Learning To Lament 6.7.20 SERIES: Praying The Psalms

SERIES: PRAYING THE PSALMS

TEXT: Psalm 13:1-6

MESSAGE: Learning to Lament

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“You shall have the same rule for the sojourner and for the native, for I am the Lord your God.” — Leviticus 24:22

“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” — Micah 6:8

  • Where do we start?

Don’t rush past lament on your way to solutions.” 

— Bryan Lorrits

“Lament is not the same as crying…lament is a form of prayer. The practice of lament is one of the most theologically informed actions a person can take. While crying is fundamental to humanity, Christians lament because they know God is sovereign and good. Christians know his promises in the Scriptures. We believe in God’s power to deliver. We know the tomb is empty, and Jesus is alive. And yet we still experience pain and sorrow. Lament is the language for living between the poles of a hard life and trusting in God’s sovereignty.” — Mark Vroegop

TEXT: Psalm 13:1-6

Q: How do we lament? 

(1. Authentically Come To God 2. Vent Frustrations To God 3. Entrust Yourself To God)

  1. Authentically Come to God (v.1)

How long, O Lord? Will you forget me foreverHow long will you hide your face from me?”

“The fact that (Psalm 13) is included in the Bible tells us that God wants to hear our genuine feelings, even if they are anger at Him. David never stops praying, however, and that is the key.” — Timothy Keller

2.   Vent Frustrations to God (v.2-4)

“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.”

3.  Entrust Yourself to God (v.5-6)

“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.”

“Lament talks to God about pain. And it has a unique purpose: trust. It is a divinely-given invitation to pour out our fears, frustrations, and sorrows for the purpose of helping us to renew our confidence in God.” 

— Mark Vroegop

“As for the past tense in which it is put, this springs evidently from David’s certainty that he will have such a song to offer, when he looks back at the whole way he has been led.” — Derek Kidner

TAKEAWAYS: How can we lament well?

  1. Understand the big picture

How do I know if I have made an idol out of my politics? When you see the war on racism as a battle of the left vs the right INSTEAD of the kingdom of God vs the Kingdom of darkness.” — KB

  1. Listen to others experience

“If one gives an answer before he hears, it is his folly and shame.” — Proverbs 18:13

  1. Unlearn the ways of the world

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” — Romans 12:2

  1. Ask God to renew your mind

“The very words that guided Harriet Tubman, that fueled Fredrick Douglas, and gave infinite wisdom to Dr. King. We have access to them. They were not inactive, but their action was informed by truth.” — Lecrae

What is it that turns our laments to songs of praise?

“After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”

— Revelation 7:9-10

1 thought on “<span class="entry-title-primary">Learning To Lament 6.7.20</span> <span class="entry-subtitle">SERIES: Praying The Psalms</span>”

  1. That will be some sight when we stand together in heaven and praise Our Lord . No more lamenting. No more pain and suffering, AND, no more politics! What’s going on in the World will no longer matter. We must remain kind to everyone. We must affect a change in ourselves first before judging other’s for what they are doing that we don’t like. Be an example. Let other’s see the love you have for Jesus, and, if you get the opportunity to tell someone else why you are so happy and in love with Our King, then, exclaim your testimony with humility. Plant those “seeds”!

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