentations 1:5 NIV

Her foes have become her masters; her enemies are at ease. The Lord has brought her grief because of her many sins. Her children have gone into exile, captive before the foe.

Lamentations 1:18 NIV

“The Lord is righteous, yet I rebelled against his command. Listen, all you peoples; look on my suffering. My young men and young women have gone into exile.

Voicing our Complaints to God helps us to consider the facts

The Reason there is Suffering - Sin

[not all sin is do to our sinful actions and choices]

[but all suffering is do to sin which has broken God’s perfect, good creation]

Our feelings are real while we are suffering, but what is true?

Suffering produces feelings within us which we need to grapple with.

Lamentations 2:5 NIV

The Lord is like an enemy; he has swallowed up Israel. He has swallowed up all her palaces and destroyed her strongholds. He has multiplied mourning and lamentation for Daughter Judah.

Is he an enemy? It feels like it. The recent events show that he is seemingly acting like an enemy.

Lamentations 3:19–21 NIV

I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall. I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me. Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope:

Yet, But - the turning points in the Lament when the realities of the complaint recognize truth.

Lamentations 2:17 NIV

The Lord has done what he planned; he has fulfilled his word, which he decreed long ago. He has overthrown you without pity, he has let the enemy gloat over you, he has exalted the horn of your foes.

Going back to Deuteronomy 27-30.

Last week, we saw the highlight, the main point of Lamentations which is found in Lamentations 3.

Lamentations 3:22–33 NIV

Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.” The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. It is good for a man to bear the yoke while he is young. Let him sit alone in silence, for the Lord has laid it on him. Let him bury his face in the dust— there may yet be hope. Let him offer his cheek to one who would strike him, and let him be filled with disgrace. For no one is cast off by the Lord forever. Though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love. For he does not willingly bring affliction or grief to anyone.

Lament: Complaint → What is true?

Today we want to move on to

Lament: Ask

Mark lists 9 different categories of requests in the laments in Scripture.

“Arise, O LORD!”

“Grant us help.”

“Remember your covenant.”

“Let justice be done.”

“Don’t remember our sins.”

“Restore us!”

“Don’t be silent—listen to me.”

“Teach me.”

“Vindicate me.”

Here in Lamentations we find a few requests.

Lamentations 1:20 NIV

“See, Lord, how distressed I am! I am in torment within, and in my heart I am disturbed, for I have been most rebellious. Outside, the sword bereaves; inside, there is only death.

Lamentations 2:20 NIV

“Look, Lord, and consider: Whom have you ever treated like this? Should women eat their offspring, the children they have cared for? Should priest and prophet be killed in the sanctuary of the Lord?

Lament: Ask - Look, Consider

An appeal to the Lord to not harbor this anger over their sins. like Moses’ appeal to the Lord after their sin of idolatry while he was on the mountain.

Exodus 32:11 NIV

But Moses sought the favor of the Lord his God. “Lord,” he said, “why should your anger burn against your people, whom you brought out of Egypt with great power and a mighty hand?

You graciously chose these people. Do not dishonor your name. Remember your covenant.

This is similar to what Jeremiah wrote in his prophecies:

Jeremiah 14:20–21 NIV

We acknowledge our wickedness, Lord, and the guilt of our ancestors; we have indeed sinned against you. For the sake of your name do not despise us; do not dishonor your glorious throne. Remember your covenant with us and do not break it.

Lament: Turn, Complain, Ask… Trust

Last week, we were working through Lamentations 3, today I want to pick up in verse 34.

Lamentations 3:34–39 NIV

To crush underfoot all prisoners in the land, to deny people their rights before the Most High, to deprive them of justice— would not the Lord see such things? Who can speak and have it happen if the Lord has not decreed it? Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that both calamities and good things come? Why should the living complain when punished for their sins?

