A voice for the darkness
Series: Summer @ St. Paul's
Speaker: Nick Freestone
Date: 20th January 2018
Passage: Psalm 88:1-18
00:00:00 --> 00:00:05 I want to ask you a question. See if you can remember. When was the first time you picked up
00:00:05 --> 00:00:12 a Bible? Just think back. I praise God that was a long time ago, but I've seen it in movies and
00:00:12 --> 00:00:19 I've seen other people do it. How do you approach this? Where do you start? Do you start at the
00:00:19 --> 00:00:25 title page? Do you start somewhere in the middle? Do you flick through and pick?
00:00:25 --> 00:00:31 Maybe you started the New Testament. The first Bible I remember receiving from someone
00:00:31 --> 00:00:39 was a little New Testament. So it started in Matthew. But because I wanted to do a little
00:00:39 --> 00:00:44 experiment this week, I got one of our church Bibles and I opened it up and I did the old
00:00:44 --> 00:00:51 flick, flick, flick, flick point. And this is the verse where I landed.
00:00:51 --> 00:00:59 How long, O Lord, will you forget me forever? Psalm 13 verse 1.
00:01:01 --> 00:01:09 Imagine those being the first words you ever read in the Bible. These questions that you
00:01:09 --> 00:01:16 might have of God at that point would be fair. What kind of God is he? Does he even care about
00:01:16 --> 00:01:25 people? Why is his special book seemingly complaining to him? Is being forgotten by God what I should
00:01:25 --> 00:01:34 expect if he's real? There are some parts of the Bible that just don't seem to belong.
00:01:35 --> 00:01:43 I described this psalm to one of our fellow staff members this week, Veronica, just over a coffee in
00:01:43 --> 00:01:52 the morning. And she said, oh, that's a bit strange. Is that what you thought when Psalm 88 was being read out?
00:01:54 --> 00:02:01 There are more parts of the Bible like it. There are more weird parts. There are more parts of the
00:02:01 --> 00:02:08 Bible like Psalm 88 and they're called laments. They're difficult. They're outpourings of pain and grief,
00:02:08 --> 00:02:16 loss and fear. They can seem really strange. They don't pull punches. They often contain questions
00:02:16 --> 00:02:24 in complaints and complaints against God himself. So how do we read those without skipping past
00:02:24 --> 00:02:32 or just shutting our Bibles? How do you sit here right now in church,
00:02:32 --> 00:02:43 hear Psalm 88 and not walk out the door again? Is there anything to be gained by reading and praying
00:02:43 --> 00:02:53 with or joining in with a lament like this? I don't know about you, but when I first read this psalm,
00:02:53 --> 00:03:01 I didn't expect to see it in the Bible. Before we dive into it right now though, let me say something
00:03:01 --> 00:03:09 with confidence. All of the Bible beginning to end is there on purpose, even if it looks like it's
00:03:09 --> 00:03:18 warts and all. Each week at St. Paul's we preach a small part of all of it on purpose and without
00:03:18 --> 00:03:25 leaving any of it out as we go. And we value what the Bible says as it says it. And to leave any of it
00:03:25 --> 00:03:34 out would be a big mistake. It may be that Psalm 88 is exactly what you need right now.
00:03:35 --> 00:03:41 It will push you to think differently, maybe challenge the way you think about God and perhaps
00:03:41 --> 00:03:50 expose a shallowed or sheltered idea about him that you might have or about his path for you as a follower
00:03:50 --> 00:03:59 of Jesus. Or this could be exactly how you're praying in your life right now.
00:04:01 --> 00:04:11 But I believe that we all need lament in our lives, as difficult as they may seem in your season of life
00:04:11 --> 00:04:17 right now. So as we tackle this, don't be afraid. Don't expect some sort of scandal. Oh, Steve's away.
00:04:17 --> 00:04:25 Nick's doing whatever he wants. Rather, God's Word is a beautiful tapestry.
00:04:27 --> 00:04:35 It's woven together with a skill unmatched by any human mind. It's planned and laid out with grace.
00:04:36 --> 00:04:41 It's stitched together with the history of our world as we know it and painted on purpose with
00:04:41 --> 00:04:46 all the colours of the spectrum, even the dark colours.
00:04:51 --> 00:04:58 If you were an artist and you had to pick a book in the Bible to study, you would pick Psalms.
00:04:59 --> 00:05:06 Psalms is a book of poems and songs and prayers gathered up over hundreds of years of Israel's
00:05:06 --> 00:05:12 history, crafted together and bound as a prayer book for God's people and for us too.
00:05:13 --> 00:05:18 There is wisdom to be found in there as Israel's history is taught through its pages.
00:05:19 --> 00:05:27 Every expression you'd expect from an artist is in there. Exuberant praise, love and devotion,
00:05:27 --> 00:05:29 darkest lament, they're all in there.
00:05:29 --> 00:05:39 As the Psalms express joy in God's deliverance in Israel's history and excitement for his coming
00:05:39 --> 00:05:46 salvation, they don't leave out anything true about God or about their situation.
00:05:47 --> 00:05:55 They don't leave out authentic thoughts and feelings, all while they waited for God's promised
00:05:55 --> 00:05:56 king to come.
00:05:56 --> 00:06:04 So prayer for Israel was always a balance of remembering God's victories and hopefully praising
00:06:04 --> 00:06:11 matched with this authentic outpouring out of where they were truly at.
00:06:12 --> 00:06:18 And if you've ever read some of the Old Testament, heard about what Israel went through, they were
00:06:18 --> 00:06:22 a country who were well acquainted with pain and struggle and suffering.
00:06:22 --> 00:06:27 And many would say that that has never stopped for them.
00:06:30 --> 00:06:33 As you peel back the pages of Psalms, you see pain and joy.
00:06:34 --> 00:06:37 You see their lament and you see their praise.
00:06:38 --> 00:06:46 As a young Christian, a very long time ago, I was taught that laments in the Bible always go
00:06:46 --> 00:06:48 up at the end.
00:06:50 --> 00:06:53 Most do, like Psalm 42.
00:06:53 --> 00:06:57 Psalm 42 has this kind of up and down.
00:06:58 --> 00:07:01 It's reflected in the song that we sing, Bless the Lord are my soul.
00:07:02 --> 00:07:04 It sounds like this.
00:07:06 --> 00:07:12 Things are going very wrong for the person singing this Psalm or praying.
00:07:12 --> 00:07:17 But they decide to yet praise God and look forward with hope.
00:07:17 --> 00:07:19 Verse 3 and verse 5, you can see it.
00:07:20 --> 00:07:22 Day and night, my tears are my food.
00:07:23 --> 00:07:25 That is a desperate lament.
00:07:26 --> 00:07:28 In verse 5, it's followed by,
00:07:29 --> 00:07:31 Why are you a downcast soul within me?
00:07:31 --> 00:07:33 No, no, no, no, no, soul.
00:07:33 --> 00:07:34 Hope in God.
00:07:34 --> 00:07:37 For I will yet praise him.
00:07:39 --> 00:07:43 That movement from pain to praise is a decision.
00:07:45 --> 00:07:48 A decision that the prayer makes because of who God is.
00:07:48 --> 00:07:50 For all he has done for them and his people in the past,
00:07:51 --> 00:07:53 and because of his great promises to come.
00:07:54 --> 00:07:57 And the book of Psalms itself kind of has this trajectory
00:07:57 --> 00:07:59 where there are a lot of laments at the beginning
00:07:59 --> 00:08:01 and lots of praise Psalms at the end.
00:08:01 --> 00:08:07 It actually ends with this repeated Hallelujah Psalm theme.
00:08:07 --> 00:08:09 It's like by the end it's just one genre
00:08:09 --> 00:08:12 just dominating the mixtape.
00:08:13 --> 00:08:14 Hallelujah Psalm.
00:08:14 --> 00:08:15 Hallelujah Psalm.
00:08:15 --> 00:08:18 It ends, the book ends on a huge up.
00:08:19 --> 00:08:22 And that is the pattern that I expect when I read a Psalm.
00:08:22 --> 00:08:30 Then how does a lament like Psalm 88 fit that pattern?
00:08:31 --> 00:08:33 When it ends, as you would have heard before,
00:08:34 --> 00:08:37 darkness is my only friend.
00:08:41 --> 00:08:42 Does Psalm 88 belong?
00:08:42 --> 00:08:42 Does Psalm 88 belong?
00:08:49 --> 00:08:51 What is it trying to say?
00:08:52 --> 00:08:56 Let's take a dive right in and step through it.
00:08:57 --> 00:08:58 We're going to do three things.
00:08:58 --> 00:09:00 We're going to discover what the Psalm is saying
00:09:00 --> 00:09:02 so that we can answer the question,
00:09:03 --> 00:09:04 does it fit?
00:09:05 --> 00:09:07 And that will help us discover what Psalm 88
00:09:07 --> 00:09:10 and laments like it mean for us right now
00:09:10 --> 00:09:11 as God's people.
00:09:11 --> 00:09:15 For me, Psalm 88 is a huge challenge.
00:09:15 --> 00:09:18 I always saw myself as quite in touch with my emotions,
00:09:19 --> 00:09:22 but through seasons of depression
00:09:22 --> 00:09:26 and crippling anxiety and fear,
00:09:27 --> 00:09:31 I can say that I have never been able to pray like this.
00:09:33 --> 00:09:35 Psalm 88 eats my understanding
00:09:35 --> 00:09:38 and expressions of grief for breakfast.
00:09:39 --> 00:09:41 And I want to say that's good news for me
00:09:41 --> 00:09:43 and it's good news for you.
00:09:45 --> 00:09:49 The Psalm reaches people who understand pain,
00:09:49 --> 00:09:52 like Israel did and maybe like you do.
