READ | SERMON NOTES
Summary l When you think about laments, do you see a picture of the sun setting into the mountains, or rising from them? May we, as a Wesley family stand in solidarity with our Brothers and Sisters-in-Christ who are in the dark valleys – now and always see the sun rising from the mountains, as we lament with them before the Risen Son of God, Jesus.
Psalm 13 teaches us about enduring prayer that
- expresses bold, brutally honest complaints and protests to God – “How long, Lord? Will You forget me forever? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts? How long will my enemy triumph over me?” (v1-2)
- urgently petitions – “Look on me and answer, Lord my God. Give light to my eyes. Or my foes will rejoice when I fall.” (v3-4)
- positively expresses trust and praise – “I trust in Your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in Your salvation. (You have) been good to me.” (v5-6)
1. How Long Do We Wait – for God’s deliverance from depression, forsakenness, abandonment, defeat, anxiety, and fear of death? Hymns like Precious Lord, take my hand and I need Thee Every Hour, written with deep vulnerability, inspire God’s people to entrust themselves to Christ alone, so that they are mysteriously moved from despair to hope by God’s glory and sovereignty. The song How Long, O Lord, How Long? (based on Psalm 13) https://youtu.be/tT4RFGzheN0 parallels the psalmist’s repeated refrain and offers a faith-based reply. “On our knees we pray… through feeble faith and tears… Till Your glory fills our eyes, and our faith is turned to sight; till our thirsty souls are satisfied.” How long before we are rescued?
a)Till we see God’s glory in our suffering
b)Till by faith in Christ we see beyond ourselves, embrace God’s purposes in our pain
c)Till our souls are satisfied in Christ alone, and suffering can be endured a little longer
2. How Should We View Biblical Lament? Is it right to lament since God’s promises are ultimately fulfilled in Christ? Is it appropriate to complain to God when Paul admonishes us to “Rejoice in the Lord always” (Philippians 4:4)?
a. Complaint (13:1-2) – In lamenting, the psalmist shows his unwavering faith in God. David trusted absolutely in God’s covenant promises, so he prayed them back to God. He waited expectantly even as he complained.
-Will the Lord forget me forever? No! “The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Deuteronomy 31:8)
-Will God hide His face from me? No! “I will no longer hide my face from them, for I will pour out My Spirit on the people of Israel.” (Ezekiel 39:29)
God has allowed lament psalms to fill almost half the Psalter. Jesus taught us, “Blessed are those who mourn for they will be comforted.” He exposed His emotions – weeping at the tomb of His friend Lazarus, and over the unbelief of Jerusalem. He lamented to His Father and grieved to the point of death in the Garden of Gethsemane, and then on the cross, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” Let us therefore gratefully accept God’s permission to freely express to Him our emotions and complaints, trustingly.
b. Petition (v3-4) – As maturing Christians, we should regard God’s work in our lives with humility, knowing that His way is not our way. Like the psalmist in Psalm 139 who surrendered his anguished desperation to the God who “fearfully and wonderfully’ made him, along with all God’s “wonderful” works – be assured that God has not forgotten or forsaken us, then state our prayer requests boldly.
Like David, let us proceed to petition God to renew our strength (“give light to my eyes”) so we can face our enemies (13:3-4) – spiritual, emotional or physical.
c. Trust (v5-6) – Confidently declare our trust in God’s hesed love that is unfailing, steadfast, merciful and lovingly kind. In Psalm 119:75-76, the psalmist called on God to comfort him with His steadfast love (hesed), knowing that God’s rules are righteous, and that his affliction was the result of God’s faithfulness, not His abandonment.
From complaining, we can move to petitioning and praising God unreservedly; expecting His glory to shine in our trials. It is the redemptive work of Christ that heals and convinces us of God’s sovereignty and goodness even though we may feel undeserving. Trust in Jesus’ words to Peter, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” (John 13:7) We are comforted to stand on God’s reliable promises, to rejoice in our salvation through His mercy and grace.
God Moves in A Mysterious Way (William Cowper)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znmZswr2J2w
1. God moves in a mysterious way,
His wonders to perform;
He plants His footsteps in the sea,
And rides upon the storm.
2. Deep in unfathomable mines
Of never-failing skill,
He treasures up His bright designs,
And works his sovereign will.
Refrain:
God of mercy, God of grace
Give us eyes to see;
Eyes to see your smiling face
Within the mystery, within the mystery.
3. Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take,
The clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy, and shall break
In blessings on your head.
4. Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust Him for His grace;
Behind a frowning providence
He hides a smiling face.
[Refrain]
5. His purposes will ripen fast,
Unfolding every hour;
The bud may have a bitter taste,
But sweets will be the flower.
6. Blind unbelief is sure to err,
And scan His work in vain;
God is His own interpreter,
And He will make it plain.
[Refrain]
(Sermon notes by Marjorie Tan)
PONDER | REFLECTION QUESTIONS
- Study Scripture
a. What does Psalm 13 teach us about the role of lament in our relationship with God? - Recall Sermon
a. What are the three answers encapsulated in a single word “Till” in the hymn, “How Long, O Lord, How Long?”?
b. Why is it right to lament to God even though Paul admonishes Christians to “Rejoice in the Lord always”?
c. How is the psalmist’s perceived doubt about God in his lament in fact an expression of his unwavering faith?
d. What is the true purpose of Biblical lament? How does Psalm 13 provide a pattern for biblical lament?
e. How would God’s hesed compel you to move from complaint to trust and praise Him? - Relate Personally
a. How has God spoken to you through the sermon? What steps would you take to respond?
b. Name some of the promises God made to His people from Scripture. How would you use these promises to lament to God?
c. How would you use Psalm 13 as an enduring prayer in your time of need? - Commit to Action
a. Listen to, “God Moves In A Mysterious Way”. Reflect on the lyrics and background story of this hymn. How would you apply the lessons gleaned from them?
b. What changes would you make in your life to reflect the unwavering faith and trust exemplified by David in Psalm 13?
