Ask Boldly

What are we asking for?

How are we asking?

Psalm 22 ESV

To the choirmaster: according to The Doe of the Dawn. A Psalm of David. 1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning? 2 O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest. 3 Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel. 4 In you our fathers trusted; they trusted, and you delivered them. 5 To you they cried and were rescued; in you they trusted and were not put to shame. 6 But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by mankind and despised by the people. 7 All who see me mock me; they make mouths at me; they wag their heads; 8 “He trusts in the Lord; let him deliver him; let him rescue him, for he delights in him!” 9 Yet you are he who took me from the womb; you made me trust you at my mother’s breasts. 10 On you was I cast from my birth, and from my mother’s womb you have been my God. 11 Be not far from me, for trouble is near, and there is none to help. 12 Many bulls encompass me; strong bulls of Bashan surround me; 13 they open wide their mouths at me, like a ravening and roaring lion. 14 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax; it is melted within my breast; 15 my strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to my jaws; you lay me in the dust of death. 16 For dogs encompass me; a company of evildoers encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet— 17 I can count all my bones— they stare and gloat over me; 18 they divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots. 19 But you, O Lord, do not be far off! O you my help, come quickly to my aid! 20 Deliver my soul from the sword, my precious life from the power of the dog! 21 Save me from the mouth of the lion! You have rescued me from the horns of the wild oxen! 22 I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will praise you: 23 You who fear the Lord, praise him! All you offspring of Jacob, glorify him, and stand in awe of him, all you offspring of Israel! 24 For he has not despised or abhorred the affliction of the afflicted, and he has not hidden his face from him, but has heard, when he cried to him. 25 From you comes my praise in the great congregation; my vows I will perform before those who fear him. 26 The afflicted shall eat and be satisfied; those who seek him shall praise the Lord! May your hearts live forever! 27 All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations shall worship before you. 28 For kingship belongs to the Lord, and he rules over the nations. 29 All the prosperous of the earth eat and worship; before him shall bow all who go down to the dust, even the one who could not keep himself alive. 30 Posterity shall serve him; it shall be told of the Lord to the coming generation; 31 they shall come and proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn, that he has done it.

Davids complaints are not cul-de-sacs of sorrow but bridges that lead him to God’s character. This is why we love the Psalms, especially lament psalms! They anchor us to the yet of God’s character (p. 59).

The character of God, combined with the desperation of pain, pushes David to be bold (p. 60).

Hebrews 4:14–16 ESV

14 Since then we have 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. 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.

But What Do We Ask   For? Beyond Psalm 22, there are many types of requests in the lament psalms. The uniqueness of painful circumstances is reflected in the variety of bold requests. These pain-filled petitions in lament are as diverse as the stories of the people who will read this book (p. 61).

Lament is an expansive prayer language. It can be your companion through a wide spectrum of struggles and challenges. God invites us, in every season and through every pain, to lay out our needs— to   call upon him with confidence. (pp. 65-66).

Lament invites us to ask boldly. We are given permission to lay out our pain and to call on God to intervene. This third step in lament moves us from why to who. The wide variety of requests in the lament psalms help us to see that no matter what the pain or how long the struggle, we need to keep asking (p. 68).

Keep asking— boldly. And then move to the final step in lament: choosing to trust.

Reflection Questions

1.   What would happen if a person stopped the lament process with complaint and didn’t move toward asking boldly?

2.   Do you have a personal experience similar to mine with Bernie? How did the confidence of another believer’s prayer help your faith?

3.   How can bold requests move us from focusing on why to focusing on who? Why is that important?

4.   Why is the word yet so important in Psalm   22? Write out your own sentence expressing pain but also including a personal statement that moves through yet to who God   is.

5.   Review the four requests in Psalm   22 and the nine categories. Which prayers are most meaningful to you, and   why?

6.   In light of the present struggle you are facing, what bold request( s) do you need to pray?

7.   How might a community of believers be helpful in praying boldly?

8.   How could this chapter change the way you help a person who is grieving and struggling?

Vroegop, Mark. Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy (pp. 68-70). Crossway. Kindle Edition.