Outline: Lamenting from a the Broken Heart | Lamentations 2:1–22

Title: Learning to Lament: Dealing with the Broken Heart [What do I do with a heart broken because of God's righteous anger?]

Text: Lamentations 2:1-22

Series: Learning to Lament

Date: 09/05/21

Introduction:

The Image

In Season #2 of the drama series The Chosen, the producers add artistic creativity to the story of Mary Magdalene. For most of the episodes she had been a faithful follower of Jesus Christ, but in a moment of crisis, she is depicted as returning to her vices of drinking and gambling in order to cope with her situation. In the drama series, when Peter and Matthew find her, she has a tension brewing within her. She knows she has messed up. She is crying and feels as though Jesus would not want her back. It is in those moments that she reveals the brokenness of a woman who is heart-broken over her own sin.

Broken over God’s response to personal sin: (Psalm 51:17). It was not only his own sin but earlier in the same chapter he admitted that God has broken his bones (Psalm 51:8).

Broken over God’s response to sin cosmically: Other hearts are broken because of the dragnet of God’s anger over sin.

The scripture is full of examples: Joseph, Ruth, Daniel, Jeremiah, and Esther.

Whether the broken heart is because of a personal sin struggle or the dragnet of God’s anger against sin — there is real internal pain that is associated.

The Subject

Remember that lament is:

Lament is an expression of deep sorrow that exposes confidence in God’s steadfast love and in hope in God’s sure justice.

But what Lamentations 2 is going to teach us is that in learning to lament we must learn to express grief from our broken hearts by faith in our righteous Lord.

Need:

Generation Z are children who were born between 1999 - 2015 [Generation Z: The Culture, Beliefs and Motivations Shaping the Next Generation, (Barna Group and Research 360 Institute, 2018) p. 15]

"nomophobia" or a feeling of anxiety anytime they are separated from their phone

"Social media allows them to create net- worked communities where they actively take part in self-expression and identity formation." (Ibid, p. 19)

Two sinful practices:

(1) Attempting to express the best self image on social media (often a fabrication)

(2) Expressing through technology (i.e. cell phones, messengers apps...etc) words that we would not say to a persons face and/or gossip about other people with the allusion that we are not accountable.

Problem for All:

Problematic expression of hurt - media/tech

Proper expression of hurt/pain

Is there a biblical way to deal with frustration, hurt, and injustice resulting from either sin in a fallen world or cosmic sin?

Text:

Lamentations 2:11-12 shows the deep hurt of these people, and the rest of the chapter will show us...

Preview:

What the broken hearted must (1) believe, (2) hear, and (3) express in learning to lament.

Kid’s Pause: Sadness is part of life, but the Bible teaches us how to respond when we are sad.

Body:

What do I do with a heart broken because of God's righteous anger?

(1) Believe in your heart the truth about the LORD (v. 1-10)

Statement of Idea: The LORD'S anger is active and is based in is His righteous character.

Illustration:

The Golden Calf. Listen to the words of Yahweh. Exodus 32:10 - His anger and activity go together.

Exodus 32:10 KJV 1900

10 Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them: and I will make of thee a great nation.

Explanation:

A. Lamentations 2:1-10 The LORD is the One who brought about the affliction and suffering of his people (II Chronicles 36:14-21).

B. The day of the Lord's anger (Lamentations 2:1, 3, 21-22). The anger of the Lord is the indignation that he has unleashed against sin. The LORD hates sin.

We have a quandary here. How come God gets to hate, but if we hate, Jesus says it is murder?

C. The LORD’S Anger is Because of His Perfect Righteousness

D. The Name of the LORD: Adon (2:1-2,5,18,19) is the Master. This name presumes a relationship.

D.i. Yahweh (2:6,7,8,9,17,20, 22) marks righteousness (see Lamentations 1:18). The meaning of this is that for God to remain true to his nature, he must do something about unrighteousness.

Wayne Grudem: "God’s righteousness means that God always acts in accordance with what is right and is himself the final standard of what is right."

This means that God must always treat people according to what they deserve or he is acting contrary to his nature.

[App: Not, “Why has this happened to me; but why doesn’t this happen to me all of the time? OR “Why is there any relief at all?”]

The LORD'S anger is active and based in is His righteous character.

Example:

Process Theology:

Problem reconciling evil world and good God

God is developing with mankind

Real key though: believing the Lord is righteous.

