The Confident Lamenter Sermon (David Lundberg)

As humans we can find ways to pretty much argue about anything. But there do exist certain facts upon which everyone would unanimously agree. That uncontested fact is this: "Life is full of sorrows"

- Jeff hit on this a bit last week from Psalm 3 that when everything seems to be falling apart and the feeling of panic sets in- we can run to God in prayer. - This week we are going to take a closer look at the emotional responses that come when our problems don't seem to go away or keep coming back- when we fall into a deep state of lament. - This topic of Christians expressing deep feelings like depression, grief and sorrow can be a little edgy at times. - As humans we've been designed by God to have emotions, and surely we see all sides of them expressed by the world - But as Christians these strong emotions can be confusing to us or cause a great deal of guilt b/c we hear things like "As a Christian we've been given the greatest gift anyone could ever have, so how could we ever be down- we should always be happy!" "How could a Christian ever be depressed?!" - But then we see in the scriptures that God Himself expresses a great deal of emotions including things like anger, grief and sorrow

So how are we as Christians to respond when life gets hard and emotions like grief and sorrow sink in?

A. I've reflected on this in my own life and realized I’ve had a variety of differing emotional responses- many that have changed as I experienced different circumstances or walked through different seasons of life. Here are a few that I've compiled to see if you perhaps can relate to any...

B. The "FAKE IT 'TILL YOU MAKE IT" response: A response where you feel guilt to express any sort of negative emotion as a Christian. That you should always be happy, and these "negative emotions" are simply fruit of your flesh, caused by a lack of faith on your part. This usually leads to plastering a smile on your face no matter how you feel on the inside as you don't want others to see your weakness or judge your standing as a believer. C. The "SADNESS" response: A response where you are easily drowned by your emotions under a trial- that you can't see past yourself in them which leaves you to feel victimized by God and the world. Completely abandoned or that God is either: a. not there for you b. doesn't care about your problems c. is punishing you d. or is not able to help you (b/c it's out of His control). D. The "TIN-MAN" response: One of my faves. A response where there really is no response at all. You instantly accept the trials that come your way without expressing any sort of emotion about it whatsoever and just sort of wait for it to do whatever it's going to do. You can't change it, it's the hand you've been dealt- so what's the point of thinking deeper about it. E. The "FICKLE FAITH" response. This response is when you love and believe in God, but a trial reveals that you don't not fully TRUST Him. You feel closest to Him when life seems balanced, comfortable and steady, yet, begin to question His providence, control, and goodness when things take a turn. Your devotion, adoration and focus on Him seem to go hand-in-hand with your feelings of being properly cared for, protected and loved. When these expectations are no longer met, devotion turns into infidelity and worship takes a hiatus.

F. I'm sure many of you can relate to some of these and maybe asking the same thing I did after thinking through this list. Is there a better option?! Do we have any biblical guidance that can teach us to lament well? Psalm 4 does just this...

A. In it, David responds to his trials with what I call a "CONFIDENT LAMENTOR" response. It could be looked at as a "both/and" response as my wife likes to refer to it- Meaning that our response to a trial doesn't have

1 to be an “either/or” emotion- (ie choosing hope over sorrow, or sorrow over hope- but that both can be expressed and held on to at the same time. B. I love how one preacher describes it as an "AMBIDEXTROUS FAITH". He says... "True faith is always ambidextrous. It can receive blessings from God with one hand- and receive trouble from God with the other hand, yet, hold on to BOTH with confidence that God is still good and that God is still in control."

So, this is our takeaway this morning Church- that we can

Lament with hopeful confidence when life gets hard

In our text this morning we will look at 4 points that describe a Confident Lamentor.. That when life gets hard a Confident Lamentor…

1) Looks to God as their righteousness 2) Reflects on past mercies for present hope 3) Knows what it means to be God's Child 4) Rests in God's Provision

