Lamenting Together with our Church Family

Bible Introduction (2m)

Half full or half empty?

Jug, water and food colouring

Picnic > rain. // Psalm 22 (Lisa) - David half full or half empty?

Introduction (5m)

In the midst of crisis and lament, we are to look for the stars

Response when God seems silent. Last week - cry out. This week invite another response:

As the farthest reach of our love for each other is loving our enemies, as the farthest reach of God's love for us is loving us at our most unlovable and unlovely, so the farthest reach of our love for God is loving him when in almost every way that matters we can neither see him nor hear him ... when the worst of the wilderness for us is the fear that he has forsaken us if indeed he exists at all. (Frederick Buechner)

As God’s Family, we can do this together

Our example is the psalmist.

Despite his difficulties, he chooses to recount God’s faithfulness, not just to himself but to God’s people.

Explanation (5m)

The psalmist laments in the midst of serious difficulty - glass half empty

Psalm 22:1–2 NLT

My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? Why are you so far away when I groan for help? Every day I call to you, my God, but you do not answer. Every night I lift my voice, but I find no relief.

Seemingly deserted by God

Alone/Scorned and despised/ Surrounded by enemies/At point of death - yet God remains silent.

Clear idea of what David was thinking and feeling

Abandoned. Surrounded. Desperate. Overwhelmed.

Cries out three times - but God seems to ignore him

per Buechner - David chooses to hang on to God: “My God.”

Psalmist chooses to remember God’s faithfulness in the past - glass half full

Psalm 22:3–5 NLT

Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel. Our ancestors trusted in you, and you rescued them. They cried out to you and were saved. They trusted in you and were never disgraced.

Faithful to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and many other ancestors that went before him.

In crisis, God’s family can help as you remember situations where God has been faithful.

As God answers, the psalmist turns to gathered worship

Psalm 22:22 NLT

I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters. I will praise you among your assembled people.

Psalmist chooses to worship God in gathered worship

To reveal God’s love for him and his love for God. // To reveal God’s true character and nature.

Encourages the rest of the congregation to join him.

Praise/honour/revere God. // Trust/depend on him.

Testifies to God’s faithfulness

Psalm 22:24 NLT

For he has not ignored or belittled the suffering of the needy. He has not turned his back on them, but has listened to their cries for help.

Congregation must have been strengthened in hope as they listened and joined.

Application (5m)

God promises to listen, so let’s gather and pray our laments and cries together

Many faced difficult circumstances - in past 12-14 months and at other times

Some may have felt God was absent at times. // But like psalmist can find hope and support in worshipping community. // Whatever going through, your church family here every Sunday proclaiming God’s righteous power in worship.

Sometimes, when my faith is undermined by circumstances, when tempted to despair, best thing I can do is place myself in my church family

They will praise him even when I feel I can’t. His mighty acts are proclaimed even if I don’t see him acting in my situation. He is present among his people even when he may seem absent from me.

And as we meet together, many of us can testify to his faithfulness in the past and when our hope was answered or when it will be answered

Ability to praise him even when he is most distant/absent can be a testimony to others of his enduring presence.

Your testimony can give us all hope for future.

Let’s pray hope and God’s love and compassion for each other:

Next Steps

SB 755 - God of comfort and compassion

God of comfort and compassion, God of wisdom, grace and power, Hear our earnest intercession In this quiet evening hour. Strengthen all who fight thy battles In this land and lands afar, Be companion, friend and shepherd Whereso?er thy children are. 2 Some we love bear heavy burdens, Some have wandered from the way; Be their guide, and their Deliverer, Heavenly Father, now we pray. O?er our world so filled with sorrow, Fear and hunger, pain and strife, Shed thy light of hope and mercy, Gift of love, eternal life. 3 Sovereign Lord, we bow before thee, Thou art merciful and kind; Our petitions now presenting, All we need in thee we find. Lord, we seek thy strength, thy guidance, And the Holy Spirit?s dower; Grant thy fortitude and courage In temptation?s threatening hour. 4 May thy grace and peace o?ershadow Those for whom we pray tonight; May thy mighty arm uphold them; They are precious in thy sight. Lord, for answered prayer we thank thee, Thou art good in all thy ways; With thanksgiving we adore thee, Fill our hearts with love and praise. Doris N. Rendell (1896-1990) © The General of The Salvation Army. Used By Permission. CCL Licence No. 30158 Copied from The Song Book of The Salvation Army Song Number 755