Februrary 14, 2022
Lament
Psalm 86:1–17 (ESV) —
1 Incline your ear, O Lord, and answer me, for I am poor and needy. 2 Preserve my life, for I am godly; save your servant, who trusts in you—you are my God. 3 Be gracious to me, O Lord, for to you do I cry all the day. 4 Gladden the soul of your servant, for to you, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. 5 For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you. 6 Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer; listen to my plea for grace. 7 In the day of my trouble I call upon you, for you answer me. 8 There is none like you among the gods, O Lord, nor are there any works like yours. 9 All the nations you have made shall come and worship before you, O Lord, and shall glorify your name. 10 For you are great and do wondrous things; you alone are God. 11 Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name. 12 I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever. 13 For great is your steadfast love toward me; you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol. 14 O God, insolent men have risen up against me; a band of ruthless men seeks my life, and they do not set you before them. 15 But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. 16 Turn to me and be gracious to me; give your strength to your servant, and save the son of your maidservant. 17 Show me a sign of your favor, that those who hate me may see and be put to shame because you, Lord, have helped me and comforted me.
Today, we turn again to biblical lament. Lament is the biblical language used to communicate to God our pain and anguish regarding human suffering. Adam Young defines it as “pouring out your feelings to God before editing your words, before making your feelings consistent with some sort of theology.” Scripture gives us permission to express our fears, pain, sadness, frustrations, questions, doubts, and even our complaints to God.
Psalm 86 is an example of a psalm of lament. It includes a simple pattern that is found in most laments - turn, complain, ask, and trust. The first step in lament is the hardest, and that is turning to God in your pain (vs.1,6). Honestly, it’s easier to remain silent in our pain, but as Mark Vrogrop writes, “Giving God the silent treatment is the ultimate manifestation of unbelief.” God asks us to turn to him in our time of need (Heb. 4:16). The second step is to voice your complaint (v.14). The complaining that lament requires is an expression of deep brokenness. What’s broken in and around you? What’s lining up with God’s character or kingdom? The third step is to ask God to act in a way that fits His character and resolves your complaint (vs. 2,3,11,16,17). What is it that you need to remember and acknowledge about God in the midst of your complaint? The final step in lament is to affirm God’s worthiness to be trusted and commit to praising Him (vs. 8,12,13,15,17).
Consider:
Psalm 86:1–17 (ESV) —
1 Incline your ear, O Lord, and answer me, for I am poor and needy. 2 Preserve my life, for I am godly; save your servant, who trusts in you—you are my God. 3 Be gracious to me, O Lord, for to you do I cry all the day. 4 Gladden the soul of your servant, for to you, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. 5 For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you. 6 Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer; listen to my plea for grace. 7 In the day of my trouble I call upon you, for you answer me. 8 There is none like you among the gods, O Lord, nor are there any works like yours. 9 All the nations you have made shall come and worship before you, O Lord, and shall glorify your name. 10 For you are great and do wondrous things; you alone are God. 11 Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name. 12 I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever. 13 For great is your steadfast love toward me; you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol. 14 O God, insolent men have risen up against me; a band of ruthless men seeks my life, and they do not set you before them. 15 But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. 16 Turn to me and be gracious to me; give your strength to your servant, and save the son of your maidservant. 17 Show me a sign of your favor, that those who hate me may see and be put to shame because you, Lord, have helped me and comforted me.
Today, we turn again to biblical lament. Lament is the biblical language used to communicate to God our pain and anguish regarding human suffering. Adam Young defines it as “pouring out your feelings to God before editing your words, before making your feelings consistent with some sort of theology.” Scripture gives us permission to express our fears, pain, sadness, frustrations, questions, doubts, and even our complaints to God.
Psalm 86 is an example of a psalm of lament. It includes a simple pattern that is found in most laments - turn, complain, ask, and trust. The first step in lament is the hardest, and that is turning to God in your pain (vs.1,6). Honestly, it’s easier to remain silent in our pain, but as Mark Vrogrop writes, “Giving God the silent treatment is the ultimate manifestation of unbelief.” God asks us to turn to him in our time of need (Heb. 4:16). The second step is to voice your complaint (v.14). The complaining that lament requires is an expression of deep brokenness. What’s broken in and around you? What’s lining up with God’s character or kingdom? The third step is to ask God to act in a way that fits His character and resolves your complaint (vs. 2,3,11,16,17). What is it that you need to remember and acknowledge about God in the midst of your complaint? The final step in lament is to affirm God’s worthiness to be trusted and commit to praising Him (vs. 8,12,13,15,17).
Consider:
- Write your own prayer of lament using the four steps above - turn, complain, ask, trust.
Posted in 2022 Prayer and Fasting