Lamentations.

Introduction:

Today’s message is a hard one to preach. It is a message that many preachers would rather not preach. Why? Because it is a very dark passage of scripture. Filled with despair, grief and sorrow. One that would maybe cause someone to think that because of its darkness, it should not be part of the bible. As we talked last week, it was very evident that Job was utterly crushed under the weight of losing everything including his health.

Satan had afflicted Job with a ferocious blow of evil. But Satan was not nearly done with him. He is unrelenting in how happily he loves to try and destroy the soul of a man.

Martin Luther gave a parable in which the devil was listening to his demons report their progress in destroying the souls of men. One evil spirit said “there was a company of Christians crossing the desert and I loosed the lions upon them. Soon the sands of the Desert were strewn with their mangled corpses. “But what good is that?” barked Satan “the lions destroyed their bodies but their souls were saved. It is their souls I am after.” Then another unclean spirit gave his evil report “There was a great company of Christian pilgrims sailing through the Sea on a vessel. I sent a great wind which drove the ship on the rocks and every Christian aboard was drowned.” But Satan retorted “what good is that? Their bodies were drowned in a sea but their souls are saved. It is their souls I am after.” Then a third fallen angel stepped forward to give his fiendish report “For 10 years I have been trying to cast one particular Christian into a deep despair and depression. At last I have succeeded.” And with that report the corridors of hell rang with shouts of triumph. The sinister mission had been accomplished. The soul of a believer had been defeated.

Even though this is fiction, this is our enemy’s goal. In varying degrees, this is the reality of every saint born of God. Some will fight despair and depression for much of their lives. For others it may only be for a season. But all of us at some point of our walk with Christ have to deal with lament. What is lament? To lament is to express deep regret, grief or sorrow. It can be perceived as just complaining to those who hear the one in pain. That would be in error as it is the weary storm tossed soul trying to wrestle with their great sorrow and tribulation. We can lament through words or actions. This is such a part of our lives since the fall in the garden of Eden that major portions of Scripture deal with this reality. Over a third of the psalms are laments. We have a whole book of the bible called Lamentations. Jeremiah is known well for his laments over Israel’s sin. God laments over the evil in this world. Jesus laments over Jerusalem and their rebellious hearts. Paul laments over his suffering in persecution.

This is where I think western culture has done a great damage in the church. Positive thinking, “suck it up buttercup”, men don’t cry and many other teachings have caused many people to either hide their feelings or find a way to be distracted by work or entertainment or to just pretend that our feelings of sorrow just don’t exist. But this would be to distort the great reality of suffering well.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

I think you get the point. This is where I think western culture has done a great damage to the church. Positive thinking, “suck it up buttercup”, men don’t cry and many other teachings have caused many people to either hide their feelings or find a way to be distracted by work or entertainment or to just pretend that our feelings of sorrow just don’t exist. But this would be to distort the great reality of suffering well.

As we will see in this message, Job didn’t suffer well. Time had elapsed, he was cracking under the sheer weightiness of sorrow and grief. Yet, as we will see through this book, God never disciplines Job for making the statements he made. I think God’s silence on this shows his mercy, compassion and love for us in our sorrow.

For today, I simply want to guide us through Job’s pain and anguish. Then I want to share how Jesus has also entered into our pain and sorrow and show how this is helpful in our times of suffering.

Point #1 - Lament of three friends.

In the last three verses of chapter 2, Job’s three friends had heard of how greatly their friend had suffered. Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar made an appointment to travel some good distance to show sympathy and give comfort. When they saw him from a distance, they did not even recognize him. He was so disfigured from the sores, probably cringing in pain plus he was probably covered in soot and ash from being in the city dump. Seeing him in that pitiful state they raise their voices and wept, tearing their clothes and sprinkling dust upon themselves. This was the way their culture showed sympathy and compassion for the grief of one they loved. They then sat with Job in the ashes and didn’t say a word, for they saw the suffering of Job was very great. They lamented along with Job for 7 days and 7 nights. They indeed grieved with those who grieve.