Lamentations 3:40–47 NIV

Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord. Let us lift up our hearts and our hands to God in heaven, and say: “We have sinned and rebelled and you have not forgiven. “You have covered yourself with anger and pursued us; you have slain without pity. You have covered yourself with a cloud so that no prayer can get through. You have made us scum and refuse among the nations. “All our enemies have opened their mouths wide against us. We have suffered terror and pitfalls, ruin and destruction.”

Here, Jeremiah is trying to show the people how to Lament, to turn to God, to voice their complaint, to recognize the truth. How to repent.

For God uses suffering to bring us back to himself, or closer to himself.

Then, suddenly we see Jeremiah get very personal.

There there is a switch to 1st person singular.

He uses his own lament as a pattern for the people to see true lament.

Lamentations 3:48–56 NIV

Streams of tears flow from my eyes because my people are destroyed. My eyes will flow unceasingly, without relief, until the Lord looks down from heaven and sees. What I see brings grief to my soul because of all the women of my city. Those who were my enemies without cause hunted me like a bird. They tried to end my life in a pit and threw stones at me; the waters closed over my head, and I thought I was about to perish. I called on your name, Lord, from the depths of the pit. You heard my plea: “Do not close your ears to my cry for relief.”

Jeremiahs’ Complaint

This is similar to Psalm 130.

Psalm 130:1–2 NIV

Out of the depths I cry to you, Lord; Lord, hear my voice. Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy.

Jeremiah’s Request: “Do not close your ears to my cry for relief!”

Psalm 130:3–8 NIV

If you, Lord, kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness, so that we can, with reverence, serve you. I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope. I wait for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning. Israel, put your hope in the Lord, for with the Lord is unfailing love and with him is full redemption. He himself will redeem Israel from all their sins.

Lament: Trust

Active Waiting is what Mark calls the final part of Lament. Trust God. While we go through the suffering, it can seem never ending. It can feel like God is not listening. It can feel like God is no where to be found.

What do we do? We turn to God. We complain. We come back to the truth. We ask. We trust - which means we wait, watching for the Lord. We keep our eyes fixed on him and his salvation.

Lamentations 3:56 NIV

You heard my plea: “Do not close your ears to my cry for relief.”

Jeremiah’s Request: Help!

God’s response:

Lamentations 3:57 NIV

You came near when I called you, and you said, “Do not fear.”

Lament’s result: God is near, “Do not fear.”

God hears our cries.

Psalm 115:1–2 NIV

Not to us, Lord, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness. Why do the nations say, “Where is their God?”

Isaiah 41:10 NIV

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Isaiah 41:14 NIV

Do not be afraid, you worm Jacob, little Israel, do not fear, for I myself will help you,” declares the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.

Isaiah 43:1–2 NIV

But now, this is what the Lord says— he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.

Revelation 2:10 NIV

Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown.

Lament: Turn, Complain, Ask, Trust

Back to Jeremiah… He has Lamented. He has turned and complained. He has asked.

Lamentations 3:58 NIV

You, Lord, took up my case; you redeemed my life.

Lament’s result: God’s salvation is real

Jeremiah 51:36 NIV

Therefore this is what the Lord says: “See, I will defend your cause and avenge you; I will dry up her sea and make her springs dry.

Psalm 34:22 NIV

The Lord will rescue his servants; no one who takes refuge in him will be condemned.

Jeremiah asks again...

Lamentations 3:59 NIV

Lord, you have seen the wrong done to me. Uphold my cause!

Jeremiah’s Request: Justice!

Lamentations 3:60–63 NIV

You have seen the depth of their vengeance, all their plots against me. Lord, you have heard their insults, all their plots against me— what my enemies whisper and mutter against me all day long. Look at them! Sitting or standing, they mock me in their songs.

Lord see what the are doing! This is not right!

Lamentations 3:64–66 NIV

Pay them back what they deserve, Lord, for what their hands have done. Put a veil over their hearts, and may your curse be on them! Pursue them in anger and destroy them from under the heavens of the Lord.

Next week...