Tag: Lament

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Trust In His Faithfulness

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A God Who Restores, A Love God Greatly Advent Study

Today’s Reading: Psalm 13

Today’s SOAP: Psalm 13:5-6

But I trust in your faithfulness. May I rejoice because of your deliverance. I will sing praises to the Lord when he vindicates me.

Psalm 13:5-6

Observations: More Lamenting

Like Habakkuk’s lament from yesterday’s post – the Psalmist from today’s reading feels ignored or forgotten. Actually, “how long?” is a common phrase of lament, of people crying out honestly to God with their cares and concerns. However, David writes it four times in this one six verse Psalm – perhaps an indication that that his suffering has lasted a long time, explaining why he feels the way he does. David was lamenting not only his physical struggle of waiting on the Lord’s deliverance but the emotional fears and concerns about his enemies seeing him defeated or the thought that they would rejoice because they saw him shaken.

What I love most about this Psalm is that while David makes it clear that he felt defeated he also makes it very clear that he had not lost hope in God’s faithfulness. He placed so much trust in God, that despite how everything ‘seemed’, he was planning to rejoice in God’s deliverance and sing praises to Him – because he believed God would vindicate him.

Application: What can I learn from this?

Despite the circumstances of our lives, we must trust in God, in His faithfulness and power to rescue us and set us free, even when it feels as though we’ve already been defeated and our enemies are gloating over our failure to stand strong. I am also reminded, that we must be careful not to fear or crave the approval of man so much that we take our eyes off of God, which shakes our trust and adds to the worries of our lives.

Because I have set the Lord always before me, because he is at my right hand I will not be shaken.

Psalm 16:8 ESV

Prayer: Response to God’s Word

Father, thank you for David’s example – his endurance in suffering, his dependency on You, and his determination to trust You in the midst of life’s difficulties. – May we learn from his example to bring You our honest worries and concerns accompanied with our determination to trust You regardless of how things look or feel. In this You will be glorified and our roots will grow deeper and deeper in You. – To Your glory and honor in the the name of Jesus our Lord – Amen!

Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I say, rejoice! 5 Let everyone see your gentleness. The Lord is near! 6 Do not be anxious about anything. Instead, in every situation, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, tell your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of respect, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if something is excellent or praiseworthy, think about these things.

Philippians 4:4-8
YOUR TURN: REFLECTIONS

What are you facing this season? Do you feel neglected, ignored or passed over by God? Are you in a season of rejoicing and praising God for His faithfulness? Or, perhaps, you’re facing both. You feel loss and pain, but you can also recognize God’s provision, wisdom, protection, and care.

(Borrowed from the LGG Devotion, p68 of A God Who Restores)

More: We Can Trust In Him

Our God is faithful. Nothing is unnoticed by Him. No matter the pain we feel or the praise we proclaim. He is always with us. When God’s people waited for he Messiah, God was silent for four hundred years. The people felt ignored by God, forgotten even. But He was working out His perfect plan in His perfect timing. He is not ignoring you. He is not withholding from you. He is working in ways you cannot see or understand, even now, in your situation. And more than that, He is working in incredible, unseen ways to bring about His purposes for the perfect moment when Jesus Christ will return. We can trust Him!

Borrowed from Love God Greatly, p68 of A God Who Restores
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The One Worthy of Praise!

Every day I will praise you.
I will praise your name continually.
The Lord is great and certainly worthy of praise.
No one can fathom his greatness.

Psalm 145:2-3
Praise is a choice

Praise is a choice, a way of life. It has a focus and a reason and when the focus and reason are good and right, when they are the LORD and His greatness, when they are real – then the praise will never end – for God will never cease to amaze us, even in the midst of our suffering.

How then should I live?

It is good to read and even pray through the Psalms but to truly apply them we must seek the relationship with God and the knowledge of God that the Psalmist has. Otherwise our focus will be only words on a page – quickly forgotten or laid aside because they hold no real value.

