Summer Playlist: Learning to Lament
Learning to Lament
Summer Playlist
Pastor Charlie Weir
Isaiah 61:1-3 (Luke 4:18ff) “The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, 2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, 3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.”
When we are ready to move, we are never as ready as we think we are. But when God is ready for us to move, we could never be more ready. God’s timing is always perfect.
Psalm 57 Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me, for in you I take refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed. 2 I cry out to God Most High, to God, who vindicates me. 3 He sends from heaven and saves me, rebuking those who hotly pursue me—God sends forth his love and his faithfulness. 4 I am in the midst of lions; I am forced to dwell among ravenous beasts—men whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords. 5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth. 6 They spread a net for my feet— I was bowed down in distress. They dug a pit in my path— but they have fallen into it themselves. 7 My heart, O God, is steadfast, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and make music. 8 Awake, my soul! Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn. 9 I will praise you, Lord, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples. 10 For great is your love, reaching to the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies. 11 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth.
Psalm 57:5,11 “Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the Earth!”
A complaint is a statement that a situation is unsatisfactory or unacceptable. Complaining isn’t a winning life strategy and it never works in bringing life. Complaining is a precursor to excuses. Excuses lay blame for problems at someone else’s feet. Complaining is a passive aggressive approach to difficulties specifically and life in general. Complaints are barriers to relational intimacy.
A lament is a type of prayer; it is a passionate expression of grief and sorrow laid at the feet of someone who can change and redeem anything and anyone. A lament is a proactive approach to any life hardship and is acceptable to the Lord.
Laments are open doors to relational intimacy because they present an open heart. Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me, for in you I take refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed.
Lamentations 3:22-26 “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. 23 They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. 24 I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore, I will wait for him.” 25 The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; 26 it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. Can I say to you today, God responds to the laments of His children! Our complaints? Not so much.
“Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me, for in you I take refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed. 2 I cry out to God Most High, to God, who vindicates me.”
3 He sends from heaven and saves me, rebuking those who hotly pursue me—God sends forth his love and his faithfulness.
Complaining diminishes the impact of past experiences and elevates the present situation into a “relational wall-like” structure between us and God. Lamenting remembers your past and longs for God to do it again!
4 I am in the midst of lions; I am forced to dwell among ravenous beasts—men whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords.
Isaiah 40:28-31 says “Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. 29 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. 30 Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; 31 but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let Your glory be over all the earth! Complaints lead to more complaints. Laments lead to PRAISE.
6 They spread a net for my feet— I was bowed down in distress. They dug a pit in my path— but they have fallen into it themselves.
David didn’t see this as a missed opportunity – he saw it as God demonstrating that this army wasn’t nearly as powerful or in control as He was!
Complaints don’t end frustration, they perpetuate it. Complaints look for instant and immediate resolution. That is an unhealthy and immature approach to life and our relationship with God. The beauty of a lament prayer is that you never end up in the same emotional place as where you started!
7 My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is steadfast and confident! I will sing and make melody. 8 Awake, my soul! Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn.
Begin your day before your day start!
9 I will praise and give thanks to You, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises to You among the nations. 10 For Your mercy and loving-kindness are great, reaching to the heavens, and Your truth and faithfulness to the clouds.
11 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let Your glory be over all the earth.
The Shift from Complaining to Lamenting
Take Refuge. Running from pursuit, hiding from pain is exhausting. Remember God’s past faithfulness. He is protective of you and merciful towards you. If you don’t have any past experience to pull from, borrow someone else’s until you build your own file! Now…
Change Seats. This story is bigger than you. Humility keeps God as the central figure. “Be exalted O God!” I want you exalted more than I want my way.
Stay Put. Resolve that you will stay in the prayer until your heart changes. Complainers want to be heard. Lamenters want to be comforted. You can’t be comforted if you don’t give God the time and opportunity to do so. Stay put until something in you changes.
Praise Up. A fixed heart, fixes hearts. A steadfast heart secures hearts, ours and others. A fixed and steadfast heart praises God and that praise sows confidence in anyone close enough to experience God through our praise.