LISTEN

This sermon was preached by Mike Knight at the Ladybarn site of Christ Church Manchester on Sunday 14th August 2022.

BIBLE VERSES

This sermon was based on Psalms 13.

How Long, O Lord?

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.

1 How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever?

How long will you hide your face from me?

2How long must I take counsel in my soul

and have sorrow in my heart all the day?

How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?

3 Consider and answer me, O Lord my God;

light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death,

4 lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed over him,”

lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken.

5But I have trusted in your steadfast love;

my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.

6I will sing to the Lord,

because he has dealt bountifully with me.

KEY POINTS

Coming to God

• David addresses God directly.
• Acknowledging God is in control.
• God restored relationship with us through suffering.

Praying in the Pain

• David is in real anguish.
• Lamenting is worship. Worship being all of ourselves coming to God.
• David pouring out his genuine pain before God.

Asking God for Help

• In spite of David’s pain, the anguish he’s experiencing, there is real faith.
• Short-term healing vs wrapping yourself intimately with God.
• Complaint vs Lament

Trusting God

• There is salvation in pouring out our pain before God.
• Finding meaning in our lament with the gospel.
• Deepening our relationship with God through lamenting.
• God longs for closeness with us.

Further Resource(s)

• Romans 8:28
• Hebrews 5:7
• “There is not a single Psalm of lament that stops with lamentation. Lamentation has no meaning in and of itself. The lament appeals to the one who can remove suffering.” – Claus Westermann
• “The purpose of lament is to reconstruct meaning when suffering leaves us disoriented.” – Elizabeth Hall

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