A. In Psalm 4 we know that David is under a great deal of pressure from his detractors. It is unclear whether or not Psalm 4 is a continuation of Psalm 3 (some have labeled psalm 3 as the morning prayer and 4 as the evening prayer)- but there isn't clear evidence of this so we can't be sure. B. So whether or not David is still fleeing from Absalom, or some other detractors- we do know that he is isolated, being slandered and shamed by those who were once closest to him- yet his overall posture seems to remain confident in the Lord. C. Now, I am going out on a ledge here in assuming that none of you were once an honored king, betrayed and slandered by those closest to you. Yet, grief is grief and sorrow is sorrow, isn't it?! D. Our outward circumstances will all look different, yet they all funnel right into the very same center of all our hearts and bring out the same feeling of hurt and sorrow. E. This Psalm was written with this in mind, so that it would connect with all of God's people in their individual seasons of grief and sorrow F. We see this in the intro… "To The Choirmaster with Stringed Instruments…" G. This Psalm was not a personal poem or song written for David, by David. It was addressed to a specific person= the Choirmaster. This was essentially an appointed Worship Leader in the temple. H. It was addressed to the worship leader so that all of God's people could learn and sing it- to find encouragement during hard times. These Psalms were the songbook of the church and meant to be relevant to every Child of God when they assembled for worship- even for us today!

So let's jump in to our first point- a Confident Lamentor:

MP1: Looks to God as their righteousness (look with me at vs 1)

Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness!

A. This Psalm begins with a bold appeal to God. It's interesting that David doesn't run to others or feels unworthy to approach God at all. Instead, he goes directly to God. B. At first glance, "Answer me when I call" can sound like David is trying to be authoritative over God or demanding. But this is not the case. Rather, he says it in great faith and confidence b/c he knows he has direct access to God and that He is listens C. This confidence came from knowing that he could approach God not because he was worthy enough, but b/c God had chosen to clothe David in His righteousness. D. David is trusting in God's character- NOT HIS. David knew who David was. He knew the sins he constantly committed and his inability to be righteous on his own.

2 E. He could never trust his ability, but he could trust God's and knew that that was his new identity- Righteous in God. F. Reminds me of the great hymn "Before the Throne of God Above".. "When satan tempts me to despair, and tells me of the guilt within, upward I look and see Him there, who made an end to all my sin. B/c the sinless savior died, my sinful soul is counted free- for God the just is satisfied to look on Him and pardon me. G. I think it's important to understand that a lot of the messes David got into weren't just a result of bad luck. While David is best known as the "man after God's own heart", he made a lot of terrible decisions which reaped a bitter harvest of suffering. H. Imagine the mental battle it would be if you were in his shoes. On one hand he knows that he's betrayed himself through the bad choices he made- on the other he is betrayed by others who were like family to him. I. You can't hope in yourself- you can't hope in others- where do you go?! J. He boldly approaches God with Hopeful confidence b/c he knows God has chosen to bestow His grace upon him and exchange his filthy rags with that of a perfectly righteous substitute who executes perfect justice:

Jeremiah 23:5-6 (ESV) 5 “Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. 6 In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: ‘The LORD is our righteousness.’

So, where do you run when life gets hard? Do you have confidence this morning to approach God boldly when you feel deep sorrow or distress, or do you perhaps try to avoid Him because you are ashamed or feel unworthy?

K. Know that God is so glorified when we express boldness in coming to Him in our sorrow b/c this BOASTS of the Gospel. It magnifies the cross of our Lord Jesus- who lived a perfect and sinless life, storing up righteousness so that the "great exchange" could take place for His people. L. His righteousness for our wickedness - His innocence for our guilt, His intimacy with God for our alienation from God. M. We don't have to place trust in ourselves any longer- we have a new representative. Jesus provided the way for us to have open access to God so that we can go to Him no matter what the circumstances are.

This is a wonderful thing that we should reflect on over and over- which brings us to our second point:

A confident Lamentor... MP 2: Reflects on past mercies for present hope (vs 1)

You have given me relief when I was in distress. Be gracious to me and hear my prayer!

A. Here as David prays, he brings up the times that God has provided him relief before. As if to say "You've been there for me before- you will do it again!" B. Look at the words "relief" and "distress". This word relief essentially means to expand or widen and the word distress means narrow or tight. Notice that David is not necessarily saying that God always removes him from his problems, rather, provides him relief while in the thick of them. C. That when pressure starts to build up (again and again) and things get smaller and tighter around him- God expands and widens him in it so as to not be overtaken by the pressure. God is there with Him to help him endure through the trial. D. Memorials of God's faithfulness in redeeming His people are mentioned all throughout scripture whether they were altars of stones, scriptures written over doorposts, phenomenal weather events recorded in history, songs that could be sung, or letters bound into a collection of books.

