Honest Emotions, Trusting Faith Psalm 13 March 31St, 2019

Honest Emotions, Trusting Faith Psalm 13 March 31st, 2019 Announcements – Messiah in Passover Panel on work during the worship night event Shepherding letter Big idea: Be honest with your emotions but move toward trust. Intro In the past two weeks we’ve prayed for: A young single mother whose cancer has returned and spread A family whose 10 year old daughter had to have sudden surgery on her hip sockets A young couple whose first child was born premature and has been living in the NICU But I’ve also had conversations with another dozen hurting people that of course I can’t and wouldn’t share their stories from up front. Two weeks ago in Psalm 2 we saw that although the nations rage, God is accomplishing his plans and can’t be stopped. That was an intellectual answer to a common question. But what about our own personal pain when life is disorienting, confusing, and painful? For that, the Bible gives us lament. Laments are psalms that cry out to God, often with raw emotion, and yet express trust in darkness. Mark Vroegop: Lament is the language of people who believe in God’s sovereignty but live in a world with tragedy. 1. Crying (13:1-2) a. How long? i. 4 times this question is repeated without expecting an answer ii. The questions are directed to God and dripping with emotion b. Will you forget me forever? i. He doesn’t ask if God has forgotten him. He assumes it. He expresses it. ii. It’s not true theologically but if feels true experientially. 1. Hebrews 13:5 He Himself has said, "I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU," 2. Matthew 28:20 I am with you always, even to the end of the age. c. Will you hide your face from me? i. God feels distant, absent, like His favor has been removed ii. Think of it in contrast with this well known blessing from Numbers 1. Numbers 6:24-26 The LORD bless you, and keep you; 25 The LORD make His face shine on you, And be gracious to you; 26 The LORD lift up His countenance on you, And give you peace.' d. How long shall I take counsel in my soul? i. Perhaps the most relatable line as it describes in the experience of thinking and thinking, obsessing and obsessing, attempting to plan but seeing no way out ii. Feels lonely and isolating as the counsel is internal, in his own soul iii. The inner counsel is connected to “sorrow in my heart all the day.” iv. The Bible understands us. e. The final how long – how long will my enemy be exalted over me? i. The psalm was written by David and we know a lot about his life from the Bible. 1. It could have been Saul who preceded David as King and alternated between trying to kill David and apologizing for trying to kill him. 2. It could have been his own son, Absalom, who attempted to steal the kingdom away from David. 3. It could have been Shimei who cursed David and threw rocks at him while he fled Absalom 4. And the list goes on. ii. Depending on your situation in life, this may not feel relatable. 1. But some resonate with it. 2. A person who has experienced a bitter and unfair divorce 3. Someone whose coworker seems to have it in for them f. Other examples of this raw honesty in psalms of lament