00:09:52 --> 00:09:58 It gives us these words as a gift.
00:09:59 --> 00:10:04 For when it is true that darkness is your closest friend,
00:10:05 --> 00:10:07 because life really does suck sometimes.
00:10:07 --> 00:10:10 And if it didn't,
00:10:11 --> 00:10:12 we'd only have praise Psalms.
00:10:14 --> 00:10:17 But laments are for the darkness.
00:10:19 --> 00:10:22 So let's discover what this prayer is saying
00:10:22 --> 00:10:24 and how it says it.
00:10:25 --> 00:10:26 For those of you taking notes,
00:10:27 --> 00:10:29 there are five parts to this Psalm.
00:10:30 --> 00:10:32 That's not like the Psalmist goes through them in order.
00:10:34 --> 00:10:36 Let me just give you the quick picture.
00:10:36 --> 00:10:38 Praying to God,
00:10:40 --> 00:10:42 sharing the situation with Him,
00:10:43 --> 00:10:44 calling Him to do something about it,
00:10:45 --> 00:10:47 ascribing the blame of what is happening
00:10:47 --> 00:10:49 and questioning God Himself.
00:10:52 --> 00:10:56 First, Psalm 88 is a prayer to God.
00:10:57 --> 00:11:00 Verse 1, verse 9 and verse 13, all together.
00:11:00 --> 00:11:02 Lord, You are the God who saves me.
00:11:03 --> 00:11:04 Day and night I cry to You.
00:11:04 --> 00:11:06 I call to You, Lord, every day.
00:11:06 --> 00:11:08 I spread out my hands to You.
00:11:08 --> 00:11:10 I cry to You for help, Lord.
00:11:10 --> 00:11:12 In the morning, my prayer comes before You.
00:11:13 --> 00:11:15 This is very significant
00:11:15 --> 00:11:17 because you bring your complaint
00:11:17 --> 00:11:21 to the person who can do something about it.
00:11:22 --> 00:11:24 Here at St. Paul's at the moment,
00:11:24 --> 00:11:26 we're not receiving any parcels.
00:11:26 --> 00:11:28 I have no idea why.
00:11:29 --> 00:11:30 It doesn't make any sense.
00:11:32 --> 00:11:36 But I didn't go to the police with that problem.
00:11:36 --> 00:11:38 I didn't go to the Ghostbusters.
00:11:38 --> 00:11:40 I didn't even go to my mom.
00:11:40 --> 00:11:45 I know there's only one source to go to
00:11:45 --> 00:11:47 for that problem to be fixed.
00:11:48 --> 00:11:50 Wisdom says go to the one
00:11:50 --> 00:11:52 who can do something about it.
00:11:52 --> 00:11:54 And that's what praying right looks like
00:11:54 --> 00:11:57 when we're hurting and when we're in need.
00:11:59 --> 00:12:03 We come to the God who saves.
00:12:03 --> 00:12:06 Have a look at verse 1 there.
00:12:06 --> 00:12:09 The psalmist summarizes God's previous faithfulness.
00:12:10 --> 00:12:10 He doesn't say,
00:12:11 --> 00:12:13 God, I know you can save.
00:12:14 --> 00:12:15 Rather, he says,
00:12:16 --> 00:12:17 God saves.
00:12:19 --> 00:12:22 He has shown himself as capable of the past
00:12:22 --> 00:12:24 and he'll be faithful with our future.
00:12:26 --> 00:12:29 This prayer even reminds God of his own character.
00:12:29 --> 00:12:32 Remember, do you say,
00:12:32 --> 00:12:33 hey God, you're the God who saves?
00:12:35 --> 00:12:37 It's pretty bold.
00:12:39 --> 00:12:43 And this prayer is not doing what
00:12:43 --> 00:12:45 I have found myself doing.
00:12:47 --> 00:12:48 I'm not...
00:12:50 --> 00:12:53 This psalm is not calling God to do the right thing
00:12:53 --> 00:12:56 like a whinging entitled teenager does to a parent.
00:12:57 --> 00:12:58 It's not like that.
00:12:58 --> 00:12:59 Rather, the psalmist says,
00:13:00 --> 00:13:02 Lord, you are the God who saves me.
00:13:03 --> 00:13:06 I'm coming to you and you save me.
00:13:06 --> 00:13:09 I believe you will because you have and you can.
00:13:12 --> 00:13:14 Faith in God expressed in the middle
00:13:14 --> 00:13:16 of the hardest of times
00:13:16 --> 00:13:19 is what God wants to hear when we pray.
00:13:19 --> 00:13:22 God doesn't need your recovery from an accident
00:13:22 --> 00:13:25 or your healing after grief already done
00:13:25 --> 00:13:29 to be ready for your motions of words.
00:13:29 --> 00:13:31 No, he actually wants them in the middle
00:13:31 --> 00:13:32 of your tears and your pain.
00:13:34 --> 00:13:36 Take note, there's no line in this psalm that says,
00:13:36 --> 00:13:38 now God, fix this.
00:13:38 --> 00:13:43 Even though it's a desperate prayer,
00:13:43 --> 00:13:47 it's not a list of things that God must take away.
00:13:48 --> 00:13:50 It's a statement of faith first,
00:13:51 --> 00:13:53 dressed up as an authentic expression
00:13:53 --> 00:13:55 of emotions and fears and questions.
00:13:55 --> 00:14:02 So is this permission to say what we really think to God?
00:14:05 --> 00:14:08 Yes, I think this psalm is that permission.
00:14:09 --> 00:14:11 Go to God and tell him how you feel
00:14:11 --> 00:14:13 when you feel it.
00:14:13 --> 00:14:20 Let's see how this prayer is told to God.
00:14:20 --> 00:14:23 Go to verse 3, 4, 5 and 15
00:14:23 --> 00:14:27 and this is the summary of how the psalmist prays.
00:14:28 --> 00:14:29 They are overwhelmed with trouble.
00:14:29 --> 00:14:31 Their life draws near to death.
00:14:31 --> 00:14:32 They're weakened in a ditch.
00:14:32 --> 00:14:33 They're set apart for slaughter.
00:14:33 --> 00:14:36 They're bleeding out and buried alive.
00:14:36 --> 00:14:39 Their youth means nothing because their sickness remains.
00:14:40 --> 00:14:42 They're near enough to touch death
00:14:42 --> 00:14:45 and darkness is their closest friend.
00:14:46 --> 00:14:51 This prayer has few real strong details
00:14:51 --> 00:14:54 and it kind of is as vague as it is extreme.
00:14:55 --> 00:14:58 But remember, this book is songs and poetry
00:14:58 --> 00:14:59 for a nation of people,
00:15:00 --> 00:15:03 all living unique yet connected lives.
00:15:03 --> 00:15:09 And I think this extreme yet general set of situations
00:15:09 --> 00:15:12 are invitations for the one who laments
00:15:12 --> 00:15:15 to insert their pain into those lines
00:15:15 --> 00:15:18 and have those verses echo with their own experiences.
00:15:19 --> 00:15:22 When Adrian read Psalm 88 out,
00:15:23 --> 00:15:26 did any line grab you?
00:15:28 --> 00:15:31 Did it give life to a memory long buried?
00:15:31 --> 00:15:37 Have you ever felt close to death in some way
00:15:37 --> 00:15:41 or trapped and unjustly excluded?
00:15:42 --> 00:15:44 I can look out on this room and know
00:15:44 --> 00:15:46 that that's true for some of you right now
00:15:46 --> 00:15:48 and has been in the past.
00:15:52 --> 00:15:55 This psalm is for praying word for word
00:15:55 --> 00:16:01 while the images in it spark remembering an emotion within us,
00:16:01 --> 00:16:04 helping us express our situations,
00:16:04 --> 00:16:06 the things in our hearts that really hurt,
00:16:07 --> 00:16:10 so that we can lift them up to God.
00:16:11 --> 00:16:14 And we want God to fix these situations, right?
00:16:14 --> 00:16:16 We want his action and justice, yeah?
00:16:18 --> 00:16:20 Look and see what the psalmist does in verse 2.
00:16:20 --> 00:16:25 As they call God to action, they say,
00:16:25 --> 00:16:27 may my prayer come before you.
00:16:28 --> 00:16:31 Turn your ear to hear my cry.
00:16:32 --> 00:16:33 And that's it.
00:16:34 --> 00:16:35 That's all they ask God to do.
00:16:37 --> 00:16:39 Just look and listen.
00:16:43 --> 00:16:45 When we first started parenting,
00:16:45 --> 00:16:48 our little then three-nager, Judson,
00:16:48 --> 00:16:52 he wasn't very good at listening sometimes
00:16:52 --> 00:16:53 after he did something wrong,
00:16:54 --> 00:16:56 especially when he'd done it wrong on purpose.
00:16:57 --> 00:16:59 And I learnt for him that
00:16:59 --> 00:17:02 listening required looking.
00:17:04 --> 00:17:06 I remember gently touching his cheek
00:17:06 --> 00:17:08 and saying, look in my eyes,
00:17:09 --> 00:17:10 and if I didn't do that,
00:17:11 --> 00:17:12 there would be no listening.
00:17:12 --> 00:17:15 But if he turned his face to mine,
00:17:15 --> 00:17:19 he would take in what I needed to say.
00:17:20 --> 00:17:21 And I, or Sam,
00:17:21 --> 00:17:23 could start resolving the problem
00:17:23 --> 00:17:25 that he or we had created.
00:17:26 --> 00:17:29 But that's what it took to get action.
00:17:31 --> 00:17:34 I think that's what's being asked here.
00:17:34 --> 00:17:36 The prayer knows that God hears,
00:17:36 --> 00:17:39 but is so desperate that they're saying,
00:17:39 --> 00:17:42 God, look in my eyes while I say this.