3 E. But we also see a pattern in scripture over and over where God was there for His people (did amazing things!), yet, time and time again they acted as if He had never done a thing for them. F. We are all prone to this which is why we need to be constantly looking back to the times God has been there for us. G. Now, what I'm not saying is looking back for the purpose of ESCAPE, rather, looking back for the purpose of PERSPECTIVE. Not coveting the "good ole days" wishing you could go back to them b/c life stinks now. H. Instead, embracing the season God has you in while looking back to the times He has been there before so that your perspective is refreshed and you will have hope and endure. I. Psalm 77 gives us a great example of what this looks like. It's a Psalm written by Asaph who happens to be in a great state of lament and seems to be losing his grip on hope- BUT he then reflects on what the Lord has done which changes his perspective… read with me Psalms 77:7-15 (ESV) 7 “Will the Lord spurn forever, and never again be favorable? 8 Has his steadfast love forever ceased? Are his promises at an end for all time? 9 Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has he in anger shut up his compassion?” Selah 10 Then I said, “I will appeal to this, to the years of the right hand of the Most High.” 11 I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your wonders of old. 12 I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds. 13 Your way, O God, is holy. What god is great like our God? 14 You are the God who works wonders; you have made known your might among the peoples. 15 You with your arm redeemed your people, the children of Jacob and Joseph.

J. Has his steadfast love forever ceased? Have you ever asked that?! Are his promises at an end for all time? Have you ever questioned God's trust? Has God forgotten to be gracious? Have you ever wondered if He was withholding? Has he in anger shut up his compassion? Have you ever thought that God had abandoned you?

K. We have all asked these same questions when the pressure got real and the walls started closing in around us. Because the smaller our space got the harder it became to see anything passed ourselves. L. Church- the longer we walk forward without looking up or back, the weaker we become because we lose our perspective and get too comfortable with ourselves- thinking we got this. M. Do you reflect on the times the Lord has come through for you? If so, what does it look like? - Maybe the time you had no idea how you were going to pay your next bill- but the Lord got you through - maybe the time you were so deep in your sorrow- you didn't know how you were going to take another step, but you took one, and another, and another, and many more - maybe it's that scar you look at every day in the mirror, or the child you have that the Dr's said would never make it- but the Lord got you through. N. I wasn't saved until I was 21 and had to reap the bitter harvest of my flesh being in the driver's seat throughout HighSchool and my time serving in the NAVY. I made a complete mess of many things. O. 17 years later I still reflect on how the Lord changed me and revealed Himself to me my last year in the NAVY. I'll never forget the freedom I felt as I drove my little car down interstate 5, broke as a

4 joke, fuel light blinking, smoking my cigarettes and balling as I was singing along to my new favorite song from the first Christian rock band I ever heard- Audio Adrenaline. P. Here was a broken young adult, exhausted from a life of many bad decisions singing this at the top of his lungs:

I've watched my dreams all fade away, and blister in the sun Everything I've ever had is unraveled and undone I've set upon a worthless stack of my ambitious plans And the people that I've loved the most, have turned their backs and ran But This is the good life- I've lost everything I could ever want- and ever dream of This is the good life- I found everything I could ever need, Here in your arms

Q. I also still hold on to the first bible and devotional I used as a brand new Christian, not for the sake of worshiping them like some relic. But to remember. To remember God's goodness in saving me and to remind me that He has started a work in me AND WILL COMPLETE IT TO THE VERY END. He's helped me before, surely He will be there again. I can count on Him. R. You can count on him because of what I just shared- and someone else can count on him because of what you share. It's not just our own experiences we can look back on but others who have seen the Lord's hand working in their lives too! Why? S. Because if Jesus is your Lord, then you are a child of God and you get to see how He's a good Father to all of His children T. This brings us to our next point

So far we've covered that a confident lamentor: - Looks to God as their Righteousness - Reflects on past mercies for present hope And now we see that a confident lamentor

MP 3: Knows what it means to be God's child (vs 2-3)

O men, how long shall my honor be turned into shame? How long will you love vain words and seek after lies? Selah But know that the LORD has set apart the godly for himself; the LORD hears when I call to him.

