Breaking The Barriers of Lament

// RECAP

How do we worship God in the middle of deep sorrow and consequences of our own sin?

Last week we followed the story of King David after his grievous sin with Bathsheba, and his heartfelt lament before the Lord.

Through David’s brokenness, fasting, confession, and trust, we see that lament is not a sign of weakness — it is, in fact, the honest cry of a heart still turned toward God.

When we lament, we’re not grumbling in bitterness; we’re choosing to trust God's unchanging character while standing in the tension between pain and promise.

The Character of God

We saw that when Moses asked to see the face of God, God wouldn’t show him his face, for his own safety, but instead allowed him to see his backside.

From this, the goodness of the Lord, passed by and declared the Character of God.

Merciful

Gracious

Slow to Anger

Abounding in Steadfast Love & Faithfulness

Does NOT forsake (leave you, abandon)

Relents from Disaster (does everything He can to not see disaster come to pass)

Something I have brushed over, but not explained in fullness, is where we find these words of Lament.

The Writings

The Bible is made up of several different books or sections.

We have the Old Testament & The New Testament.

Within the Old Testament, we have three main sections:

Torah (first five books of Moses)

Prophets

Writings

Within the Writings we have:

Poetry (Psalms & Lamentations)

Wisdom Literature (Proverbs & Ecclesiastes)

Short Stories (Job & Esther)

Histories (Ezra, Nehemiah, 1 & 2 Chronicles)

The Writings are a portion of scripture that gives us tools to walk out the the covenant that we have entered into with the Lord.

The tool that we have been looking at is worship, specifically lament.

Parallel of the Alabaster Box and the Tear Jar.

Finally in our review is…

A Common Path Through Lament

Turn to God

Complaint made known

Ask for His help

Trust in His action

Praise Him

Tension

In the middle of tribulation, lament is the invitation. Yet fear, anxiety, and worry can rise up like barriers that keep us from bringing our pain to God.

How do we continue or start trusting God in the midst of pain, sorrow, grief?

Let’s look at a portion of the prophet Elijah’s story to see how these barriers can be addressed.

ANSWER ME!

In 1 Kings 18-19 we follow the storyline of one of the greatest god-showdowns to a man running away in fear to the desert for 40 days!

Elijah boldly confront the wicked king of Israel, Ahab. He addresses the areas in his life and reign that have drifted from the commands of God. Specifically that Ahab has allowed for false gods (Baal & Asherah) to setup residence throughout the land of Israel

Elijah then stands boldly on Mount Carmel against 450 prophets of Baal. The prophets of Baal spent all day performing rituals, attempting to get their dead god to show up – yet nothing happens. Elijah steps up and prays the following:

1 Kings 18:36–39 ESV

36 And at the time of the offering of the oblation, Elijah the prophet came near and said, “O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel, and that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your word. 37 Answer me, O Lord, answer me, that this people may know that you, O Lord, are God, and that you have turned their hearts back.” 38 Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. 39 And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces and said, “The Lord, he is God; the Lord, he is God.”

But in the very next chapter, a single threat from Queen Jezebel sent him running for his life. From fire on the mountain to fear in the valley — Elijah went from victory to despair.

He believed he was utterly alone — the last prophet left in Israel — and even prayed to die under a broom tree.

How many times have come out of a storm victorious, to turn around and call it quits?

But observe – in his fear & despair, God sustained him with food and water in the wilderness and gave him strength for the journey.

Elijah make the trek out to Mount Horeb (the same mountain where Moses experienced the Glory of God).

God’s presence passes by Elijah and he experiences a wind, an earthquake, and fire — but the Lord was not in them. Instead, God came near in a gentle whisper.

God met Elijah where he was, not with spectacle, but with presence.

Then God gave Elijah fresh vision — reminding him he was not alone and sending him forward with the next assignment.

Takeaways

Elijah prays to God, “Answer me, oh Lord, Answer me…”

I mentioned this in week one with Psalm 13, but this is a plea unto God his attention.

Elijah is in a situation where he has made massive claims, in faith, about what God is going to show up an do.

This story is so interesting because God doesn’t lead Elijah to take these actions, yet God still shows up!

So feel the tension in his words, “Answer me”

Elijah was defeated by his own words

Elijah sees incredible victory through God, yet one verbal word from the Queen and Elijah is sent running in fear as far away as he can get.

We must weigh the weight of the one who is speaking to us.

The words of God are life!

John 6:68 ESV

68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life,

The Words of Men are tricky!

Proverbs 18:21 ESV

21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.

Proverbs 10:19 ESV

19 When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent.

James 3:8–10 ESV

8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. 10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.

Matthew 12:36–37 ESV

36 I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, 37 for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Psalm 141:3 ESV

3 Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips!

I bring this up because it’s not the words of Jezebel that defeated Elijah - it’s his own!

Elijah believed his own words that he was alone.

Elijah Wasn’t Alone

Although Elijah felt alone, he was comforted by angels, fed and watered twice, and miraculously sustained 40 days in the desert.

In the midst of his lonely feelings, God was right there.

It wasn’t until the Lord spoke in a whisper that Elijah realized how close God truly was.

Elijah Experiences Inner Transformation

When we find ourselves afraid, running, anxious and it can become easy for us to seek a miracle.

We want a quick fix.

A miracle will change our situation, but the presence of God will change me from the inside out.

Elijah brings his pain before the Lord and the Lord answers with his presence.

Lament in the Mountain

Let’s zoom in to Elijah’s time in the mountain.