i. Psalm 10:1 Why do You stand afar off, O LORD? Why do You hide Yourself in times of trouble? ii. Psalm 22:1-2 My God, my God, why have You forsaken me? Far from my deliverance are the words of my groaning. 2 O my God, I cry by day, but You do not answer; And by night, but I have no rest. iii. Psalm 42:9 I will say to God my rock, "Why have You forgotten me? Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?" iv. Psalm 44:23-24 Arouse Yourself, why do You sleep, O Lord? Awake, do not reject us forever. 24 Why do You hide Your face And forget our affliction and our oppression? g. After expressing emotions of being overlooked, forgotten, forsaken, what does the writer do next? i. Abandon the faith for a life of fatalistic atheism? ii. Run to something else to deaden the emotional pain? iii. No, he keeps praying to the God that he feels like is not listening. 2. Requesting (13:3-4) a. He asks God to consider and answer b. He asks God to enlighten His eyes, help him to see. c. He gives reasons why he thinks God should answer his prayer. d. Verses 1 and 2 show emotion, verses 3 and 4 show thinking; affections and arguments e. Dale Ralph Davis calls this the knee-jerk reaction of faith or the instinct of faith. i. Someone that has so immersed their life in a pattern of turning to God, turning to God, turning to God simply turns to Him once more even if they don’t understand. ii. Reminds me of Naomi in the book of Ruth. She lost her husband and then she lost her two adult sons after they married but before they had children. She was returning to her home village broken and bitter. In fact, she asked to be called no longer Naomi but “Mara” because the almighty has dealt bitterly with her – and yet she takes her complaint to the Lord. iii. Friends, this is one reason why building rhythms and routines into your spiritual life aren’t legalistic but wise – planning to be in fellowship every Sunday, opening your Bible at home in the morning, praying before you close your eyes at night. 3. Trusting (13:5-6) This psalm pivots on this one word – “but.” Michael Jinkins says that the words “but” or “however” are found in every lament because lamenting trust is not merely a belief or conviction; it is trusting despite what circumstances might lead one to believe. Psalm 31:12, 14 I am forgotten as a dead man, out of mind; I am like a broken vessel. … 14 But as for me, I trust in You, O LORD, I say, "You are my God." Psalm 71:10 For my enemies have spoken against me; And those who watch for my life have consulted together, … 14 But as for me, I will hope continually, And will praise You yet more and more. a. Remember God’s loyal love i. I have trusted in your lovingkindness ii. “Lovingkindness” is one of my favorite words in the Bible. You may have heard the Hebrew word hesed that lies behind it. It doesn’t translate well into English which is why translations us words like “loyal love,” “steadfast love,” or “unfailing love” to capture it. iii. Davis - Not merely love but loyal love, not merely kindness but dependable kindness, not merely affection but affection that has committed itself. iv. Psalm 94:18-19 If I should say, "My foot has slipped," Your hesed, O LORD, will hold me up. 19 When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, Your consolations delight my soul. 1. Love that has glue attached to it so it sticks to you. v. Psalm 23:6 Surely goodness and hesed will follow me all the days of my life, 1. “Follow” more has the idea of “pursue” – used of an enemy in hot pursuit of someone but here it’s not used of an enemy but of God’s hesed, in pursuit to do good. vi. Michael Card: In three important laments, Psalms 13 and 69 and Jeremiah's Lamentations, the word hesed appears at this turning point. It marks the transition from despair to hope, from emptiness to a new possibility of becoming filled once more. It's as if David and Jeremiah had to run out of doubt and despair, and run out of words - except for this one untranslatable word. vii. David doesn’t look inward for some inner resolve. He doesn’t look at his circumstances; they don’t change from verse 1 to verse 5. He fastens on to God’s character. b. Cling to God’s salvation i. Psalm 77 is another powerful lament that turns on a remembrance of God’s salvation. 1. Psalm 77:8-9 Has His lovingkindness ceased forever? Has His promise come to an end forever? 9 Has God forgotten to be gracious, Or has He in anger withdrawn His compassion? Selah. 2. Psalm 77:11 I shall remember the deeds of the LORD; Surely I will remember Your wonders of old. 3. Psalm 77:20 You led Your people like a flock By the hand of Moses and Aaron. 4. The single greatest redemptive act for the Israelites was the Exodus. It’s an anchor for their souls. 5. Mark Vroegop: For the Christian, the exodus event— the place where we find ultimate deliverance— is the cross of Christ. This is where all our questions— our heartaches and pain— should be taken. The cross shows us that God has already proven himself to be for us and not against us. ii. Even the best known cry of lament is wrapped up in redemption. 1. Psalm 22:1 – my God, my God, why have you forsaken me? 2. Whatever we feel in our suffering about being alone and forgotten by a God who doesn’t understand, the cross declares that isn’t true. c. Consider God’s generosity i. How does David go from crying to singing? 1. We can sing in lament. It doesn’t mean this is happy, joyful singing. We need songs that we can sing when we’re downcast. 2. We sang some of them today. a. Christ the sure and steady anchor b. Be still my soul c. It is well – coming up after the message d. The Solid Rock – v. 2 when darkness veils His lovely face, I rest on His unchanging grace; in every high and stormy gale My anchor holds within the veil 3. What if you aren’t sad? How do you sing those songs? a. We are commanded in Romans 12:15 to rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep. b. Singing songs of lament when we aren’t lamenting is a way to do just that. ii. He sings because he knows that God has dealt bountifully with him. 1. This seems so contrary to what he was saying 4 verses ago. What is it? Has God forgotten him or has God dealt bountifully with him? The first feels true; the second is true. 2. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Rejoice always; 17 pray without ceasing; 18 in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. a. Giving thanks in painful circumstances isn’t to ignore the pain or pretend things are better than they are. b. It is to look beyond and past and around the pain to find things to give thanks for. c. This is God’s will for us in Christ Jesus. 4. Learning to lament a. Be emotionally honest (but respectful) with God. i. This is a relationship. We need to be respectful and fearful. The other truths about God are still true. Yet no one benefits when we pretend we are feeling something other than what we really are experiencing. ii. I think this could be an area that prosperity theology has influenced many Christians – we don’t necessarily expect to be healthy and wealthy, but we do expect to be happy and we expect others to be happy. It makes us uncomfortable when people share their pain. b. Rehearse God’s promises even when circumstances are dark. i. More than just learning these things, these psalms can give voice to our feelings. ii. Like buying a Hallmark greeting card. Some (guys) maybe rush through the aisle, grab a card, look at the back to see the price, and buy it. But others carefully comb through until they find one that expresses what they are thinking but can’t give words to. iii. Be sure what you are clinging to are really His promises, and not assumptions you are making about what God promises. 1. He doesn’t promise ease. He doesn’t promise clear answers in every situation. He doesn’t guarantee long life. c. Choose to trust. i. “Keep trusting the One who keeps you trusting.” John Piper to Mark Vroegop ii. 3/31/2019