A. Now, David shifts from praying to God to confidently challenging his detractors with somewhat of a rhetorical question… B. "How Long?!".... David asks. Most Theologians agree that David is not asking "how long" from a posture of weakness (as if their constant pursuit of him were finally wearing him down to the brink of surrender) C. Rather, David is attempting to get them to open their eyes to see the BIGGER picture. To plead with them to wake up and realize that they are poking a very, very big bear. D. His two facts then come across like warning shots fired over the bow of a ship- that maybe if they knew that the one they were mocking was set apart by the Most High God- divinely chosen as His favored one and has special privileges to directly communicate w/ Him- they would immediately stop. E. David then exhorts them to repent and start living rightly for God- look with me at verse 4: 4 Be angry, and do not sin; ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent. Selah 5 Offer right sacrifices, and put your trust in the LORD.

F. This word "angry" really means to tremble, stand in awe or to be afraid- essentially what David is saying is:

5 "Fear the Lord and stop sinning against Him- pipe down and think deeply about what you are doing. Stop provoking Him to anger and start living in a way that pleases Him- live for Him!" G. Though David's circumstances were certainly uncomfortable and have led him to experience grief and sorrow- David can lament with confidence knowing that he belongs to God who fervently cares for His own. H. I think it's easy for us to acknowledge that God is good and that He loves us. But do we really take the time to think about what it means that we are God's children and He is a Father to us? Have you ever personalized this- that God has called you, He has set you apart for Himself and graced you with the privilege to talk and commune with Him directly? I. Dr. Martin Lloyd Jones adds some great color to this: "If you should ask me to state in one phrase what I regard as the greatest defect in most Christian lives I would say that it is our failure to know God as our father. Ah yes, we say, we do know that and believe it. But do we know it in our daily life and living? Is it something of which we are always conscious? If only we got hold of this, we could smile in the face of every possibility and eventuality that lies ahead of us. J. For you parents out there- think about the great lengths you would go to for your child. The sleepless nights you would spend with them as they fight off the flu. The time and the things you would sacrifice just to be there to talk with them when they are down or need you. K. While looking for a good illustration on this point I stumbled upon an article that was titled "Proof mothers are superheroes". They listed incredible stories of mothers who went to great lengths to save their children. I was amazed at some of these stories: - One mother picked up and held on to a car that pinned her son as he worked on it - Another chased down and fought off a shark that had carried her daughter away while surfing - One sacrificed herself during a tornado by shielding her 3 children under a mattress and laying on top of it as the house collapsed over them. - One mom hurled herself in front of her children as armed gunmen opened fired during a robbery- she ended up with a few bullet holes in her back but her kids were untouched.

L. If we as sinful parents express such a love and desire to care for our children, how much more would a perfect God towards His own?! M. Church- be encouraged that you are in the fold of God. That even when trials come your way and you taste of grief and sorrow- your Shepherd is watching over you and will not lose any of his sheep: N. John 10:27-29 (ESV) 27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand.

So a confident lamentor: - Looks to God as their Righteousness - Reflects on past mercies for present hope - Knows what is means to be God's child And lastly: Rests in God's Provision

MP4: Rests in God's Provision

A. David ends this Psalm pointing to the Lord as the only source of true goodness and prosperity in a world that is full of sorrows. B. Where many skeptics taunt that there is no permanent goodness or hope to be found- David presents the LORD as the only answer (look with me at verse 6-7)

6 There are many who say, “Who will show us some good? Lift up the light of your face upon us, O LORD!” 7 You have put more joy in my heart

6 than they have when their grain and wine abound.