00:17:42 --> 00:17:45 I need you to listen for real
00:17:45 --> 00:17:46 and take action.
00:17:49 --> 00:17:51 In the original language,
00:17:51 --> 00:17:52 the word cry
00:17:52 --> 00:17:54 is actually a stronger word
00:17:54 --> 00:17:57 than cry in English.
00:17:57 --> 00:17:59 It's more like a wail
00:17:59 --> 00:18:01 and a scream together
00:18:01 --> 00:18:03 directed at one person.
00:18:03 --> 00:18:09 The expectation of the prayer
00:18:09 --> 00:18:10 is that God saves.
00:18:11 --> 00:18:13 So then if he truly hears a prayer
00:18:13 --> 00:18:14 like God save me,
00:18:15 --> 00:18:17 it follows that he would act to do so.
00:18:17 --> 00:18:18 The prayer believed this
00:18:18 --> 00:18:20 and I believe this,
00:18:20 --> 00:18:22 but is God doing anything at all?
00:18:22 --> 00:18:23 Is he taking action?
00:18:27 --> 00:18:29 In fact, the psalm answers
00:18:29 --> 00:18:31 by saying that God is taking action,
00:18:31 --> 00:18:34 just not in the way
00:18:34 --> 00:18:35 that we might expect.
00:18:38 --> 00:18:39 In fact, the prayer reckons
00:18:39 --> 00:18:42 that God is doing this to them.
00:18:44 --> 00:18:46 Here's where we take the step together,
00:18:47 --> 00:18:48 right into the confusion
00:18:48 --> 00:18:49 about this psalm,
00:18:49 --> 00:18:50 feeling out of place.
00:18:51 --> 00:18:53 Psalm 88 doesn't lead us around
00:18:53 --> 00:18:55 the discomfort around this.
00:18:56 --> 00:18:57 It says it out loud
00:18:57 --> 00:18:59 and pushes us right in.
00:18:59 --> 00:19:02 I'm going to read some verses now
00:19:02 --> 00:19:04 and these for me
00:19:04 --> 00:19:06 are the hardest bits to hear.
00:19:07 --> 00:19:08 Verse 6,
00:19:09 --> 00:19:11 You have put me in the lowest pit
00:19:11 --> 00:19:13 in the darkest depths.
00:19:13 --> 00:19:14 Verse 7,
00:19:15 --> 00:19:17 Your wrath lies heavily upon me.
00:19:17 --> 00:19:19 You have overwhelmed me
00:19:19 --> 00:19:20 with all of your waves.
00:19:21 --> 00:19:21 Verse 8,
00:19:22 --> 00:19:23 You have taken me
00:19:23 --> 00:19:25 from my closest friends
00:19:25 --> 00:19:27 and have made me repulsive to them.
00:19:27 --> 00:19:28 Verse 15,
00:19:28 --> 00:19:29 From my youth I have suffered
00:19:29 --> 00:19:30 and been close to death.
00:19:31 --> 00:19:32 I have borne your terrors
00:19:32 --> 00:19:33 and am in despair.
00:19:33 --> 00:19:34 6, 10, 7, 8, 10.
00:19:34 --> 00:19:36 Your wrath has swept over me.
00:19:36 --> 00:19:37 Your terrors have destroyed me.
00:19:37 --> 00:19:39 All day long they surround me
00:19:39 --> 00:19:40 like a flood
00:19:40 --> 00:19:41 and they've completely engulfed me.
00:19:42 --> 00:19:44 You have taken from me
00:19:44 --> 00:19:46 friend and neighbour.
00:19:48 --> 00:19:48 God,
00:19:48 --> 00:19:51 you are doing this to me.
00:19:51 --> 00:19:57 It's a big step
00:19:57 --> 00:19:58 to say God
00:19:58 --> 00:20:01 does the bad things
00:20:01 --> 00:20:03 in our lives
00:20:03 --> 00:20:04 to us.
00:20:05 --> 00:20:07 But in the way
00:20:07 --> 00:20:08 this psalm expresses
00:20:08 --> 00:20:10 prayer,
00:20:10 --> 00:20:12 can you step around that?
00:20:12 --> 00:20:17 While God may not be
00:20:17 --> 00:20:18 the one deciding
00:20:18 --> 00:20:19 to pull the trigger,
00:20:20 --> 00:20:21 very often
00:20:21 --> 00:20:23 he's the only one
00:20:23 --> 00:20:24 who could stop the bullet.
00:20:28 --> 00:20:29 Is God really
00:20:29 --> 00:20:31 a control at that level?
00:20:31 --> 00:20:32 Or is it safer
00:20:32 --> 00:20:34 to think that God
00:20:34 --> 00:20:35 is only in charge
00:20:35 --> 00:20:36 over all things
00:20:37 --> 00:20:39 when
00:20:39 --> 00:20:40 over all things
00:20:40 --> 00:20:41 means just the good things
00:20:41 --> 00:20:42 that are happening
00:20:42 --> 00:20:43 in our lives?
00:20:46 --> 00:20:48 He does promise
00:20:48 --> 00:20:49 that he will work
00:20:49 --> 00:20:51 for the good
00:20:51 --> 00:20:52 of those who love him.
00:20:53 --> 00:20:55 It says that in Romans 8, 28.
00:20:57 --> 00:20:58 But his good
00:20:58 --> 00:20:59 for our lives
00:20:59 --> 00:21:00 is woven through
00:21:00 --> 00:21:03 a sometimes horrific mess
00:21:03 --> 00:21:05 of selfish human
00:21:05 --> 00:21:06 horridness
00:21:06 --> 00:21:07 and circumstances.
00:21:08 --> 00:21:09 And it can feel like
00:21:09 --> 00:21:09 those things
00:21:09 --> 00:21:11 are the only thing
00:21:11 --> 00:21:11 in our lives
00:21:11 --> 00:21:12 that is real.
00:21:13 --> 00:21:14 But God
00:21:14 --> 00:21:16 but God's good
00:21:16 --> 00:21:17 for you
00:21:17 --> 00:21:18 for me
00:21:18 --> 00:21:19 and for all believers
00:21:19 --> 00:21:20 through that mess
00:21:20 --> 00:21:21 is real
00:21:21 --> 00:21:23 and true.
00:21:23 --> 00:21:25 Even if it's unseen
00:21:25 --> 00:21:25 for now
00:21:25 --> 00:21:27 for a while
00:21:27 --> 00:21:29 or even if you
00:21:29 --> 00:21:30 don't get to know
00:21:30 --> 00:21:32 what is going on
00:21:32 --> 00:21:33 until you can ask him
00:21:33 --> 00:21:34 face to face.
00:21:34 --> 00:21:38 I mentioned my boy
00:21:38 --> 00:21:38 Judson
00:21:38 --> 00:21:40 he is named
00:21:40 --> 00:21:42 after a famous
00:21:42 --> 00:21:42 missionary
00:21:42 --> 00:21:45 who in the days
00:21:45 --> 00:21:46 of the quill
00:21:46 --> 00:21:48 and sailing ships
00:21:48 --> 00:21:50 and unknown lands
00:21:50 --> 00:21:52 decided to give up
00:21:52 --> 00:21:53 a life of riches
00:21:53 --> 00:21:54 and go to one of those
00:21:54 --> 00:21:55 unknown lands
00:21:55 --> 00:21:56 and tell them about
00:21:56 --> 00:21:57 the gospel.
00:21:59 --> 00:22:00 The gospel
00:22:00 --> 00:22:01 had never been
00:22:01 --> 00:22:01 to Burma
00:22:01 --> 00:22:02 so he just went there.
00:22:02 --> 00:22:05 he spent his life
00:22:05 --> 00:22:06 translating
00:22:06 --> 00:22:07 the Bible
00:22:07 --> 00:22:09 into their language.
00:22:11 --> 00:22:11 He preached
00:22:11 --> 00:22:12 and he taught
00:22:12 --> 00:22:14 and through his ministry
00:22:14 --> 00:22:15 that country
00:22:15 --> 00:22:17 as a whole
00:22:17 --> 00:22:18 heard about Jesus.
00:22:18 --> 00:22:19 There are 10
00:22:19 --> 00:22:20 churches
00:22:20 --> 00:22:21 and up
00:22:21 --> 00:22:22 who can trace
00:22:22 --> 00:22:24 their existence
00:22:24 --> 00:22:26 back to his ministry.
00:22:26 --> 00:22:29 but it came
00:22:29 --> 00:22:30 at a cost.
