Lament?

Psalm 3:1 CSB

Lord, how my foes increase! There are many who attack me.

INTRO—

“Godly Sorrow” [Good Grief…Charlie Brown]

The Bible speaks directly to the need and benefit of godly sorrow.

In the Old Testament we find a significant emphasis on LAMENT.

A dood definition for lament is: “expressing sorrow, mourning, or regret regarding a situation—biblically, this includes songs of sorrow brought on by: bereavement, personal trouble, national disaster, or God’s judgment.”

[[Also note, in the biblical laments of the Psalms especially, that the subject in focus is unresolved. Such is the case for all.]]

We, as a church, face a situation of sorrow, right now…regarding our finances and ministry. I believe we do well in turning to the pages of the Bible to learn more about LAMENT and our Lord’s desire for us as his people regarding this mindset within our current challenges.

LAMENT, LAMENT [About Lament]

SOOO…Where do we see the Bible spotlight lament?

In the Major Prophets an entire book written by the Prophet Jeremiah is titled: LAMENTATIONS (We will be looking at this book a few times in the coming weeks).

[[The ‘weeping prophet;’ a strong word AND a compassionate heart.]]

In the PSALMS we see LAMENT.

Depending on whose categorizations you read, anywhere from 58-67 of the psalms are laments (that’s 39%-45% of the Book of Psalms)

The largest subset category of psalms is the Individual Lament category (containing 45-50 psalms).

The other category of Psalms upon which we’ll focus in this series involve group (community) laments.

Psalms of Lament (especial individual) tend to follow this format:

Invocation (Opening Address; A Cry to God; Hey GOD…)

Complaint (Description of Trouble; The Lament; How long will this situation continue (etc.)…)

Petition (Asking for God to Act; The Petition; Please rescue me from (etc.)…)

Conclusion/Confession (Profession of Trust in God with Promise to Praise Him; The Promise; [Though this hurts,] I still look to you, Lord and I will praise you again.)

LAMENT, INDIVIDUAL [Psalm 3]

[Listen to these words (All of Psalm 3 including superscription)]

Superscription: Historically = 2 Samuel 15.1-17.29.

Invocation— [3.1a] “Lord”

Complaint— [3.1b-2]

Confession— [3.3]

Petition— [3.4-5]

Complaint— [3.6; along with Confession]

Petition— [3.7]

Conclusion— [3.8]

***NOTICE: Throughout this psalm, the prayer runs in circles… Have you ever felt this way??

Also notice the ‘landing place.’ Sometimes we have to run incircles or rehearse the situation over a few times before we get back to where we belong.

LAMENT, GROUP [Psalm 12]

[Listen to these words (All of Psalm 12 including superscription)]

Superscription: Psalm of David as part of the group in an undetermined (unkown by us) situation. [“US” (2x) — in 12.7]

Lamenting the ‘group think’ wickedness of the society (culture) around them.

“Help, Lord”

“No faithful one remains”

They lie to each other

They ‘flatter’

They are boastful

They reject any authority

They devastate the needy, the poor

They prowl around

What is worthless is exalted by the human race

May the Lord cut off flattering lips and boastful tongues!

The Lord will rise up and provide safety for the hurting, the oppressed

Also, he will guard and protect ‘us’ from this generation forever

***Note the focus on the power & purity of God’s words [12.6]

So, what God says amid this challenge to & among his people hits with a pure, righteous justice.

CONCL—

LAMENT…is good and healthy.

This heart-felt, genuine expression of hurt and sorrow...brings opportunity for clarity, conviction, and certainty of God’s presence and purpose in our lives.

FOR US (CBC…Finances, Et Al.)

2 Corinthians 7:8–13 “For even if I grieved you with my letter, I don’t regret it. And if I regretted it—since I saw that the letter grieved you, yet only for a while—I now rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because your grief led to repentance. For you were grieved as God willed, so that you didn’t experience any loss from us. For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, but worldly grief produces death. For consider how much diligence this very thing—this grieving as God wills—has produced in you: what a desire to clear yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what deep longing, what zeal, what justice! In every way you showed yourselves to be pure in this matter. So even though I wrote to you, it was not because of the one who did wrong, or because of the one who was wronged, but in order that your devotion to us might be made plain to you in the sight of God. For this reason we have been comforted. In addition to our own comfort, we rejoiced even more over the joy Titus had, because his spirit was refreshed by all of you.” [U = vv. 10-11]

2 Corinthians 8:1–12 “We want you to know, brothers and sisters, about the grace of God that was given to the churches of Macedonia: During a severe trial brought about by affliction, their abundant joy and their extreme poverty overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. I can testify that, according to their ability and even beyond their ability, of their own accord, they begged us earnestly for the privilege of sharing in the ministry to the saints, and not just as we had hoped. Instead, they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us by God’s will. So we urged Titus that just as he had begun, so he should also complete among you this act of grace. Now as you excel in everything—in faith, speech, knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love for us—excel also in this act of grace. I am not saying this as a command. Rather, by means of the diligence of others, I am testing the genuineness of your love. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ: Though he was rich, for your sake he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich. And in this matter I am giving advice because it is profitable for you, who began last year not only to do something but also to want to do it. Now also finish the task, so that just as there was an eager desire, there may also be a completion, according to what you have. For if the eagerness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have.” [U1 = vv. 2-4; U2 = vv. 11-12]

INVITATION:

Salvation

Tithing & Giving

Lament

Psalm 12:8 CSB

The wicked prowl all around, and what is worthless is exalted by the human race.