Learning to Lament
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Intro
Intro
Pain is inevitable and we need to prepare before it gets here...
Pain creates strong emotions and we need to know what to do with them...
Pain does not always go away quickly and we need to learn to live in the mess...
Pain provides an opportunity for evangelism, because Christians lament…
Lament = loud cry
Psalms full of Lament
Lament can be personal or corporate
Lament wrestles with God in a God honoring way as we maneuver through the already/not yet
Lament is not the opposite of praise… path to praise !
Lament is not faithless… actually an act of faith…
Message
Message
Lamentations 5:1–3 (ESV)
1 Remember, O Lord, what has befallen us; look, and see our disgrace!
2 Our inheritance has been turned over to strangers, our homes to foreigners.
3 We have become orphans, fatherless; our mothers are like widows.
Lamentations 5:15–22 (ESV)
15 The joy of our hearts has ceased; our dancing has been turned to mourning.
16 The crown has fallen from our head; woe to us, for we have sinned!
17 For this our heart has become sick, for these things our eyes have grown dim,
18 for Mount Zion which lies desolate; jackals prowl over it.
19 But you, O Lord, reign forever; your throne endures to all generations.
20 Why do you forget us forever, why do you forsake us for so many days?
21 Restore us to yourself, O Lord, that we may be restored! Renew our days as of old—
22 unless you have utterly rejected us, and you remain exceedingly angry with us.
How do we Lament?
Keep Turing to Prayer
Keep Turing to Prayer
V-1, 15,19, 21
Cry out to God
Pray the Gospel
Prayer turns our hearts
1 I cry aloud to God, aloud to God, and he will hear me. 2 In the day of my trouble I seek the Lord; in the night my hand is stretched out without wearying; my soul refuses to be comforted. 3 When I remember God, I moan; when I meditate, my spirit faints. Selah 4 You hold my eyelids open; I am so troubled that I cannot speak.
7 “Will the Lord spurn forever, and never again be favorable? 8 Has his steadfast love forever ceased? Are his promises at an end for all time? 9 Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has he in anger shut up his compassion?” Selah 10 Then I said, “I will appeal to this, to the years of the right hand of the Most High.” 11 I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your wonders of old. 12 I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds.
What do we pray? How do we pray?
Bring Your Complaints
Bring Your Complaints
Lamentations 5:1–3 (ESV)
1 Remember, O Lord, what has befallen us; look, and see our disgrace!
2 Our inheritance has been turned over to strangers, our homes to foreigners.
3 We have become orphans, fatherless; our mothers are like widows.
Lamentations 5:15–22 (ESV)
15 The joy of our hearts has ceased; our dancing has been turned to mourning.
16 The crown has fallen from our head; woe to us, for we have sinned!
17 For this our heart has become sick, for these things our eyes have grown dim,
18 for Mount Zion which lies desolate; jackals prowl over it.
19 But you, O Lord, reign forever; your throne endures to all generations.
20 Why do you forget us forever, why do you forsake us for so many days?
21 Restore us to yourself, O Lord, that we may be restored! Renew our days as of old—
22 unless you have utterly rejected us, and you remain exceedingly angry with us.
Bring your frustrations
Bring your questions
V - 2, 16-18,20
13 Why does the wicked renounce God and say in his heart, “You will not call to account”? 14 But you do see, for you note mischief and vexation, that you may take it into your hands; to you the helpless commits himself; you have been the helper of the fatherless.
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.
Godly Complaining
Come Humble
James 4.6 “6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.””
James 4.10 “10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.”
Be Honest
Heb 4.15 “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.”
Matt 27.46 “46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?””
Rom 8.26 “26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.”
Don’t Just Complain
repent !
ask God to act !
How do we do this? What should we ask for?
Ask Boldly
Ask Boldly
Lamentations 5:1–3 (ESV)
1 Remember, O Lord, what has befallen us; look, and see our disgrace!
2 Our inheritance has been turned over to strangers, our homes to foreigners.
3 We have become orphans, fatherless; our mothers are like widows.
Lamentations 5:15–22 (ESV)
15 The joy of our hearts has ceased; our dancing has been turned to mourning.
16 The crown has fallen from our head; woe to us, for we have sinned!
17 For this our heart has become sick, for these things our eyes have grown dim,
18 for Mount Zion which lies desolate; jackals prowl over it.
19 But you, O Lord, reign forever; your throne endures to all generations.
20 Why do you forget us forever, why do you forsake us for so many days?
21 Restore us to yourself, O Lord, that we may be restored! Renew our days as of old—
22 unless you have utterly rejected us, and you remain exceedingly angry with us.
V - 1, 16, 21
What do we ask for…?
For God to Rise Up
Ps 10.12 “12 Arise, O Lord; O God, lift up your hand; forget not the afflicted.”