00:22:31 --> 00:22:32 Incredible persecution
00:22:32 --> 00:22:34 torture
00:22:34 --> 00:22:35 and sickness
00:22:35 --> 00:22:36 mourning
00:22:36 --> 00:22:37 and
00:22:37 --> 00:22:39 lamenting
00:22:39 --> 00:22:40 the loss
00:22:40 --> 00:22:40 of his
00:22:40 --> 00:22:41 wife
00:22:41 --> 00:22:43 and then
00:22:43 --> 00:22:44 his second
00:22:44 --> 00:22:44 as well
00:22:44 --> 00:22:48 the lives
00:22:48 --> 00:22:48 of many
00:22:48 --> 00:22:49 of his children
00:22:49 --> 00:22:51 more than
00:22:51 --> 00:22:52 I have fingers
00:22:52 --> 00:22:53 on my hand
00:22:53 --> 00:22:55 and eventually
00:22:55 --> 00:22:56 his own life
00:22:56 --> 00:22:58 as he got sick
00:22:58 --> 00:23:01 he wrote
00:23:01 --> 00:23:02 to his friends
00:23:02 --> 00:23:03 back in America
00:23:03 --> 00:23:04 and they sent a ship
00:23:04 --> 00:23:06 when it arrived
00:23:06 --> 00:23:07 he was so unwell
00:23:07 --> 00:23:08 and in such pain
00:23:08 --> 00:23:10 that he could barely speak
00:23:10 --> 00:23:12 they put him on the boat
00:23:12 --> 00:23:13 to send him home
00:23:13 --> 00:23:13 to get well
00:23:13 --> 00:23:15 and he died
00:23:15 --> 00:23:16 somewhere
00:23:16 --> 00:23:17 as they
00:23:17 --> 00:23:18 circled around
00:23:18 --> 00:23:21 the bottom of Africa
00:23:21 --> 00:23:22 and they didn't have
00:23:22 --> 00:23:23 anywhere to bury him
00:23:23 --> 00:23:24 so they chucked him
00:23:24 --> 00:23:24 in the sea
00:23:24 --> 00:23:31 he did see
00:23:31 --> 00:23:32 some of his children
00:23:32 --> 00:23:32 live
00:23:32 --> 00:23:34 and grow
00:23:34 --> 00:23:37 he saw a flicker
00:23:37 --> 00:23:37 of light
00:23:37 --> 00:23:38 in his ministry
00:23:38 --> 00:23:39 but it was not
00:23:39 --> 00:23:39 the good
00:23:39 --> 00:23:40 that he expected
00:23:40 --> 00:23:41 no
00:23:41 --> 00:23:42 but
00:23:42 --> 00:23:45 we saw
00:23:45 --> 00:23:45 the good
00:23:45 --> 00:23:47 once he was gone
00:23:47 --> 00:23:49 I can say
00:23:49 --> 00:23:49 that God
00:23:49 --> 00:23:49 was good
00:23:49 --> 00:23:51 to Adoniram Judson
00:23:51 --> 00:23:52 because I see
00:23:52 --> 00:23:53 from my place
00:23:53 --> 00:23:54 in time
00:23:54 --> 00:23:55 how the good
00:23:55 --> 00:23:56 Judson desired
00:23:56 --> 00:23:58 was multiplied
00:23:58 --> 00:24:01 with eternal good
00:24:01 --> 00:24:02 and life saved
00:24:02 --> 00:24:03 but I'm sure
00:24:03 --> 00:24:04 that Psalm 88
00:24:04 --> 00:24:05 was on the lips
00:24:05 --> 00:24:06 of that dear man
00:24:06 --> 00:24:06 more readily
00:24:06 --> 00:24:07 than it is mine
00:24:07 --> 00:24:09 as he battled
00:24:09 --> 00:24:09 with the truth
00:24:09 --> 00:24:10 in the midst
00:24:10 --> 00:24:12 of horrific pain
00:24:12 --> 00:24:13 that God
00:24:13 --> 00:24:14 was being good
00:24:14 --> 00:24:15 to him
00:24:15 --> 00:24:18 do you
00:24:18 --> 00:24:19 know
00:24:19 --> 00:24:20 a shade
00:24:20 --> 00:24:21 of Judson's
00:24:21 --> 00:24:21 darkness
00:24:21 --> 00:24:24 surely
00:24:24 --> 00:24:25 it would be easier
00:24:25 --> 00:24:25 if God just
00:24:25 --> 00:24:26 fixed everything
00:24:26 --> 00:24:29 let me say
00:24:29 --> 00:24:30 God has
00:24:30 --> 00:24:30 fixed two
00:24:30 --> 00:24:32 of the only
00:24:32 --> 00:24:33 important things
00:24:33 --> 00:24:36 and he will
00:24:36 --> 00:24:37 soon fix
00:24:37 --> 00:24:39 everything
00:24:39 --> 00:24:40 once and for all
00:24:40 --> 00:24:43 but while those
00:24:43 --> 00:24:44 things are true
00:24:44 --> 00:24:45 and worthy of
00:24:45 --> 00:24:45 your full acceptance
00:24:45 --> 00:24:46 and confidence
00:24:46 --> 00:24:47 we still battle
00:24:47 --> 00:24:48 reality
00:24:48 --> 00:24:49 mess and pain
00:24:49 --> 00:24:50 and unknown
00:24:50 --> 00:24:51 every single day
00:24:51 --> 00:24:51 and sometimes
00:24:51 --> 00:24:52 there is no
00:24:52 --> 00:24:53 apparent good
00:24:53 --> 00:24:53 of God
00:24:53 --> 00:24:55 in our lives
00:24:55 --> 00:24:55 at all
00:24:55 --> 00:24:57 so if God
00:24:57 --> 00:24:58 has the control
00:24:58 --> 00:24:59 then how should
00:24:59 --> 00:25:00 we proceed
00:25:00 --> 00:25:02 with questioning
00:25:02 --> 00:25:02 him
00:25:02 --> 00:25:06 what can we say
00:25:06 --> 00:25:07 to God
00:25:07 --> 00:25:08 in our mess
00:25:08 --> 00:25:10 that he is
00:25:10 --> 00:25:11 in charge
00:25:11 --> 00:25:11 of in our
00:25:11 --> 00:25:12 lives
00:25:12 --> 00:25:14 how do we
00:25:14 --> 00:25:15 question him
00:25:15 --> 00:25:16 well here's how
00:25:16 --> 00:25:16 it sounds
00:25:16 --> 00:25:17 in the psalm
00:25:17 --> 00:25:17 verse 10
00:25:17 --> 00:25:18 11 12
00:25:18 --> 00:25:18 and 14
00:25:18 --> 00:25:20 do you show
00:25:20 --> 00:25:21 your wonders
00:25:21 --> 00:25:22 to the dead
00:25:22 --> 00:25:23 do their spirits
00:25:23 --> 00:25:24 rise up
00:25:24 --> 00:25:25 and praise you
00:25:25 --> 00:25:25 is your love
00:25:25 --> 00:25:26 declared in the
00:25:26 --> 00:25:27 grave
00:25:27 --> 00:25:28 is your faithfulness
00:25:28 --> 00:25:30 in destruction
00:25:30 --> 00:25:31 are your wonders
00:25:31 --> 00:25:32 known
00:25:32 --> 00:25:33 in the place
00:25:33 --> 00:25:34 of the darkness
00:25:34 --> 00:25:35 or your righteous
00:25:35 --> 00:25:36 deeds
00:25:36 --> 00:25:37 in the land
00:25:37 --> 00:25:38 of oblivion
00:25:38 --> 00:25:39 why Lord
00:25:39 --> 00:25:40 do you reject
00:25:40 --> 00:25:40 me
00:25:40 --> 00:25:41 and hide
00:25:41 --> 00:25:41 your face
00:25:41 --> 00:25:41 from me
00:25:41 --> 00:25:44 there are two
00:25:44 --> 00:25:44 parts
00:25:44 --> 00:25:45 to this
00:25:45 --> 00:25:46 questioning
00:25:46 --> 00:25:46 first
00:25:46 --> 00:25:48 it has
00:25:48 --> 00:25:49 God's fame
00:25:49 --> 00:25:51 and reputation
00:25:51 --> 00:25:52 in mind
00:25:52 --> 00:25:52 in the midst
00:25:52 --> 00:25:53 of your pain
00:25:53 --> 00:25:54 are you
00:25:54 --> 00:25:55 saying to
00:25:55 --> 00:25:55 God
00:25:55 --> 00:25:56 hey God
00:25:56 --> 00:25:57 this looks
00:25:57 --> 00:25:58 bad for you
00:25:58 --> 00:26:00 in verses
00:26:00 --> 00:26:01 10 to 12
00:26:01 --> 00:26:02 the unknown
00:26:02 --> 00:26:02 benefit
00:26:02 --> 00:26:04 of God's
00:26:04 --> 00:26:04 sovereign
00:26:04 --> 00:26:06 ravaging
00:26:06 --> 00:26:06 in their
00:26:06 --> 00:26:07 life
00:26:07 --> 00:26:07 brings
00:26:07 --> 00:26:08 first
00:26:08 --> 00:26:08 questions
00:26:08 --> 00:26:09 about
00:26:09 --> 00:26:10 God's
00:26:10 --> 00:26:11 care
00:26:11 --> 00:26:12 for his
00:26:12 --> 00:26:12 power
00:26:12 --> 00:26:13 and the
00:26:13 --> 00:26:13 world's
00:26:13 --> 00:26:14 perception
00:26:14 --> 00:26:14 of him
00:26:14 --> 00:26:16 how is