“Lament is the language of people who believe in God’s sovereignty but live in a world with tragedy.” Mark Vroegop Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy

1. Crying (13:1‐2) 1. Crying (13:1‐2)

Hebrews 13:5b He Himself has said, "I Numbers 6:24‐26 The LORD bless you, WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL and keep you; 25 The LORD make His I EVER FORSAKE YOU," face shine on you, And be gracious 26 Matthew 28:20b I am with you always, to you; The LORD lift up His even to the end of the age. countenance on you, And give you peace.'

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1. Crying (13:1‐2) 1. Crying (13:1‐2)

Psalm 10:1 Why do You stand afar off, O Psalm 42:9 I will say to God my rock, LORD? Why do You hide Yourself in "Why have You forgotten me? Why times of trouble? do I go mourning because of the Psalm 22:1‐2 My God, my God, why oppression of the enemy?” have You forsaken me? Far from my deliverance are the words of my groaning. 2 O my God, I cry by day, but You do not answer; And by night, but I have no rest.

1. Crying (13:1‐2) 2. Requesting (13:3‐4)

Psalm 44:23‐24 Arouse Yourself, why do You sleep, O Lord? Awake, do not reject us forever. 24 Why do You hide Your face And forget our affliction and our oppression?

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3. Trusting (13:5‐6) 3. Trusting (13:5‐6)

Psalm 31:12, 14 I am forgotten as a dead a. Remember God’s loyal love man, out of mind; I am like a broken vessel. … 14 But as for me, I trust in You, Psalm 94:18‐19 If I should say, "My foot O LORD, I say, "You are my God." has slipped," Your hesed, O LORD, will Psalm 71:10 For my enemies have hold me up. 19 When my anxious spoken against me; And those who thoughts multiply within me, Your watch for my life have consulted consolations delight my soul. together, … 14 But as for me, I will hope continually, And will praise You yet Psalm 23:6 Surely goodness and hesed more and more. will follow me all the days of my life,

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3. Trusting (13:5‐6) 3. Trusting (13:5‐6)

a. Remember God’s loyal love b.Cling to God’s salvation Michael Card: In three important laments, Psalms 13 Psalm 77:8‐9 Has His lovingkindness and 69 and Jeremiah's Lamentations, the word His hesed appears at this turning point. It marks the ceased forever? Has promise come 9 transition from despair to hope, from emptiness to an end forever? Has God to a new possibility of becoming filled once forgotten to be gracious, Or has He in more. It's as if David and Jeremiah had to run out anger withdrawn His compassion? of doubt and despair, and run out of words ‐ except for this one untranslatable word. Selah.

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3. Trusting (13:5‐6) 3. Trusting (13:5‐6)

b.Cling to God’s salvation b.Cling to God’s salvation Psalm 77:11, 20 I shall remember the For the Christian, the exodus event— the deeds of the LORD; Surely I will place where we find ultimate deliverance— is remember Your wonders of old. . . You the cross of Christ. This is where all our questions— our heartaches and pain— led Your people like a flock By the should be taken. The cross shows us that God hand of Moses and Aaron. has already proven Himself to be for us and not against us. ‐Mark Vroegop

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3. Trusting (13:5‐6) 4. Learning to lament

c. Consider God’s generosity a. Be emotionally honest (but 1 Thessalonians 5:16‐18 Rejoice always; respectful) with God. 17 pray without ceasing; 18 in b.Rehearse God’s promises even when everything give thanks; for this is circumstances are dark. God's will for you in Christ Jesus. c. Choose to trust. “Keep trusting the One who keeps you trusting.”

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