C. David has had the blessing of God's divine favor upon him which had shown him that no material worldly thing could ever match. It revealed that many seek out joy and contentment through worldly abundance and prosperity which is fleeting and vanity. D. To David's detractors, his humiliating circumstances of losing his throne, living as a fugitive, and being slandered were nothing close to "good"- that David was worthless and should have nothing to hope in. E. Yet David is responding that even in these circumstances, the Lord has provided him more than they could ever have even as they live like kings and seem to have everything going for them. F. Interesting how men who seem to have it all can really be missing everything. This is what David is getting at... G. If you are a Christian here this morning- the Lord has "shined His face upon YOU" placing His divine favor upon you through His son Jesus Christ. You have been given everything you could ever need in Christ despite your circumstances- DO YOU RECOGNIZE THIS? H. One Theologian says it best: "It is better to feel God's favor for one hour in our repenting souls, than to sit whole ages under the warmest sunshine that this world affords." I. David's problems don't seem to go away in this Psalm. He's still in the thick of them. Though he laments, he remains confident that the Lord will provide everything he needs. So what does he do? He goes to bed! He lays down and does not fear (look with me at verse 8) 8 In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.

J. I believe one of the biggest impacts on us as we experience grief and sorrow is our sleep. K. It's almost as if the busyness of the day can be just enough of a distraction to keep our minds off of what's really going on. But then nightime comes around and the silence makes way for our brains to go into overdrive- reflecting on how we are really doing. L. But if you have Christ this morning- you can sleep in peace. You can be a confident lamentor when life gets hard. While it may not be clear exactly what He is doing in your circumstances today- it's crystal clear what He did on the cross 2,000 yrs ago. M. It was then, before you were even born that He solved the biggest problem you would ever face. N. Because of the fall, you came into this world, born with a nature to sin. You were hard-wired to sin and it separated you from a Holy God placing enmity between you and Him. O. Because this was your natural state- there was no way you could ever get rid of it and it's final blow was the death penalty. You were guilty on all counts before God for the sinful things you would think and the sinful things you would do. P. BUT GOD, made a way for you Q. He sent His perfect and righteous son, Jesus, to our world. A mission to set His people free. The cost was great. He had to come into our world to experience our life- Our sorrows, our temptations, our emotions R. But He did what no one could ever do- he lived life as a man without ever sinning despite his circumstances. He was pure, unblemished and perfect and in Him the Lord was well pleased S. But it wasn't finished- He couldn't just hand over this righteousness to you as a gift because a perfect God demands perfect justice. Someone still had to pay for the sins you committed. So Christ went to the cross, He who knew no sin took on your sin and drank the bitter cup of God's wrath. He suffered the worst death on your behalf which fully satisfied the justice the God demanded. T. As He took His final breath, He said "It is finished" and it was finished- for good. And since you placed your faith and trust in Jesus your old self has been crucified with Christ and it is no longer you who live, but Christ who lives in you. U. This is the difference it makes when we lament compared to the world. While we still live in a world that's broken and will continue to experience grief and sorrow- we can lament with confidence knowing that

7 - God is our Righteousness - His past mercies provide us present hope - That He fervently looks after His children while we are on this earth - He has given us Christ and will provide for our needs so we can rest

If you are here this morning and you have not placed your faith and trust in Christ will you reason with me for a sec?

A. What do you find hope and confidence in when life gets hard? B. Maybe your answer is "nothing". Then I would implore you to turn to Jesus- and start living for Him. See that trusting in yourself can only take you so far- it won't be enough in the end. But Jesus is enough and you can be clothed in His righteousness like David (despite what you've done). C. Maybe your answer is "I already have what I need to get me through hard times. I have wealth, family, friends, substances, or vacation homes…" D. To that I would ask, how long are those things going to come through for you? There is another uncontested fact that we all agree with- that our lives will end. This means you will lose your wealth, your family, friends, vacation homes.. E. But the bible says this: “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. - 1 Cor 15:55-57 F. I get it that things on this earth can feel comforting and no doubt they bring great joy- but it's only for a time. And then what? G. I'd like to leave you with a question. This question comes from part of the song lyrics I read earlier and was a great help to me. As David said in this Psalm- I would ask you to do likewise: H. Please ponder this question in your heart, on your bed when you lay down tonight, and be silent as you think about it..

The question is this: - what good would it be if you had everything but what you didn’t have was the only thing you need?

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