My Prayer Response

Father, truly no one can fathom, or understand, Your greatness! But from the time I was given even a glimpse of Your greatness I learned to say – with or like the Psalmist – LORD, You are great and worthy of PRAISE; and I am certain I will praise Your name and deeds forever!

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Remembering His Faithfulness

Today’s Reading: Psalm 9 (SOAP verses 10 and 11)

Your loyal followers trust in you,

for you, Lord, do not abandon those who seek your help.

11 Sing praises to the Lord, who rules in Zion.

Tell the nations what he has done.

Psalm 9:10-11 NET

“You can be an instrument through which others encounter God, but only to the extent that you encounter God.”1

The Commitment to Remember

From the beginning of this study, Trusting God in the Midst of Suffering, we have been given examples about remembering and how it helps us turn our laments into praise. In Psalm 77, we read how Moses, a man who was undeniably an instrument of God, committed to remembering the works of the LORD and we saw how it changed his whole attitude. Now we’ve arrived at the last week of the study and we see, as we have throughout, that it’s still about remembering, recalling, pondering, and talking about the goodness of God that strengthens us to walk through the valleys of this world.

I will remember the works of the Lord.

Yes, I will remember the amazing things you did long ago.

12 I will think about all you have done;

I will reflect upon your deeds.”

Psalm 77:11-12
The Impact of Remembering

Our Psalm today was written by David who, without question, was and is used as an instrument of God. From this Psalm alone you can tell that he encountered God often and in a number of ways – and his praises seem to flow endlessly, even in the midst of his laments. The impact of his words still inspire us today. His prayers teach us to cry out to God, to pray against the enemy, to trust God, to find favor in His sight, and the list goes on. Consider also the words he spoke of his encounters with God when he was petitioning Saul to allow him to face the giant, Goliath. 

But David persisted. “I have been taking care of my father’s sheep and goats,” he said. “When a lion or a bear comes to steal a lamb from the flock, I go after it with a club and rescue the lamb from its mouth. If the animal turns on me, I catch it by the jaw and club it to death. I have done this to both lions and bears, and I’ll do it to this pagan Philistine, too, for he has defied the armies of the living God! The LORD who rescued me from the claws of the lion and the bear will rescue me from this Philistine!”  His words were bold and his acknowledgement that God was with him seemed to have an impact on the decision - as we read: Saul finally consented. “All right, go ahead,” he said. “And may the LORD be with you!”

Then, when he is standing before the Philistine giant, again he remembers and uses the words almost as ammunition against the giant. Goliath walked out toward David with his shield bearer ahead of him, sneering in contempt at this ruddy-faced boy. “Am I a dog,” he roared at David, “that you come at me with a stick?” And he cursed David by the names of his gods. “Come over here, and I’ll give your flesh to the birds and wild animals!” Goliath yelled.

David replied to the Philistine, “You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of Heaven’s Armies—the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. Today the LORD will conquer you, and I will kill you and cut off your head. And then I will give the dead bodies of your men to the birds and wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel! And everyone assembled here will know that the LORD rescues his people, but not with sword and spear. This is the LORD’s battle, and he will give you to us!”

You see David's words and remembrance of his encounters with God rescuing him not only impacted Saul's decision but they impacted David's courage and tenacity - and ultimately the fate of the giant.        

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Samuel%2017&version=NIV
HOW THEN SHOULD WE LIVE

Like Moses and David, we need to encounter God regularly through His Word, through prayer, and watching for His fingerprints of activity in and around our lives. We need to know that His Word says and has shown that we can trust Him in times of trouble (Ps 9:9, Nahum 1:7). We need to remember that, according to Matthew 28:20 and others, we can trust Him not to abandon those who belong to Him.

According to this passage (vs 10-11) and many in the new testament, namely Luke 9:23 – we should be loyal followers, ones who deny themselves and take up our crosses daily to follow Him. We should trust in Him not being afraid that He will abandon us. We should seek His help, sing His praises, and tell others what He has done.