00:26:16 --> 00:26:17 the good
00:26:17 --> 00:26:18 and the
00:26:18 --> 00:26:19 greatness
00:26:19 --> 00:26:20 of who you
00:26:20 --> 00:26:20 are going to
00:26:20 --> 00:26:21 be received
00:26:21 --> 00:26:23 it's a
00:26:23 --> 00:26:23 first
00:26:23 --> 00:26:24 call
00:26:24 --> 00:26:24 on God
00:26:24 --> 00:26:25 to stand
00:26:25 --> 00:26:25 up for
00:26:25 --> 00:26:25 himself
00:26:25 --> 00:26:26 stand
00:26:26 --> 00:26:27 by his
00:26:27 --> 00:26:27 promises
00:26:27 --> 00:26:28 and purposes
00:26:28 --> 00:26:29 in full
00:26:29 --> 00:26:30 view
00:26:30 --> 00:26:31 of everyone
00:26:31 --> 00:26:31 around
00:26:31 --> 00:26:34 is that
00:26:34 --> 00:26:34 what you
00:26:34 --> 00:26:35 pray first
00:26:35 --> 00:26:36 when life
00:26:36 --> 00:26:37 falls apart
00:26:37 --> 00:26:40 God
00:26:40 --> 00:26:41 act
00:26:41 --> 00:26:41 to preserve
00:26:41 --> 00:26:41 your
00:26:41 --> 00:26:42 reputation
00:26:42 --> 00:26:42 for the
00:26:42 --> 00:26:43 sake
00:26:43 --> 00:26:43 of your
00:26:43 --> 00:26:43 name
00:26:43 --> 00:26:44 and your
00:26:44 --> 00:26:44 fame
00:26:44 --> 00:26:45 I care
00:26:45 --> 00:26:45 more
00:26:45 --> 00:26:45 about
00:26:45 --> 00:26:46 that
00:26:46 --> 00:26:47 I'm
00:26:47 --> 00:26:47 not
00:26:47 --> 00:26:48 reflexively
00:26:48 --> 00:26:48 going to
00:26:48 --> 00:26:49 care
00:26:49 --> 00:26:49 about
00:26:49 --> 00:26:50 God's
00:26:50 --> 00:26:50 kingdom
00:26:50 --> 00:26:51 if I'm
00:26:51 --> 00:26:51 bleeding
00:26:51 --> 00:26:51 out in
00:26:51 --> 00:26:51 a
00:26:51 --> 00:26:52 ditch
00:26:52 --> 00:26:55 but
00:26:55 --> 00:26:55 personal
00:26:55 --> 00:26:56 grief
00:26:56 --> 00:26:56 here
00:26:56 --> 00:26:57 is
00:26:57 --> 00:26:57 articulated
00:26:57 --> 00:26:58 alongside
00:26:58 --> 00:26:59 a
00:26:59 --> 00:27:00 fully
00:27:00 --> 00:27:00 Christ
00:27:00 --> 00:27:01 centred
00:27:01 --> 00:27:01 world
00:27:01 --> 00:27:01 view
00:27:01 --> 00:27:03 where
00:27:03 --> 00:27:03 the
00:27:03 --> 00:27:03 life
00:27:03 --> 00:27:03 we
00:27:03 --> 00:27:04 live
00:27:04 --> 00:27:05 is
00:27:05 --> 00:27:05 lived
00:27:05 --> 00:27:05 for
00:27:05 --> 00:27:06 God
00:27:06 --> 00:27:07 with
00:27:07 --> 00:27:07 his
00:27:07 --> 00:27:08 priorities
00:27:08 --> 00:27:08 always
00:27:08 --> 00:27:09 in
00:27:09 --> 00:27:09 view
00:27:09 --> 00:27:09 namely
00:27:09 --> 00:27:09 that
00:27:09 --> 00:27:09 the
00:27:09 --> 00:27:10 people
00:27:10 --> 00:27:11 who
00:27:11 --> 00:27:11 see
00:27:11 --> 00:27:11 God
00:27:11 --> 00:27:12 working
00:27:12 --> 00:27:12 in
00:27:12 --> 00:27:12 my
00:27:12 --> 00:27:13 life
00:27:13 --> 00:27:13 at
00:27:13 --> 00:27:13 every
00:27:13 --> 00:27:14 stage
00:27:14 --> 00:27:14 of
00:27:14 --> 00:27:14 my
00:27:14 --> 00:27:14 life
00:27:14 --> 00:27:16 would
00:27:16 --> 00:27:17 respond
00:27:17 --> 00:27:17 in
00:27:17 --> 00:27:17 repentance
00:27:17 --> 00:27:18 and
00:27:18 --> 00:27:18 faith
00:27:18 --> 00:27:18 and
00:27:18 --> 00:27:19 know
00:27:19 --> 00:27:19 God
00:27:19 --> 00:27:19 too
00:27:19 --> 00:27:23 this
00:27:23 --> 00:27:23 is
00:27:23 --> 00:27:23 something
00:27:23 --> 00:27:24 that I
00:27:24 --> 00:27:24 believe
00:27:24 --> 00:27:25 that's
00:27:25 --> 00:27:25 in
00:27:25 --> 00:27:25 this
00:27:25 --> 00:27:26 psalm
00:27:26 --> 00:27:27 to be
00:27:27 --> 00:27:28 learned
00:27:28 --> 00:27:29 it's
00:27:29 --> 00:27:30 written
00:27:30 --> 00:27:30 in on
00:27:30 --> 00:27:30 purpose
00:27:30 --> 00:27:31 as
00:27:31 --> 00:27:31 God's
00:27:31 --> 00:27:31 word
00:27:31 --> 00:27:32 builds
00:27:32 --> 00:27:33 our
00:27:33 --> 00:27:34 reflexive
00:27:34 --> 00:27:34 care
00:27:34 --> 00:27:35 for
00:27:35 --> 00:27:35 the
00:27:35 --> 00:27:35 people
00:27:35 --> 00:27:36 around
00:27:36 --> 00:27:37 us
00:27:37 --> 00:27:37 that
00:27:37 --> 00:27:37 they
00:27:37 --> 00:27:37 would
00:27:37 --> 00:27:38 know
00:27:38 --> 00:27:39 this
00:27:39 --> 00:27:39 great
00:27:39 --> 00:27:40 God
00:27:40 --> 00:27:40 who
00:27:40 --> 00:27:40 we
00:27:40 --> 00:27:40 come
00:27:40 --> 00:27:41 and
00:27:41 --> 00:27:41 worship
00:27:41 --> 00:27:44 even
00:27:44 --> 00:27:44 in
00:27:44 --> 00:27:44 the
00:27:44 --> 00:27:44 midst
00:27:44 --> 00:27:45 of
00:27:45 --> 00:27:45 incredible
00:27:45 --> 00:27:46 personal
00:27:46 --> 00:27:46 pain
00:27:46 --> 00:27:50 but
00:27:50 --> 00:27:50 it's
00:27:50 --> 00:27:51 still
00:27:51 --> 00:27:52 personal
00:27:52 --> 00:27:53 pain
00:27:53 --> 00:27:55 the
00:27:55 --> 00:27:55 understated
00:27:55 --> 00:27:56 simple
00:27:56 --> 00:27:56 line in
00:27:56 --> 00:27:57 verse 14
00:27:57 --> 00:27:58 is
00:27:58 --> 00:27:59 I feel
00:27:59 --> 00:27:59 rejected
00:27:59 --> 00:28:00 God
00:28:00 --> 00:28:01 and you
00:28:01 --> 00:28:01 aren't
00:28:01 --> 00:28:02 seeing
00:28:02 --> 00:28:03 what I'm
00:28:03 --> 00:28:03 going
00:28:03 --> 00:28:04 through
00:28:04 --> 00:28:07 and this
00:28:07 --> 00:28:07 is where
00:28:07 --> 00:28:08 I think
00:28:08 --> 00:28:08 we need
00:28:08 --> 00:28:08 to be
00:28:08 --> 00:28:09 encouraged
00:28:09 --> 00:28:10 into
00:28:10 --> 00:28:11 lamenting
00:28:11 --> 00:28:14 how often
00:28:14 --> 00:28:14 have you
00:28:14 --> 00:28:15 felt hard
00:28:15 --> 00:28:15 done by
00:28:15 --> 00:28:16 or cheated
00:28:16 --> 00:28:17 or defeated
00:28:17 --> 00:28:18 or overwhelmed
00:28:18 --> 00:28:19 with debt
00:28:19 --> 00:28:23 overwhelmed
00:28:23 --> 00:28:24 with what
00:28:24 --> 00:28:25 we often
00:28:25 --> 00:28:26 flippantly
00:28:26 --> 00:28:27 call our
00:28:27 --> 00:28:27 own
00:28:27 --> 00:28:28 misfortune
00:28:28 --> 00:28:31 how God
00:28:31 --> 00:28:32 in this
00:28:32 --> 00:28:32 psalm
00:28:32 --> 00:28:33 undoes
00:28:33 --> 00:28:33 that
00:28:33 --> 00:28:33 word
00:28:33 --> 00:28:36 this
00:28:36 --> 00:28:36 psalm
00:28:36 --> 00:28:37 is your
00:28:37 --> 00:28:37 permission
00:28:37 --> 00:28:38 to ask
00:28:38 --> 00:28:39 those
00:28:39 --> 00:28:39 questions
00:28:39 --> 00:28:40 of God
00:28:40 --> 00:28:41 without
00:28:41 --> 00:28:42 polished
00:28:42 --> 00:28:43 words
00:28:43 --> 00:28:43 or manners
00:28:43 --> 00:28:44 or formality
00:28:44 --> 00:28:46 for he
00:28:46 --> 00:28:47 is willing
00:28:47 --> 00:28:47 to hear
00:28:47 --> 00:28:48 you speak
00:28:48 --> 00:28:48 them
00:28:48 --> 00:28:50 he knows
00:28:50 --> 00:28:50 that we're
00:28:50 --> 00:28:50 sinful
00:28:50 --> 00:28:51 and emotional
00:28:51 --> 00:28:52 and brittle
00:28:52 --> 00:28:54 Jesus himself
00:28:54 --> 00:28:54 felt the
00:28:54 --> 00:28:55 same
00:28:55 --> 00:28:57 he knows
00:28:57 --> 00:28:58 and understands