Ps 3,7,9,10, 17,74.
a Call to action
Grant me Help
Ps 60.11-12 “11 Oh, grant us help against the foe, for vain is the salvation of man! 12 With God we shall do valiantly; it is he who will tread down our foes.”
suffering reveals our lack of sufficiency
God Omnipotent
God Trusted
Remember Your Covenant
Ps 25.6 “6 Remember your mercy, O Lord, and your steadfast love, for they have been from of old.”
Im trusting you!!
Faithful to His promises
Let Justice Be Done
Ps 83.16-18 “16 Fill their faces with shame, that they may seek your name, O Lord. 17 Let them be put to shame and dismayed forever; let them perish in disgrace, 18 that they may know that you alone, whose name is the Lord, are the Most High over all the earth.”
longing for righteous punishment for wicked
God’s holiness / Justice / righteousness
God is omniscient
Do Not Remember our Sin
Ps 51.1 “1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.”
Ps 79.8-9 “8 Do not remember against us our former iniquities; let your compassion come speedily to meet us, for we are brought very low. 9 Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of your name; deliver us, and atone for our sins, for your name’s sake!”
Give grace and mercy
Christ’s Crucifixion
Restore Me
Ps 80.3 “3 Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved!”
God’s future perfect restoration
recognition of brokenness
looking forward to hope in Christ.
future glory
Listen to Me
Ps 28.1-2 “1 To you, O Lord, I call; my rock, be not deaf to me, lest, if you be silent to me, I become like those who go down to the pit. 2 Hear the voice of my pleas for mercy, when I cry to you for help, when I lift up my hands toward your most holy sanctuary.”
perseverance in the faith
asking / seeking/ knocking !!
Teach Me
Ps 86.11 “11 Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name.”
Ps 143.10 “10 Teach me to do your will, for you are my God! Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground!”
What do we need to learn?
do not waste your trials
Vindicate Me
Ps 35.23-24 “23 Awake and rouse yourself for my vindication, for my cause, my God and my Lord! 24 Vindicate me, O Lord, my God, according to your righteousness, and let them not rejoice over me!”
Beware of bitterness
God is the just judge… we are called to give to our father
1 Pet 2.23 “23 When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.”
We can ask boldly because of our call and claim in Christ
Choose to Trust
Choose to Trust
William Cowper (Cooper) = 1731-1800
There is a fountain filled with blood
O for a closer walk with God
“God Moves in a Mysterious Way” in 1774… It is believed to be the last hymn he wrote.
God moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform;
He plants his footsteps in the sea,
And rides upon the storm.
Deep in unfathomable mines
Of never failing skill,
He treasures up his bright designs,
And works his sovereign will.
Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take,
The clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy, and shall break
In blessings on your head!
Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust him for his grace:
Behind a frowning providence
He hides a smiling face.
His purposes will ripen fast,
Unfolding every hour;
The bud may have a bitter taste,
But sweet will be the flower.
Blind unbelief is sure to err,
And scan his work in vain:
God is his own interpreter,
And he will make it plain!
Vroegop, Mark. Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy (pp. 72-73). Crossway. Kindle Edition.
Trust = Active Patience
1 How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? 2 How long must I take counsel in my soul and have sorrow in my heart all the day? How long shall my enemy be exalted over me? 3 Consider and answer me, O Lord my God; light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death, 4 lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed over him,” lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken. 5 But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. 6 I will sing to the Lord, because he has dealt bountifully with me.
V - 1, 19, 21
Lamentations 5:1–3 (ESV)
1 Remember, O Lord, what has befallen us; look, and see our disgrace!
2 Our inheritance has been turned over to strangers, our homes to foreigners.
3 We have become orphans, fatherless; our mothers are like widows.
Lamentations 5:15–22 (ESV)
15 The joy of our hearts has ceased; our dancing has been turned to mourning.
16 The crown has fallen from our head; woe to us, for we have sinned!
17 For this our heart has become sick, for these things our eyes have grown dim,
18 for Mount Zion which lies desolate; jackals prowl over it.
19 But you, O Lord, reign forever; your throne endures to all generations.
20 Why do you forget us forever, why do you forsake us for so many days?
21 Restore us to yourself, O Lord, that we may be restored! Renew our days as of old—
22 unless you have utterly rejected us, and you remain exceedingly angry with us.
Trust because of His past faithfulness
REMEMBER
Israel to this point…
even before the foundation of the world God chose you
Trust in God’s present Plan
REIGN
God works all things out for good
Trust in Gods future blessing
RESTORE
He is not finished yet we are still waiting
This is not the end !!… semi-colon
Lament creates a path through the messy wilderness of pain to a place where our hearts can sing about trusting Him
Ps 56.8-11 “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?”
Group Questions