Refiner – Part 7 – Vertical Lament
Today – we are continuing our Refiner series. And today’s topic is one that unfortunately isn’t talked about a lot when churches talk about trials.
- It’s a topic that we as the church have historically been extremely uncomfortable with
- And that topic is lament.
- one from Psalm 13:
- “How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? 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?” (Psalm 13:1-2)
- one from Psalm 89:
- “Lord, where is your steadfast love of old, which by your faithfulness you swore to David?” (Psalm 89:49)
- those verses – right there – are just as much Scripture as “The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want.”
Lament is the journey of bringing our pain to God while learning to trust Him when life doesn’t make sense.
This week we are going to look at vertical lament.
Next week – we are going to talk about horizontal lament where we will focus in on how do we walk with people who are suffering
So to talk about Lament today – I would love if you would turn in your Bibles with me to Psalm 88.
This passage teaches us the pathway of lament.
HOW TO LAMENT:
Turn toward God:
“O Lord, God of my salvation, I cry out day and night before you. Let my prayer come before you; incline your ear to my cry.” (1-2)
- The first thing we see the writer do – in the middle of the mess – in the middle of the heartache – is he turns towards God.
- The first step of lament is not just complaining to anyone that will listen that our life is hard. or that we have been treated unfairly
- lament is taking all of the hurt – anguish – broken expectations and turning towards the Lord.
Tell God the Truth:
- tell him what’s actually there –
In the New Testament the book of 1 Peter puts it this way – “cast your cares on him – for he cares for you.”
- and that’s exactly what we see in the next section of Psalm 88.
“For my soul is full of troubles, and my life draws near to sheol. I am counted among those who go down to the pit; I am a man who has no strength, like one set loose among the dead, like the slain that lie in the grave, like those whom you remember no more for they are cut off from your hand. You have put me in the depths of the pit in the regions dark and deep. Your wrath lies heavy upon me, and you overwhelm me with all your waves. You have caused my companions to shun me; you have made me a horror to them. I am shut in so that I cannot escape; my eye grows dim through sorrow. Every day I call upon you, O Lord; I spread out my hands to you. Do you work wonders for the dead? Do the departed rise up to praise you? Is your steadfast love declared in the grave, or your faithfulness in Abaddon? Are your wonders known in the darkness or your righteousness in the land of forgetfulness? (3-12)
- Lament is bringing your pain to a God who cares –
Ask to God for Help+Anchor Yourself in Truth
“But I, O Lord, cry to you; in the morning my prayers comes before you. O Lord, why do you cast my soul away? Why do you hide you face from me? Afflicted and close to death from my youth up, I suffer your terrors; I am helpless, your wrath has swept over me; your dreadful assaults destroy me. They surround me like a flood all day long; they close in on me together. You have caused my beloved and my close friend to shun me; my companions have become darkness.” (13-18)
The third aspect of lament – is not just complaining about our situation, it’s appealing to God for help in it.
- He doesn’t understand why God is allowing this situation into his life
- but he is still approaches anyway.
- Lament is in faith – refusing to let go in the dark