00:28:58 --> 00:28:59 exactly how
00:28:59 --> 00:29:00 a human
00:29:00 --> 00:29:00 feels
00:29:00 --> 00:29:00 rejection
00:29:00 --> 00:29:02 he knows
00:29:02 --> 00:29:02 the pain
00:29:02 --> 00:29:03 of injustice
00:29:03 --> 00:29:04 in our
00:29:04 --> 00:29:04 hearts
00:29:04 --> 00:29:05 and in our
00:29:05 --> 00:29:06 fragile bodies
00:29:06 --> 00:29:07 and while
00:29:07 --> 00:29:08 those around
00:29:08 --> 00:29:08 us suffer
00:29:08 --> 00:29:09 those who
00:29:09 --> 00:29:10 we love
00:29:10 --> 00:29:12 our father
00:29:12 --> 00:29:13 identifies
00:29:13 --> 00:29:14 with us
00:29:14 --> 00:29:15 he knows
00:29:15 --> 00:29:15 the pain
00:29:15 --> 00:29:16 of losing
00:29:16 --> 00:29:17 those who
00:29:17 --> 00:29:18 we love
00:29:18 --> 00:29:18 or seeing
00:29:18 --> 00:29:19 them suffer
00:29:19 --> 00:29:21 as he
00:29:21 --> 00:29:21 watched
00:29:21 --> 00:29:22 his son
00:29:22 --> 00:29:23 die on a
00:29:23 --> 00:29:24 cross
00:29:24 --> 00:29:26 he can
00:29:26 --> 00:29:26 be trusted
00:29:26 --> 00:29:27 and relied
00:29:27 --> 00:29:28 upon
00:29:28 --> 00:29:29 as gracious
00:29:29 --> 00:29:30 with the
00:29:30 --> 00:29:31 worst
00:29:31 --> 00:29:31 you have
00:29:31 --> 00:29:32 to share
00:29:32 --> 00:29:32 with him
00:29:32 --> 00:29:35 in the
00:29:35 --> 00:29:36 middle of
00:29:36 --> 00:29:36 the mess
00:29:36 --> 00:29:38 from every
00:29:38 --> 00:29:38 day
00:29:38 --> 00:29:39 from now
00:29:39 --> 00:29:39 to the
00:29:39 --> 00:29:39 end of
00:29:39 --> 00:29:40 your life
00:29:40 --> 00:29:41 here on
00:29:41 --> 00:29:41 earth
00:29:41 --> 00:29:42 even if
00:29:42 --> 00:29:42 it seems
00:29:42 --> 00:29:43 he isn't
00:29:43 --> 00:29:43 hearing you
00:29:43 --> 00:29:44 or that
00:29:44 --> 00:29:44 he's turned
00:29:44 --> 00:29:44 away
00:29:44 --> 00:29:46 every day
00:29:46 --> 00:29:47 that is
00:29:47 --> 00:29:47 dark
00:29:47 --> 00:29:47 and there
00:29:47 --> 00:29:48 might be
00:29:48 --> 00:29:48 many
00:29:48 --> 00:29:50 he wants
00:29:50 --> 00:29:51 your lament
00:29:51 --> 00:29:53 until
00:29:53 --> 00:29:54 the dark
00:29:54 --> 00:29:55 comes to
00:29:55 --> 00:29:55 light
00:29:55 --> 00:29:58 is that
00:29:58 --> 00:29:58 what you
00:29:58 --> 00:29:59 expected to
00:29:59 --> 00:29:59 read in
00:29:59 --> 00:29:59 the bible
00:29:59 --> 00:30:02 a tool
00:30:02 --> 00:30:03 for processing
00:30:03 --> 00:30:04 pain and
00:30:04 --> 00:30:04 expressing
00:30:04 --> 00:30:05 yourself
00:30:05 --> 00:30:05 to an
00:30:05 --> 00:30:06 apparently
00:30:06 --> 00:30:06 absent
00:30:06 --> 00:30:07 god
00:30:07 --> 00:30:10 that's not
00:30:10 --> 00:30:10 what i
00:30:10 --> 00:30:10 expected
00:30:10 --> 00:30:12 let me
00:30:12 --> 00:30:13 take this
00:30:13 --> 00:30:13 a step
00:30:13 --> 00:30:13 further
00:30:13 --> 00:30:14 everyone
00:30:14 --> 00:30:14 grab your
00:30:14 --> 00:30:14 bible
00:30:14 --> 00:30:15 that's got
00:30:15 --> 00:30:15 psalm 88
00:30:15 --> 00:30:16 open
00:30:16 --> 00:30:16 if you
00:30:16 --> 00:30:16 don't
00:30:16 --> 00:30:17 do it
00:30:17 --> 00:30:17 right
00:30:17 --> 00:30:17 now
00:30:17 --> 00:30:22 because
00:30:22 --> 00:30:22 this
00:30:22 --> 00:30:23 for us
00:30:23 --> 00:30:24 right now
00:30:24 --> 00:30:24 is the
00:30:24 --> 00:30:25 hardest
00:30:25 --> 00:30:25 part
00:30:25 --> 00:30:26 to hear
00:30:26 --> 00:30:27 because it
00:30:27 --> 00:30:28 means that
00:30:28 --> 00:30:28 we have
00:30:28 --> 00:30:28 to do
00:30:28 --> 00:30:29 something
00:30:29 --> 00:30:29 have a
00:30:29 --> 00:30:30 look at
00:30:30 --> 00:30:30 the title
00:30:30 --> 00:30:31 of this
00:30:31 --> 00:30:32 psalm
00:30:32 --> 00:30:34 psalm 88
00:30:34 --> 00:30:36 a song
00:30:36 --> 00:30:41 this was
00:30:41 --> 00:30:41 written
00:30:41 --> 00:30:42 to be
00:30:42 --> 00:30:43 sung
00:30:43 --> 00:30:43 in the
00:30:43 --> 00:30:43 temple
00:30:43 --> 00:30:46 by
00:30:46 --> 00:30:46 everyone
00:30:46 --> 00:30:47 gathered
00:30:47 --> 00:30:47 in
00:30:47 --> 00:30:48 worship
00:30:48 --> 00:30:50 not just
00:30:50 --> 00:30:50 an item
00:30:50 --> 00:30:51 to be
00:30:51 --> 00:30:51 processed
00:30:51 --> 00:30:52 and prayed
00:30:52 --> 00:30:52 through
00:30:52 --> 00:30:53 by the
00:30:53 --> 00:30:53 listeners
00:30:53 --> 00:30:53 but as
00:30:53 --> 00:30:54 something
00:30:54 --> 00:30:54 to sing
00:30:54 --> 00:30:55 to pray
00:30:55 --> 00:30:56 and to
00:30:56 --> 00:30:57 learn
00:30:57 --> 00:30:57 together
00:30:57 --> 00:30:59 can you
00:30:59 --> 00:30:59 imagine
00:30:59 --> 00:31:00 standing up
00:31:00 --> 00:31:01 in church
00:31:01 --> 00:31:02 and singing
00:31:02 --> 00:31:03 and darkness
00:31:03 --> 00:31:04 is my
00:31:04 --> 00:31:05 best friend
00:31:05 --> 00:31:08 no
00:31:08 --> 00:31:10 certainly
00:31:10 --> 00:31:11 a weird
00:31:11 --> 00:31:12 choice
00:31:12 --> 00:31:13 for a
00:31:13 --> 00:31:13 Sunday
00:31:13 --> 00:31:13 worship
00:31:13 --> 00:31:14 song
00:31:14 --> 00:31:16 or is
00:31:16 --> 00:31:17 it
00:31:17 --> 00:31:19 is it
00:31:19 --> 00:31:19 counterproductive
00:31:19 --> 00:31:20 to find
00:31:20 --> 00:31:20 this in
00:31:20 --> 00:31:20 the Bible
00:31:20 --> 00:31:22 is it
00:31:22 --> 00:31:23 counterproductive
00:31:23 --> 00:31:24 to sing
00:31:24 --> 00:31:25 this in
00:31:25 --> 00:31:25 church
00:31:25 --> 00:31:28 what is
00:31:28 --> 00:31:29 this
00:31:29 --> 00:31:32 let's
00:31:32 --> 00:31:32 just
00:31:32 --> 00:31:33 quickly go
00:31:33 --> 00:31:34 back over
00:31:34 --> 00:31:34 our five
00:31:34 --> 00:31:34 steps that
00:31:34 --> 00:31:35 we've been
00:31:35 --> 00:31:35 through so
00:31:35 --> 00:31:36 far looking
00:31:36 --> 00:31:36 at this
00:31:36 --> 00:31:36 psalm
00:31:36 --> 00:31:37 remember
00:31:37 --> 00:31:38 questioning
00:31:38 --> 00:31:38 God is
00:31:38 --> 00:31:39 a step
00:31:39 --> 00:31:39 of faith
00:31:39 --> 00:31:40 and
00:31:40 --> 00:31:40 authenticity
00:31:40 --> 00:31:41 we go
00:31:41 --> 00:31:41 to our
00:31:41 --> 00:31:42 God
00:31:42 --> 00:31:42 who we
00:31:42 --> 00:31:43 know
00:31:43 --> 00:31:43 has saved
00:31:43 --> 00:31:44 us
00:31:44 --> 00:31:45 and say
00:31:45 --> 00:31:45 that he
00:31:45 --> 00:31:45 can
00:31:45 --> 00:31:46 save
00:31:46 --> 00:31:48 secondly
00:31:48 --> 00:31:49 we share
00:31:49 --> 00:31:49 what is
00:31:49 --> 00:31:50 going on
00:31:50 --> 00:31:51 because we
00:31:51 --> 00:31:51 trust that
00:31:51 --> 00:31:52 he sees
00:31:52 --> 00:31:53 third
00:31:53 --> 00:31:53 we call
00:31:53 --> 00:31:54 on him
00:31:54 --> 00:31:54 to hear
00:31:54 --> 00:31:54 our
00:31:54 --> 00:31:55 prayer
00:31:55 --> 00:31:55 because
00:31:55 --> 00:31:57 we trust