23 Then he said to them all, “If anyone wants to become my follower, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me. 

Luke 9:23

Father, Thank You for showing me, in so many ways that You can be trusted. From hearing our prayers to provision of safety and not abandoning us-even in the difficult days we can trust You and praise You. We can tell others of Your good deeds so that among the “Nations” You will be praised! May You find us faithful, servants after Your own heart.

1 Priscilla Shirer (one in a million, journey to your promised land)

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Turning Lament into Dancing

Today’s Reading: Psalm 30 (SOAP: Psalm 30:11-12)

A song used at the dedication of the temple: by David

David’s Response to Answered Prayer

This psalm begins with an acknowledgment that a prayer has been answered. It seems to be a recounting or a testimony of what it was all about and how David’s sorrow turned into joyful dancing. However, don’t miss the line of lament in verse 7 where David says the Lord rejected him and he was terrified. Note the progression from there, David cried to the LORD (8), David’s focus was the Lord (9), and David seeks the LORD’s mercy – indicating he knew that he deserved God’s displeasure and rejection. Suddenly David’s lament is turned into dancing and he says he can no longer stay silent. Oh that we would all respond so joyfully with praise when God answers our prayers.

You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing.
    You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy,
that I might sing praises to you and not be silent.
    O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever!

Psalm 30:11-12

In these two verses David realizes, with great joy, that his prayers have been answered and he gives God the credit. He makes his joy known and pledges to always give God thanks.

How then should we live?

When God removes or improves our suffering we should make it known. We should not be silent when God acts on our behalf. Instead, we should, without hesitation or timidity give thanks to the LORD. Our responses not only bring delight to God but they have the power to make His name known to others around us, which may in turn encourage them to pray or praise God as well.

My Response

Father, Thank You for all the times You have turned my mourning into dancing! Let me never withhold praise that is due Your name. Let me dance and sing with joy – making Your goodness, greatness, mercy, grace, and love known! And in this, may You be glorified.

Going Deeper

Don’t forget to read the LGG Blog Post lovegodgreatly.com/blog/

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Restore Us, Lord

Today’s Reading: Lamentations 5:1-22 (SOAP: 21)

Bring us back to yourself, O Lord, so that we may return to you;
renew our life as in days before,

Lamentations 5:21
But You, O LORD

Don’t miss the “but You” moment in verse 19. Similar to that of chapter 3, verse 21 – where in the throes of lament Jeremiah says – “But this I call to mind”. Here, he is lamenting the degradation of the city and the plight of the people when it seems the knowledge and the faith of his hope turn his inward thoughts back toward God. This time he says, “But You, O LORD, reign forever. Your throne endures from generation to generation. Remembering these truths seems to prompt both the question and the plea that follow and the words you can almost hear him stammering over in verse 22, “unless You have utterly rejected us and are angry with us beyond measure”.

The Confusion and questions

Because Jeremiah knows the goodness of God and His faithfulness to all generations he cries out hoping to understand why God hasn’t come to their aide.

Why do You keep on forgetting us? Why do You forsake us so long?

Lamentations 5:20
The Plea!

In response to his own questions Jeremiah prays a prayer of restoration and renewal and includes a purpose that he knew would align with God’s will for his people and the city. “Bring us back to Yourself, O LORD, so that we may return to You;” – not just to what we knew but first and foremost to You. He went on to pray, “Renew our life”. The plea is not for God to create a new life for them but specifically for restoration to “as in days before” – days when they had a crown and their city stood strong, when they were joyful and dancing. Restored to a time when their elders sat in the city gates and their young men played music. They longed to go back to the day when they weren’t hungry or in danger or living enslaved but to a day when they knew prosperity and success and respect for who they were.