They had come to comfort Job. They lamented along with Job for 7 days and 7 nights. They indeed grieved with those who grieve.

Point #2 - Lament of Job.

Job breaks his silence by opening his mouth and cursing the day of his birth. Where most of us like to have a festive day on our birthday, celebrating it with family and friends, Job had a desire to have this day completely removed from the calendar. (3) He states that even the day that it was announced “we are going to have a baby” would perish. Anything to do with how he came about in this world, he wanted God not to seek it or shine light upon it (4).

Job then adds descriptive language of cursing the day of his birth with clouds of gloom and deep darkness. May it be black as coal, let no one rejoice in it, let it not be remembered by anyone. Rather let it be a barren day, where no life takes its first breath in it. Then (8), he says to let those who curse, curse this day. Much like Balaam who was a professional prophet who was paid to curse Israel (). Job goes on to wish that the stars would remain black on that day, nor the sun rise in the morning of it because it did not shut the doors of my mother’s womb, nor hide trouble from my eyes (10).

Next, Job starts to ask questions of “Why”. He wonders why he did not die at birth, why did the knees receive me and the breasts nurse him. If he had died at birth, he would have slept and been quiet. He would have laid with the kings and counsellors of the earth. He would have laid with those who had built vast amount of treasures. He would have been comfortable and away from all this evil that has come upon him.

Why (16) was I not stillborn as infants that never see the light? There in the grave, even the wicked cease from troubling others. The weary souls find rest from their long days. Prisoners find their escape as they no longer hear their taskmaster. In the grave, both the small and great dwell there and the slave is free from his master.

Why did the light of day ever shine on the soul that is in misery (20), or who is bitter in soul? When death is searched for earnestly like hidden treasure but it evades him. What joy it would be to those who find the grave and put this miserable life behind them.

Why is light given to a man whose way is hidden, whom God has hedged in (23)? Job is here feeling as though God himself who protected him with the hedge against evil has now kept him from escaping the evil that is tormenting him.

Job’s weeping and wailing come to him instead of food, there is no hunger but sorrow. His tears flow out like water and there is no answers. Job’s questions of why find no answers. This is a man who is greatly discouraged, greatly afflicted, and all that he eats is bitter sorrow and all he drinks is a cup filled with misery and pain.

Then he goes lower yet in reminding himself that what he had feared would happen to him had in fact occurred. Maybe in the past he had worried that all that he had may be taken from him and now it came to pass. All this is just vanity. What’s the point of living if it just gets taken away?

Then in (26) he exclaims that he is not at ease, nor is he quiet, he has no rest, yet trouble comes nonetheless.

Despair had overwhelmed this mans soul. Time had elapsed and his resolve was wearing down under the constant onslaught of Satan and his minions. His friends could see that he was knocking on death’s door so why did it not come? Life was a soggy blanket on a chilly night. No sign of comfort, no rest, no peace. Due to his pain and suffering, he was now losing perspective of reality.

Despair had overwhelmed this mans soul. For someone to be this low in the valley of deep darkness, it bears noting a few things that had led to this. First of all time had elapsed. Someone can maybe be strong in the moment of tragedy due to God’s grace but over time, the loneliness, new responsibilities,

Second of all, the three friends had come and were silent. They were obviously distraught about their friend Job in thinking that at any moment, he would fall over and die. Yet he did not die, day after day the troubles of this world covered him like a soggy wet blanket.

He knew better. He knew that God gives and takes away. He knew that God was sovereign over all things. He knew who blessed him with a fortune and great family. He knew that God alone grants salvation and forgiveness of sins. Yet now he began wondering. Why if I am about to die, why does death not come to me? Is God not listening to me anymore? I didn’t deserve this hardship, why was I ever born? Job was now forgetting the blessings he had, he was forgetting that he was the created and not the Creator, he was forgetting God’s sovereignty. He was losing perspective of reality as pitch blackness surrounded him like a dungeon of doom and gloom. He lamented his life now, and he only saw that death would somehow solve his despair.