00:31:57 --> 00:31:58 he wants
00:31:58 --> 00:31:58 to
00:31:58 --> 00:31:59 and will
00:31:59 --> 00:32:01 for
00:32:01 --> 00:32:01 we acknowledge
00:32:01 --> 00:32:02 his sovereignty
00:32:02 --> 00:32:03 over all
00:32:03 --> 00:32:03 things
00:32:03 --> 00:32:04 not just
00:32:04 --> 00:32:04 the easy
00:32:04 --> 00:32:05 to explain
00:32:05 --> 00:32:06 happy bits
00:32:06 --> 00:32:06 of our
00:32:06 --> 00:32:07 lives
00:32:07 --> 00:32:08 and five
00:32:08 --> 00:32:08 we bring
00:32:08 --> 00:32:09 exactly
00:32:09 --> 00:32:10 where we
00:32:10 --> 00:32:10 are to
00:32:10 --> 00:32:10 him
00:32:10 --> 00:32:11 even
00:32:11 --> 00:32:11 if
00:32:11 --> 00:32:11 it
00:32:11 --> 00:32:11 seems
00:32:11 --> 00:32:11 like
00:32:11 --> 00:32:12 he
00:32:12 --> 00:32:12 isn't
00:32:12 --> 00:32:12 there
00:32:12 --> 00:32:12 or
00:32:12 --> 00:32:13 doesn't
00:32:13 --> 00:32:13 care
00:32:13 --> 00:32:14 humbly
00:32:14 --> 00:32:15 with the
00:32:15 --> 00:32:15 truth
00:32:15 --> 00:32:16 of our
00:32:16 --> 00:32:16 life
00:32:16 --> 00:32:17 our love
00:32:17 --> 00:32:17 for others
00:32:17 --> 00:32:18 and his
00:32:18 --> 00:32:18 grace
00:32:18 --> 00:32:19 in full
00:32:19 --> 00:32:19 view
00:32:19 --> 00:32:21 that
00:32:21 --> 00:32:21 sounds
00:32:21 --> 00:32:23 like a
00:32:23 --> 00:32:23 prayer
00:32:23 --> 00:32:23 for the
00:32:23 --> 00:32:24 Christian
00:32:24 --> 00:32:25 to use
00:32:25 --> 00:32:26 in a
00:32:26 --> 00:32:26 season
00:32:26 --> 00:32:27 of trial
00:32:27 --> 00:32:28 and trouble
00:32:28 --> 00:32:30 our God
00:32:30 --> 00:32:30 knows
00:32:30 --> 00:32:32 how hard
00:32:32 --> 00:32:32 life is
00:32:32 --> 00:32:32 and how
00:32:32 --> 00:32:33 it works
00:32:33 --> 00:32:34 and has
00:32:34 --> 00:32:35 shown us
00:32:35 --> 00:32:35 a path
00:32:35 --> 00:32:35 toward
00:32:35 --> 00:32:36 recovery
00:32:36 --> 00:32:37 namely
00:32:37 --> 00:32:37 that we
00:32:37 --> 00:32:38 go to
00:32:38 --> 00:32:38 him
00:32:38 --> 00:32:39 wherever
00:32:39 --> 00:32:40 we are
00:32:40 --> 00:32:41 with all
00:32:41 --> 00:32:41 that we
00:32:41 --> 00:32:42 feel
00:32:42 --> 00:32:42 to be
00:32:42 --> 00:32:43 heard
00:32:43 --> 00:32:44 and heal
00:32:44 --> 00:32:45 I believe
00:32:45 --> 00:32:46 that lamenting
00:32:46 --> 00:32:47 rightly
00:32:47 --> 00:32:47 before God
00:32:47 --> 00:32:48 like this
00:32:48 --> 00:32:49 should be
00:32:49 --> 00:32:49 in the
00:32:49 --> 00:32:49 Bible
00:32:49 --> 00:32:51 as it's
00:32:51 --> 00:32:51 a treatment
00:32:51 --> 00:32:52 for the
00:32:52 --> 00:32:53 silence
00:32:53 --> 00:32:54 of pain
00:32:54 --> 00:32:55 that our
00:32:55 --> 00:32:55 culture
00:32:55 --> 00:32:56 says is
00:32:56 --> 00:32:57 normal
00:32:57 --> 00:33:00 and permits
00:33:00 --> 00:33:01 and equips
00:33:01 --> 00:33:02 words to
00:33:02 --> 00:33:02 fill our
00:33:02 --> 00:33:03 mouths
00:33:03 --> 00:33:05 to get
00:33:05 --> 00:33:05 out
00:33:05 --> 00:33:06 as we
00:33:06 --> 00:33:07 grieve
00:33:07 --> 00:33:07 and process
00:33:07 --> 00:33:08 the
00:33:08 --> 00:33:08 horrors
00:33:08 --> 00:33:09 of our
00:33:09 --> 00:33:10 lives
00:33:10 --> 00:33:13 so how
00:33:13 --> 00:33:13 do we
00:33:13 --> 00:33:13 know
00:33:13 --> 00:33:13 what to
00:33:13 --> 00:33:14 say
00:33:14 --> 00:33:17 after
00:33:17 --> 00:33:17 hearing
00:33:17 --> 00:33:17 Adrian
00:33:17 --> 00:33:18 read it
00:33:18 --> 00:33:18 do you
00:33:18 --> 00:33:18 now
00:33:18 --> 00:33:19 remember
00:33:19 --> 00:33:19 this
00:33:19 --> 00:33:19 psalm
00:33:19 --> 00:33:21 certainly
00:33:21 --> 00:33:21 not one
00:33:21 --> 00:33:22 we've
00:33:22 --> 00:33:22 taught
00:33:22 --> 00:33:22 with a
00:33:22 --> 00:33:23 snappy
00:33:23 --> 00:33:23 memory
00:33:23 --> 00:33:23 verse
00:33:23 --> 00:33:23 in
00:33:23 --> 00:33:23 kids
00:33:23 --> 00:33:24 church
00:33:24 --> 00:33:24 yet
00:33:24 --> 00:33:28 let me
00:33:28 --> 00:33:28 say a few
00:33:28 --> 00:33:29 things about
00:33:29 --> 00:33:29 lamenting
00:33:29 --> 00:33:30 your life
00:33:30 --> 00:33:31 and our
00:33:31 --> 00:33:31 life as
00:33:31 --> 00:33:31 a church
00:33:31 --> 00:33:32 we need
00:33:32 --> 00:33:33 to practice
00:33:33 --> 00:33:34 in our
00:33:34 --> 00:33:35 seasons
00:33:35 --> 00:33:36 of joy
00:33:36 --> 00:33:37 and blessing
00:33:37 --> 00:33:39 for the
00:33:39 --> 00:33:40 lamenting
00:33:40 --> 00:33:40 in our
00:33:40 --> 00:33:41 seasons
00:33:41 --> 00:33:42 of horror
00:33:42 --> 00:33:43 and hardship
00:33:43 --> 00:33:45 I believe
00:33:45 --> 00:33:45 that's why
00:33:45 --> 00:33:46 this prayer
00:33:46 --> 00:33:47 is a song
00:33:47 --> 00:33:48 look back
00:33:48 --> 00:33:49 at the title
00:33:49 --> 00:33:50 it's written
00:33:50 --> 00:33:51 by the sons
00:33:51 --> 00:33:51 of Korah
00:33:51 --> 00:33:52 the hit makers
00:33:52 --> 00:33:53 of the time
00:33:53 --> 00:33:54 written for the
00:33:54 --> 00:33:54 music pastor
00:33:54 --> 00:33:55 to the tune
00:33:55 --> 00:33:56 of
00:33:56 --> 00:33:58 Mahalalaleth
00:33:58 --> 00:34:01 I'm sure
00:34:01 --> 00:34:01 it sounds
00:34:01 --> 00:34:02 better
00:34:02 --> 00:34:03 in Hebrew
00:34:03 --> 00:34:04 but it's
00:34:04 --> 00:34:04 taken from
00:34:04 --> 00:34:04 the main
00:34:04 --> 00:34:05 praise and
00:34:05 --> 00:34:05 lament
00:34:05 --> 00:34:06 charts
00:34:06 --> 00:34:06 of the
00:34:06 --> 00:34:06 time
00:34:06 --> 00:34:09 I deliberately
00:34:09 --> 00:34:09 made that a bit
00:34:09 --> 00:34:10 silly because
00:34:10 --> 00:34:11 we like to
00:34:11 --> 00:34:12 downplay art
00:34:12 --> 00:34:12 in our
00:34:12 --> 00:34:13 churches
00:34:13 --> 00:34:14 as a
00:34:14 --> 00:34:14 sideshow
00:34:14 --> 00:34:15 as something
00:34:15 --> 00:34:15 to use
00:34:15 --> 00:34:17 in the rest
00:34:17 --> 00:34:17 of our life
00:34:17 --> 00:34:18 but not in the
00:34:18 --> 00:34:18 important bits
00:34:18 --> 00:34:19 yet God
00:34:19 --> 00:34:20 really cares
00:34:20 --> 00:34:22 that we
00:34:22 --> 00:34:23 use art
00:34:23 --> 00:34:24 he's created
00:34:24 --> 00:34:25 for us
00:34:25 --> 00:34:26 strategically
00:34:26 --> 00:34:27 and not
00:34:27 --> 00:34:28 leaving anyone
00:34:28 --> 00:34:28 out
00:34:28 --> 00:34:30 the activity
00:34:30 --> 00:34:30 of singing
00:34:30 --> 00:34:31 praise and
00:34:31 --> 00:34:32 prayers and
00:34:32 --> 00:34:32 proclamations
00:34:32 --> 00:34:33 to and about
00:34:33 --> 00:34:34 God
00:34:34 --> 00:34:35 are worthwhile
00:34:35 --> 00:34:36 they're never
00:34:36 --> 00:34:37 the afterthought
00:34:37 --> 00:34:38 of the corporate
00:34:38 --> 00:34:39 worship pastor
00:34:39 --> 00:34:39 because he's