Listen to Elijah’s words to the Lord…

1 Kings 19:14 ESV

14 He said, “I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.”

Elijah is honest with the Lord and this allows the Lord to speak to Elijah in the same way.

Lament is our pain offered in worship.

We see God’s presence showed up first, then He gave the direction.

The presence of God brought stability.

The word of God brought direction.

It turns out that Elijah wasn’t the only prophet left, there were 7000 more!

Half our fears are the result of ignorance.

Charles Spurgeon

What do we do in the midst of our fear?

REMEMBER GOD’S CHARACTER

Lamentations 3:19–26 ESV

19 Remember my affliction and my wanderings, the wormwood and the gall! 20 My soul continually remembers it and is bowed down within me. 21 But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: 22 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; 23 they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. 24 “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.” 25 The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. 26 It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.

It’s not about hoping in his actions. It’s about placing our hope in HIM.

Fear is A.W.F.U.L.

A – Anxious thoughts that spiral out of control.

W – Worry about what we can’t fix or predict.

F – Fear of what might happen, stealing peace.

U – Unbelief that God is truly in control.

L – Loneliness that comes when we carry it alone instead of casting it on Him.

Our God is A.W.E.S.O.M.E.

A – Abounding in Steadfast Love – God’s covenant love is loyal, never running dry.

W – With Us, Never Forsaking – He is present in our pain and will not abandon His people.

E – Extending Mercy – Compassionate toward the broken and hurting.

S – Slow to Anger – Patient with us in our weakness, doubts, and even complaints.

O – Overflowing with Grace – He gives what we don’t deserve — strength, forgiveness, and hope.

M – Merciful & Faithful – He stays true to His promises and renews His mercy every morning.

E – Ever Relenting from Disaster – God moves toward redemption, not destruction; He turns judgment into salvation.

THE PRESENCE OF GOD DRIVES OUT THE PRESENCE OF FEAR

The remarkable thing about fearing God is that when you fear God, you fear nothing else, whereas if you do not fear God, you fear everything else.

Oswald Chambers (Lecturer and Missionary)

Proverbs 12:25 ESV

25 Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad.

Psalm 55:22 ESV

22 Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.

Jeremiah 17:7–8 ESV

7 “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. 8 He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.”

Colossians 3:15–16 ESV

15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

Philippians 4:4–9 ESV

4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

Strength of the Lord - Psalm 27

Psalm 27 is a Psalm of Lament and is structured as a Chiasm with vs. 8 as the central point that David is trying to make.

Psalm 27:8 ESV

8 You have said, “Seek my face.” My heart says to you, “Your face, Lord, do I seek.”

In the midst of David’s pain and suffering, he hears the Lord say, “Seek my face.” - come and get in my presence. David’s heart - the depths and core of who he is says, “You face do i seek.”

When I am Afraid - Psalm 56

Psalm 56 is also a Psalm of lament written by David while he was alone, seized by the Philistines and pretending to be insane.

He was alone, afraid, and death would seem imminent.

Psalm 56 ESV

To the choirmaster: according to The Dove on Far-off Terebinths. A Miktam of David, when the Philistines seized him in Gath. 1 Be gracious to me, O God, for man tramples on me; all day long an attacker oppresses me; 2 my enemies trample on me all day long, for many attack me proudly. 3 When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. 4 In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me? 5 All day long they injure my cause; all their thoughts are against me for evil. 6 They stir up strife, they lurk; they watch my steps, as they have waited for my life. 7 For their crime will they escape? In wrath cast down the peoples, O God! 8 You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book? 9 Then my enemies will turn back in the day when I call. This I know, that God is for me. 10 In God, whose word I praise, in the Lord, whose word I praise, 11 in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can man do to me? 12 I must perform my vows to you, O God; I will render thank offerings to you. 13 For you have delivered my soul from death, yes, my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of life.

Running to His Presence

We cannot escape his presence.

Psalm 139:7–10 ESV

7 Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? 8 If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! 9 If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, 10 even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.

Exodus 33:14 ESV

14 And he said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

Jesus, before ascending to Heaven leaves us with these words…

Matthew 28:20 ESV

20 …And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Have we reached the end of the age? Then behold, he is still with us.

God, giving instructions as Israel is heading into promise…

Deuteronomy 31:6 ESV

6 Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”

God knows that promise isn’t easy, which is why he tells us up front - I am with you!

Listen to the words that our Father speaks to Israel, with whom we have now been grafted in…

Isaiah 41:8–10 ESV

8 But you, Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, the offspring of Abraham, my friend; 9 you whom I took from the ends of the earth, and called from its farthest corners, saying to you, “You are my servant, I have chosen you and not cast you off”; 10 fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Placing Our Trust in the Lord

Psalm 63 is a Psalm of trust in the Lord.

This may be the hardest step of lament - that we place our trust in God when we are afraid.

This is a Psalm that David wrote while in the wilderness, on the run from someone that was trying to take his life.

Psalm 63 ESV

A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah. 1 O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. 2 So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory. 3 Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. 4 So I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands. 5 My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food, and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips, 6 when I remember you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night; 7 for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy. 8 My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me. 9 But those who seek to destroy my life shall go down into the depths of the earth; 10 they shall be given over to the power of the sword; they shall be a portion for jackals. 11 But the king shall rejoice in God; all who swear by him shall exult, for the mouths of liars will be stopped.

Finally, we arrive at Psalm 23. Another Psalm written by David, but this is not a Psalm devoted to Lament, but rather trusting in God (a part of the lament process).

Psalm 23 ESV

A Psalm of David. 1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. 3 He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.