One thing I want to interject here for us to notice. In no way, shape or form is Job contemplating suicide. He is never thinking about ending his life like Judas in hanging himself. He is simply wondering why death had not come when his life is filled with such despair and hopelessness. So with our culture seeking to end life because of depression and despair, let us be reminded that we need to have a safe place with safe people to dialogue and pray with. If you have ever considered this please talk to someone. Darkness like this is dangerous when you feel you are alone.

Had Job gone too far in this? Yes he did. But as I said in my introduction, God’s silence on this shows the mercy of God in his time of great suffering and pain. I think that we can learn much from this and have mercy on those who are grieving. Now it will serve us well if we see how Jesus handled suffering and grief.

Point #3 - The Lament of Jesus.

One of the most blessed things we can remember especially in our deepest and darkest valley is the miracle of Jesus coming to earth as the God-Man. The incarnation of Jesus taking on human flesh means that in everything we go through in life, he has also experienced first hand. Whether it was experiencing the love of God or the temptation from Satan, or grieving in the loss of loved ones or suffering the most pain imaginable, Jesus perfectly endured through it all. Thus as , states

14 Since then we have (we are unified to) a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.

When Jesus heard that Lazarus had become sick in , he delayed two days so that the glory of God would be revealed in Jesus as the Son of God. Now he loved Lazarus and his sisters Mary and Martha. His delay was not that he was unsympathetic. Rather, the death of Lazarus and the grief of the two sisters after served a purpose in the divine plan of God. His ways are above our ways in perfect wisdom. Yet upon Jesus arriving at the tomb four days after he died, the sisters met him and proclaimed that if he had just been there earlier, he would not have died. They knew the divine power of God to heal. In seeing Mary, Martha and all the friends and family grieving and weeping he was greatly troubled in his spirit. He lamented over the curse of death as a result of sin. He saw the pain in their eyes and he wept. He knew what deep sorrow was.

Upon asking where they had laid his body, he told them to remove the stone. Jesus lifted his eyes to heaven and prayed “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me…Lazarus, come out!” Out of the tomb in his grave clothes he stumbled out from the darkness of the grave into the light. The Son of God is the resurrection and the life.

Our faithful High Priest is Jesus. He knows what you are going through right now for he has been in the trenches with us. He has worn your shoes, suffered your pain and deep anguish. He can be trusted for he knows your sorrow. Since Jesus is life, he will bring you through from your despair and darkness and bring you into the light of grace, peace and hope. As a dear brother mentioned to me this week, a worm becomes a beautiful butterfly only through much wrestling in the cocoon.

As we think about the Passion week leading to Good Friday, Jesus laments over Jerusalem as they had just welcomed the true King into his city. But as a result of the Jewish leaders hardness of hearts they rebelled against King Jesus. They rejected the love of Christ Jesus even though he would have gathered and protected their children like a hen protects her brood. Have you rejected Jesus as your only Saviour, refusing to bend your knee to his lordship over your life? Without Christ you will never find peace with God. Your suffering in hell will be worse than anything you could imagine. Look to Jesus today, trust in him as your Saviour and you will inherit eternal life.

In the garden of Gethsemane Jesus laments again with such intensity and agony that his sweat was drops of blood. It was pouring out onto the ground as he cried out “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.”

Since Jesus knows what lamenting along with us is, the Hebrew writer goes on to say: 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. As a Christian, is there any better encouragement to our souls than this?

Our faithful High Priest is Jesus. He knows what you are going through right now for he has been in the trenches with us. He has worn your shoes, suffered your pain and deep anguish. He can be trusted for he knows your sorrow. Since Jesus is life, he will bring you through from your despair and darkness and bring you into the light of his grace, peace and hope. As a dear brother mentioned to me this week, a worm becomes a beautiful butterfly only through much wrestling in the cocoon.