What Can We Learn? – The Application –

What can we learn from these statements of prayer and truth? I think we can take a lesson from Jeremiah’s reasoning and pray prayers that keep God first. I think we should be inspired to watch that our desire is return to Him when we have fallen away, and to pray big prayers without letting them become greedy prayers.

Prayer Prompt

Father, when I lament may my mind and eyes and heart always return to or stay on You. May my chief desire be You and my heart be for ‘renewal’ rather than bigger and better.” Let me not lose heart but when it fades, help me remember You reign forever and Your throne from generation to generation.

Go Deeper

Don’t forget to checkout today’s LGG Blog Post and explore their site to see what God is doing through them.

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Restore Us, Lord

Today’s Reading: Lamentations 5:1-22 (SOAP: 21)

Bring us back to yourself, O Lord, so that we may return to you;
renew our life as in days before,

Lamentations 5:21
But You, O LORD

Don’t miss the “but You” moment in verse 19. Similar to that of chapter 3, verse 21 – where in the throes of lament Jeremiah says – “But this I call to mind”. Here, he is lamenting the degradation of the city and the plight of the people when it seems the knowledge and the faith of his hope turn his inward thoughts back toward God. This time he says, “But You, O LORD, reign forever. Your throne endures from generation to generation. Remembering these truths seems to prompt both the question and the plea that follow and the words you can almost hear him stammering over in verse 22, “unless You have utterly rejected us and are angry with us beyond measure”.

The Confusion and questions

Because Jeremiah knows the goodness of God and His faithfulness to all generations he cries out hoping to understand why God hasn’t come to their aide.

Why do You keep on forgetting us? Why do You forsake us so long?

Lamentations 5:20
The Plea!

In response to his own questions Jeremiah prays a prayer of restoration and renewal and includes a purpose that he knew would align with God’s will for his people and the city. “Bring us back to Yourself, O LORD, so that we may return to You;” – not just to what we knew but first and foremost to You. He went on to pray, “Renew our life”. The plea is not for God to create a new life for them but specifically for restoration to “as in days before” – days when they had a crown and their city stood strong, when they were joyful and dancing. Restored to a time when their elders sat in the city gates and their young men played music. They longed to go back to the day when they weren’t hungry or in danger or living enslaved but to a day when they knew prosperity and success and respect for who they were.

What Can We Learn? – The Application –

What can we learn from these statements of prayer and truth? I think we can take a lesson from Jeremiah’s reasoning and pray prayers that keep God first. I think we should be inspired to watch that our desire is return to Him when we have fallen away, and to pray big prayers without letting them become greedy prayers.

Prayer Prompt

Father, when I lament may my mind and eyes and heart always return to or stay on You. May my chief desire be You and my heart be for ‘renewal’ rather than bigger and better.” Let me not lose heart but when it fades, help me remember You reign forever and Your throne from generation to generation.

Go Deeper

Don’t forget to checkout today’s LGG Blog Post and explore their site to see what God is doing through them.

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The Lord’s Anger

Today’s Reading: Lamentations chapter 1:1-22 (SOAP/FOCUS: 12)

“Does it mean nothing to you, all you who pass by?
    Look around and see if there is any suffering like mine,
which the Lord brought on me
    when he erupted in fierce anger.

Lamentations 1:12 NLT
Background

It is impossible to understand this one verse without first taking in all that came before it.

First of all Lamentations is a book of 5 laments or poems. In this first poem, Jeremiah, the assumed author, is lamenting the fall of Jerusalem and the burning of the Temple by the Babylonian Army. To grasp the true devastation of this we must remember that Jerusalem wasn’t just another city it was known as the city of God and the Temple there as His dwelling place. Each verse in chapter 1 is divided by the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet, a structure known to denote completeness.

On behalf of the city Jeremiah bemoans loss after loss after loss, including her standing among the nations, being abandoned by her allies, and becoming an easy prey. He laments the loss and observance of the prescribed and cherished festivals and names the LORD as the one who afflicted Jerusalem, attributing the blame to Jerusalem because of her rebellious acts. He lamented not only the abandonment of allies but that of her own leaders . Perhaps the most devastating thing to deal with was hearing Jerusalem’s enemies gloating over her – and know that she was no longer the prided Temple of God.

