WEEK THREE

Songs of Lament

When we are heartbroken or angry at the way life has turned out, it can be tempting to turn away from God and write Him off. But David and the other psalmists didn’t hide their feelings of disappointment in God. They felt all the feels and poured out their anger, confusion and longing.
This week, may these psalms of lament speak deeply to your soul and give you renewed courage to bring your full heart to God, even when you don’t understand what He’s up to.

 

Day 1 – Psalm 13

Psalm 13:1-6

How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever?
    How long will you hide your face from me?
How 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?

Consider and answer me, O Lord my God;
    light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death,
lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed over him,”
    lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken.

But I have trusted in your steadfast love;
    my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.
I will sing to the Lord,
    because he has dealt bountifully with me.

 

Day 2 – Psalm 22

Psalm 22:1-2, 10-11

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
    Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning?
O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer,
    and by night, but I find no rest.

On you was I cast from my birth,
    and from my mother’s womb you have been my God.
Be not far from me,
    for trouble is near,
    and there is none to help.

 

Day 3 – Psalm 6

Psalm 6:4-7

Turn, O Lord, deliver my life;
    save me for the sake of your steadfast love.
For in death there is no remembrance of you;
    in Sheol who will give you praise?

I am weary with my moaning;
    every night I flood my bed with tears;
    I drench my couch with my weeping.
My eye wastes away because of grief;
    it grows weak because of all my foes.

 

Day 4 – Psalm 130

Psalm 130:1-4

Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord!
   O Lord, hear my voice!
Let your ears be attentive
    to the voice of my pleas for mercy!

If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities,
    O Lord, who could stand?
But with you there is forgiveness,
    that you may be feared.

 

Day 5 – Psalm 42

Psalm 42:1-3, 5

As a deer pants for flowing streams,
    so pants my soul for you, O God.
My soul thirsts for God,
    for the living God.
When shall I come and appear before God?
My tears have been my food
    day and night,
while they say to me all the day long,
    “Where is your God?”

Why are you cast down, O my soul,
    and why are you in turmoil within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
    my salvation and my God.

GO DEEPER

Humble shepherd. Giant-slayer. Gifted poet. Mighty warrior. Flawed man. Legendary leader. If you’d like to learn more about David, the writer of many of the psalms, check out this 5-part RightNow Media series by Andy Stanley.

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