16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

A better day is a comin’, a great resurrection where we will surely see our Saviour face to face where there will be no more sorrow or pain or loss. Just eternal glory in the worship of our Lord who died for us so now we may have life in him!!

Application:

Application:

I wish to leave you with a few ways that may be helpful when we are going through suffering or walking with those in dark days. As we see from Job, he was a righteous and blameless man. Yet over time we can see that even the strongest saint can fall into deep despair.

In your suffering let us follow the pattern of the psalmists.

Cry out to God. 6  I am weary with my moaning; every night I flood my bed with tears; I drench my couch with my weeping. Like Job, the Psalmist laments over their trials, sorrow and affliction. Pour out your heart to God.

6  I am weary with my moaning; every night I flood my bed with tears; I drench my couch with my weeping. Psalm 6:6

every night I flood my bed with tears;

Ask God to help. Once you have poured out your grief to God like Jesus did in the garden ask the only One who can help 12  O God, be not far from me; O my God, make haste to help me! ().

I drench my couch with my weeping.

12  O God, be not far from me;

O my God, make haste to help me!

Respond in trust and praise. Proclaim God’s infinite character, his promises and his willingness to help. Praise him that he is the God of glory and nothing is too hard for him. 12  I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever. ().

12  I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart,

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

and I will glorify your name forever.

In knowing this reality, if this is you, my heart goes out to you. My shoes are different than yours but there are similarities. Don’t let your discouragement lead you to lose perspective of reality. Don’t think that you are alone. Find someone you can trust

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

Next let us look at three ways we can encourage those in their grief.

Be there for those who suffer. Like the three friends who came to Job in the midst of his suck, let us grieve with those who are grieving. Sometimes, the best thing we can do is just be there for them. Be patient with them as they wrestle through these dark murky waters.

Be careful with our answers. Too often and I am guilty of this, we can think that when people in their sorrow ask the big question of why this is happening, we think we have to give the answer. When people lament, the questions of why come out of a heart that is broken. Even if you have the right answer, do you honestly think the response is going to be “Wow, that is great. Now I can get on with life.” I don’t think so. Rather, let us carefully remind them of God’s promises of being near us always and that he knows our pain. The promises will be much more helpful in giving assurance of the love of our Heavenly Father even though it may be hard to see at the time.

Pray for them. Let us remember our brothers and sisters that are in tough times. Pray for them with fervency and faith. Let them know you are praying for them.

Conclusion:

How can we grieve with those who grieve?

We may be tempted to quickly correct someone if they say something that makes us very uncomfortable. Let us be

Job was sitting in the ashes of the garbage dump lamenting over how his life was upside down. His friends had come to console him as they thought he was going to die at any moment. Yet he did not die so in his deep anguish he curses the day of his birth and wonders why death was fleeing him. Job did go too far, but can we blame him? Let us be reminded when we go through our pain that we can honestly and reverently ask God hard questions. Let us remember that this is a safe place to wrestle through our pain. Let us remember Jesus who knows our pain and sorrow and helps us in our time of need. Let us worship the Lamb who was slain for us, who knows us intimately and will someday bring us home to glory.

Martin Luther struggled greatly with depression, but he also knew that God is sovereign and loved him. He wrote the famous hymn in one of his lowest times “A Mighty Fortress” Hear these beautiful words:

A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing; Our helper He amid the flood, of mortal ills prevailing. For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe. His craft and power are great and armed with cruel hate on earth is not his equal. That word above all earthly powers, no thanks to them abideth; The Spirit and the gifts are ours through Him who with us sideth. Let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also; the body they may kill; God’s truth abideth still; His kingdom is forever.

Remembering truth of God and his great promises will help us as we make our pilgrimage through this life. May your heart be full of hope even in the hardest of times for Jesus is alive and reigns in glory.