Is There Anyone Who Understands?

When we come to the 12th verse, Jeremiah’s heart break and desperation are really evident as he pauses, hoping to find someone – anyone – who seems to understand what he is experiencing and how it hurts. However, it has become evident by now that there is no one.

How Do We Apply It?

To be sure, there is something poetically beautiful and teachable about Jeremiah’s emotional lament for Jerusalem. He calls out from the depths of his heart, he calls out with his eyes not only on what they had lost but aware of why and how. He calls out with hope that God will see them and remember them, and yes – he calls out for God to visit His wrath on the nations who had maliciously raged against Jerusalem and their God. I believe we should lament over our sins, the sins of our country, and over the sins of the world. Clearly in light of the verses that lead up to verse 12 we should also be consciously aware of our actions and any sins that tempt us – staying alert to God’s will and the consequences that could come should we choose to rebel. We should also be careful not to let this make us fearful of God’s wrath but look at the reason that His wrath was incited and steer clear of those repetitive and rebellious actions that by their own admission deserved God’s wrath.

As for the actual application from verse 12, what struck me was that Jeremiah was so consumed with the loss and the subsequent lament that he was crying out to people on the street for pity. Yet perhaps as some suggest not only for pity but also that they would see what God will do even to those closest to Him when His anger is so stirred by sin. Matthew Henry, in his “Concise Commentary” said this about verse 12: “Sorrow for sin must be great sorrow, and must affect the soul. Here we see the evil of sin, and may take warning to flee from the wrath to come. Whatever may be learned from the sufferings of Jerusalem, far more may be learned from the sufferings of Christ.” Should we suffer due to sin and rebellion, as Jerusalem, may we remember well the price Christ paid on the cross for us and let it be our warning of encouragement to remain faithful.

Prayer Prompt

Father, help us first of all to learn to consider the consequences of our actions, especially of our sin. Thank you for Jesus, the Redeemer of our sins – but O Father, let us not forget the hatred you have for sin so that we do not become rebellious and find ourselves in the place of Jerusalem and her people, weighed down by the consequences. Help us to love you more than self and to lament and turn from those things that break Your heart. Help us to keep our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, rather than the people and the “nations” around us.

More ….

Don’t miss the Love God Greatly blogs M, W, F for some wonderful insights into the text of this study. On Tuesday’s you will find testimonials from missionaries and others God is using to translate His Word and these studies into every language, so that women every where have the opportunity to read and grow from the teaching of God’s Word.

Love God Greatly

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Remembering His Faithfulness

Today’s Reading: Psalm 77 (SOAP: 77:10-11)

Then I said, “I am sickened by the thought

that the Most High might become inactive.

I will remember the works of the Lord.

Yes, I will remember the amazing things you did long ago.

Psalm 77:10-11 NET
Asaph’s Confidence

I love the heading for this Psalm in the Holman Christian Standard Bible, “Confidence in a Time of Crisis”. It is certainly fitting from start to finish of this Psalm of ‘lament’ by Asaph and I think an equally fitting way to start this study on “Trusting God in the Midst of Suffering” (by LGG).

Suffering is part of the believer’s life and to survive it we must learn how to deal with it in a godly way. While we most often learn best from experience it is beneficial and God’s plan according to (2 Timothy 3:16-17 to learn from the examples in His Word. Today’s reading provides one such example. Let’s take a look.

The Lament

Asaph’s lament begins in verse 1 with no clear reason what prompted it but clearly he is facing a crisis of some kind. Notice though from the get-go, even in the throes of the crisis his faith is active. He didn’t run from or turn from God but ran to Him and was resolved to cry out to Him in prayer and thought and faith.