In fact, the believing that the LORD is righteous is key to understanding the pain which leads to our broken hearts.

Application:

(1) The righteousness of the LORD is why no one will escape the wrath of the LORD. John 3:36

John 3:36 KJV 1900

36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

(2) A broken heart should not begin with personal feelings but with the absolute truth of God’s nature.

Kid’s Pause: Your own feelings can mislead you, but the truth about Who God is can give you clear direction.

What do I do with a heart broken because of God's righteous anger?

believe in your heart the truth about the Lord

(2) Hear honest counsel about yourself/your situation before the LORD (v. 11-19)

Statement of Idea: There is counsel that we must hear as we are learning to lament.

Illustration:

911 Operator: Child CPR (calm down and listen to instruction)

In like manner, this chapter is the LORD’S description of what has really happened and counsel that must be heard in order to get through this.

Explanation: Lamentations 2:11-12 shows the deep grief of the affliction. Sin has devastating consequences on our children.

App: Parents (sin of pride) advancing image

Adult children - sin of greed at expense of parents

A. Lamentations 2:13-17 False Prophets/Spiritual Leaders

App: Spiritual servants: explicit about sin

Parents in home, husbands and wives at home, servant leaders at church] - Jesus would later compare shepherds to hirelings...

Do you do what you do because you get paid or because you’ve been changed by the Good Shepherd?

B. The counsel in Lamentations 2:18-19 is to pour out your heart before the face of the Lord.

Example: I Samuel 7:6

Application:

(1) When you are hurting, listen to counsel from the Lord’s word. [Example: II Timothy 3:1, 16]

Opp: Dr. Phil

(2) When you are hurting, listen to counsel from the people of God. Lament is not only individual but corporate. [Romans 12:15]

Romans 12:15 KJV 1900

15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.

Kid’s Pause: Listen to the Lord from His Word.

What do I do with a heart broken because of God's righteous anger?

believe in your heart the truth about the Lord

hear honest counsel

(3) Express your heart to the LORD (v. 20-22)

Statement of Idea: There must be a faithful expression of grief to the Lord.

Illustration: Story of Hannah in I Samuel 1:10, 15-16

Explanation:

A. Lamentations 2:20-22 shows in practice what the counsel gave in principle.

App: Practice what you hear preached.

Example:

B. Lamenting is thoroughly Christian

Christological

Psalm 22:14 - The songwriter speaks of his afflicted condition in these terms

Isaiah 53:12 - The prophet speaks of the afflicted servant willingly pouring out his soul unto death

Christ has opened the way for us to pour our hearts before the Lord by being completed poured out for us.

Mark 14:34-38 - Not only is Christ's soul sorrowful unto death, but he calls the Father ABBA.

He admonishes the disciples who are sleeping because of grief to "Watch and pray..." (Luke 22:45 - sorrowful disciples)

Romans 8:15, 23, 26 - The Spirit of Christ cries Abba and makes intercessions with groanings too deep for words

Kid’s Pause: If you have believed on Jesus, His Spirit helps you express your heart to the LORD.

Bridge:

What do I do with a heart broken because of God's righteous anger?

We must believe truth about the Lord; We must hear honest counsel about self/situation; We must express our heart to the Lord.

Conclusion:

(a) We must deal with our broken heart, whether frustrated over personal sin or caught in the dragnet of God’s anger cosmically.

(b) Illustration:

Broken down truck in KY. Two options: go with what I thought or stop and get it to someone who can do something...

Bring your brokenness to the One who can do something about it.

believe in your heart the truth about the Lord

hear honest counsel

express your heart to the Lord

(c) Applications: This does not mean following our feelings and expressing them with hope in other saviors; but it does mean...

Stop pouring out your heart in texting and social media and pour out your heart to the Lord who loved you and gave himself for you. Repent of sin, and seek the comfort only he can provide. II Corinthians 1:3-5

2 Corinthians 1:3–5 KJV 1900

3 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; 4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. 5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.

Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ today. Outside of the Person and promises of Jesus there is no hope of hurts being healed or wrongs being made right. Matthew 11:23-30

Matthew 11:23–30 KJV 1900

23 And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. 24 But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee. 25 At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. 26 Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight. 27 All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him. 28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

(d) In learning to lament we must learn to express grief from broken hearts by faith in our righteous Lord.