I will cry out to God and call for help.
I will cry out to God and he will pay attention to me.
2 In my time of trouble I sought the Lord.
I kept my hand raised in prayer throughout the night.
I refused to be comforted.
3 I said, “I will remember God while I groan;
I will think about him while my strength leaves me.” (Selah)
4 You held my eyelids open;
I was troubled and could not speak.
5 I thought about the days of old,
about ancient times.
6 I said, “During the night I will remember the song I once sang;
I will think very carefully.”

Psalm 77:1-6 NET
From Lament to a Song of God’s Extraordinary Deeds

However, don’t miss that the longer Asaph cried out with the problem that was causing him to “groan”, the more panic and heartache seemed to rise within him. In turn these created the threat of doubt and the fear that God would cease to be active in his life. This is where we find him in our focus/soap passage today. He couldn’t bare to think that God would become “inactive”, to the point that it “sickened” him. Yet, this is the very thing that turned his lament into a new song of God’s goodness and activity in times past. Asaph resolved to recall God’s greatness and power over all things. With this resolve, Asaph’s cry changed from “I will” to “O God, Your deeds are extraordinary … You are the God who does amazing things! You have revealed Your strength … You delivered Your people … You walked through the sea; You passed through the surging waves … You led Your people like a flock of sheep …”

The Change

It’s important as we move forward in “Trusting God in the Midst of Suffering” to notice the change came with Asaph’s resolve to remember and what he chose to remember. He made the choice to fix his mind – not on the ‘crisis’ or the rising doubt and fears but rather on “the works of the LORD …” and this seemed to change everything – well, perhaps not the ‘crisis’ (Scripture doesn’t make this clear) – but certainly his reaction to the ‘crisis’ changed. Perhaps this is an example of why Paul taught the Philippians to fix their thoughts on things that are excellent and worthy of praise, Phil 4:8.

What this mean for us: The Application

I believe this is where we find our application today, choosing to fix our mind on the things of God and not the things of the world that make us anxious and problem centered rather than God centered. This is not to mean that we can’t pray or cry out to God in lament. Actually, looking again to Paul’s teaching in Philippians 4:6-7, we see that when he warns the believers not to be anxious about anything he also says, “instead, pray about everything and thank God for what He has already done.” He says that when they do this they will experience the peace of God which exceeds anything they can understand. I can tell you from experience – when you apply the power of truth that is in these verses to your life it changes everything.

What’s Your Plan?

What is the resolve of your life? What will you do when the crisis comes? Clearly Scripture teaches us to have a plan that is rooted in God (Father, Son, and Spirit) and in His Word. Here are some helpful tips …

  • Know Him – this comes from prayer and staying in His Word daily
  • Don’t trust, lean on, or stay in your own emotions but trust in the Lord (Proverbs 3:5-6)
  • Sing of His goodness (what we listen to guides our thoughts)
  • Write down what He’s done (have journal or use your phone at the end of each day to write down 1-3 things that you saw Him do or remember He has done in the past … something as simple as a much needed parking space to His amazing gift of salvation, acts of grace or mercy, His forgiveness for the unspeakable things of your life, His love despite those unspeakable things, His Spirit’s power in You, your hope of eternity, and any number of amazing deeds you have witnessed from Him)
Prayer Prompt

Father, help us to turn our laments into songs of joyful praise. How often have I lamented before You – crying out for You to hear, waiting on You to answer, trusting You to not forget or become inactive. Like Asaph I have found myself clinging to You through the waves and heard You whisper – “Be still and know that I am God”. How many times You have used the words of Paul to cause me to choose to recall Your goodness, grace, and mercy and to resolve to fix my thoughts on things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Thank you for the history of Your goodness and the evidence of Your love and the faith on which I stand. In Jesus’ Name – Amen!

Love God Greatly

If you would like more thoughts on today’s reading please click the link for today’s blog post from the LGG Team.

https://lovegodgreatly.com/lgg-blog/