00:34:39 --> 00:34:40 worried that
00:34:40 --> 00:34:40 Steve won't
00:34:40 --> 00:34:41 have the time
00:34:41 --> 00:34:43 in his sermon
00:34:43 --> 00:34:43 to fill the
00:34:43 --> 00:34:44 quota of a
00:34:44 --> 00:34:45 service
00:34:45 --> 00:34:47 no God
00:34:47 --> 00:34:47 has given us
00:34:47 --> 00:34:48 time together
00:34:48 --> 00:34:48 each week
00:34:48 --> 00:34:49 to train us
00:34:49 --> 00:34:50 and teach us
00:34:50 --> 00:34:51 and let him
00:34:51 --> 00:34:52 speak to us
00:34:52 --> 00:34:53 through these
00:34:53 --> 00:34:54 songs
00:34:54 --> 00:34:55 all together
00:34:55 --> 00:34:55 in song
00:34:55 --> 00:34:56 every week
00:34:56 --> 00:34:57 at St. Paul's
00:34:57 --> 00:34:59 unity of song
00:34:59 --> 00:35:00 disarms
00:35:00 --> 00:35:01 spoken
00:35:01 --> 00:35:02 and unspoken
00:35:02 --> 00:35:04 but unhelpful
00:35:04 --> 00:35:04 rules
00:35:04 --> 00:35:06 about emotional
00:35:06 --> 00:35:06 honesty
00:35:06 --> 00:35:07 in our
00:35:07 --> 00:35:08 community
00:35:08 --> 00:35:11 all culturally
00:35:11 --> 00:35:12 driven
00:35:12 --> 00:35:14 misguided
00:35:14 --> 00:35:15 theological
00:35:15 --> 00:35:16 expectations
00:35:16 --> 00:35:17 about
00:35:17 --> 00:35:19 how happiness
00:35:19 --> 00:35:20 should work
00:35:20 --> 00:35:20 for those
00:35:20 --> 00:35:21 who do
00:35:21 --> 00:35:21 the right
00:35:21 --> 00:35:22 thing
00:35:22 --> 00:35:24 they help
00:35:24 --> 00:35:24 undo hopes
00:35:24 --> 00:35:25 that God
00:35:25 --> 00:35:26 does not
00:35:26 --> 00:35:26 promise
00:35:26 --> 00:35:27 in his
00:35:27 --> 00:35:27 gospel
00:35:27 --> 00:35:28 and together
00:35:28 --> 00:35:29 we declare
00:35:29 --> 00:35:30 as we sing
00:35:30 --> 00:35:31 that if God
00:35:31 --> 00:35:31 is for us
00:35:31 --> 00:35:32 as the gospel
00:35:32 --> 00:35:33 shows as we
00:35:33 --> 00:35:33 sung before
00:35:33 --> 00:35:34 that none
00:35:34 --> 00:35:35 can stand
00:35:35 --> 00:35:36 against us
00:35:36 --> 00:35:37 but
00:35:37 --> 00:35:39 we do stand
00:35:39 --> 00:35:39 with enemies
00:35:39 --> 00:35:40 against us
00:35:40 --> 00:35:40 as Christians
00:35:40 --> 00:35:42 there is nothing
00:35:42 --> 00:35:44 that can take
00:35:44 --> 00:35:44 our salvation
00:35:44 --> 00:35:45 away
00:35:45 --> 00:35:46 but we can
00:35:46 --> 00:35:47 lose it
00:35:47 --> 00:35:47 life
00:35:47 --> 00:35:48 and it can
00:35:48 --> 00:35:49 be unfair
00:35:49 --> 00:35:51 as Australians
00:35:51 --> 00:35:52 we can't
00:35:52 --> 00:35:52 abide by
00:35:52 --> 00:35:52 that
00:35:52 --> 00:35:54 a fair go
00:35:54 --> 00:35:54 is part
00:35:54 --> 00:35:54 of our
00:35:54 --> 00:35:55 values
00:35:55 --> 00:35:56 but that's
00:35:56 --> 00:35:56 not what
00:35:56 --> 00:35:57 God promises
00:35:57 --> 00:35:58 in fact
00:35:58 --> 00:35:58 we get
00:35:58 --> 00:35:59 something
00:35:59 --> 00:35:59 better
00:35:59 --> 00:36:00 than a
00:36:00 --> 00:36:01 fair go
00:36:01 --> 00:36:02 from God
00:36:02 --> 00:36:03 we get
00:36:03 --> 00:36:04 the reality
00:36:04 --> 00:36:04 check
00:36:04 --> 00:36:05 of the gospel
00:36:05 --> 00:36:07 that unifies
00:36:07 --> 00:36:08 man under
00:36:08 --> 00:36:08 the banner
00:36:08 --> 00:36:09 of sinful
00:36:09 --> 00:36:10 and in need
00:36:10 --> 00:36:11 and divides
00:36:11 --> 00:36:12 us only
00:36:12 --> 00:36:13 by those
00:36:13 --> 00:36:14 who believe
00:36:14 --> 00:36:14 in Jesus
00:36:14 --> 00:36:16 and receive
00:36:16 --> 00:36:16 his salvation
00:36:16 --> 00:36:18 immeasurable
00:36:18 --> 00:36:19 blessings
00:36:19 --> 00:36:19 and riches
00:36:19 --> 00:36:20 now
00:36:20 --> 00:36:22 and forevermore
00:36:22 --> 00:36:23 in Jesus
00:36:23 --> 00:36:25 or not
00:36:25 --> 00:36:27 that is the
00:36:27 --> 00:36:28 promise
00:36:28 --> 00:36:30 when we sing
00:36:30 --> 00:36:30 a lament
00:36:30 --> 00:36:31 like
00:36:31 --> 00:36:33 blessed be
00:36:33 --> 00:36:33 your name
00:36:33 --> 00:36:34 on the road
00:36:34 --> 00:36:35 marked with
00:36:35 --> 00:36:35 suffering
00:36:35 --> 00:36:36 though there's
00:36:36 --> 00:36:37 pain in the
00:36:37 --> 00:36:37 offering
00:36:37 --> 00:36:38 blessed be
00:36:38 --> 00:36:39 your name
00:36:39 --> 00:36:40 we start
00:36:40 --> 00:36:41 to turn
00:36:41 --> 00:36:42 the corner
00:36:42 --> 00:36:43 of grief
00:36:43 --> 00:36:44 together
00:36:44 --> 00:36:46 encouraging
00:36:46 --> 00:36:46 movement
00:36:46 --> 00:36:47 through the
00:36:47 --> 00:36:48 process
00:36:48 --> 00:36:49 of pain
00:36:49 --> 00:36:50 taking
00:36:50 --> 00:36:50 with us
00:36:50 --> 00:36:51 who we
00:36:51 --> 00:36:52 don't even
00:36:52 --> 00:36:52 know yet
00:36:52 --> 00:36:53 are hurting
00:36:53 --> 00:36:54 amongst us
00:36:54 --> 00:36:56 giving endurance
00:36:56 --> 00:36:56 a chance
00:36:56 --> 00:36:57 to continue
00:36:57 --> 00:36:57 and remind
00:36:57 --> 00:36:58 us of the
00:36:58 --> 00:36:59 need to
00:36:59 --> 00:36:59 support one
00:36:59 --> 00:37:00 another
00:37:00 --> 00:37:00 emotionally
00:37:00 --> 00:37:04 this psalm
00:37:04 --> 00:37:04 is meant
00:37:04 --> 00:37:05 to be sung
00:37:05 --> 00:37:05 together
00:37:05 --> 00:37:06 so what's
00:37:06 --> 00:37:07 the benefit
00:37:07 --> 00:37:08 is this
00:37:08 --> 00:37:09 how to do
00:37:09 --> 00:37:09 lament
00:37:09 --> 00:37:12 well it's
00:37:12 --> 00:37:12 the start
00:37:12 --> 00:37:13 to sing
00:37:13 --> 00:37:14 psalm 88
00:37:14 --> 00:37:14 together
00:37:14 --> 00:37:15 is practicing
00:37:15 --> 00:37:16 this type
00:37:16 --> 00:37:16 of lament
00:37:16 --> 00:37:17 prayer
00:37:17 --> 00:37:18 and for
00:37:18 --> 00:37:18 some
00:37:18 --> 00:37:19 while we
00:37:19 --> 00:37:20 practice it
00:37:20 --> 00:37:21 and learn
00:37:21 --> 00:37:21 it
00:37:21 --> 00:37:23 it's going
00:37:23 --> 00:37:23 to be
00:37:23 --> 00:37:24 their real
00:37:24 --> 00:37:24 time
00:37:24 --> 00:37:25 cry
00:37:25 --> 00:37:26 to god
00:37:26 --> 00:37:29 this psalm
00:37:29 --> 00:37:29 is here
00:37:29 --> 00:37:30 for you
00:37:30 --> 00:37:30 any time
00:37:30 --> 00:37:31 of the day
00:37:31 --> 00:37:31 every day
00:37:31 --> 00:37:33 we're devoted
00:37:33 --> 00:37:34 to pursuing
00:37:34 --> 00:37:34 prayer as a
00:37:34 --> 00:37:35 daily life
00:37:35 --> 00:37:36 goal here
00:37:36 --> 00:37:36 at St Paul's
00:37:36 --> 00:37:37 and so
00:37:37 --> 00:37:38 bring laments
00:37:38 --> 00:37:39 like this
00:37:39 --> 00:37:40 into the way
00:37:40 --> 00:37:40 that you speak
00:37:40 --> 00:37:41 to god
00:37:41 --> 00:37:42 every day
00:37:42 --> 00:37:42 in your
00:37:42 --> 00:37:42 prayer
00:37:42 --> 00:37:45 and practice
00:37:45 --> 00:37:46 and pray
00:37:46 --> 00:37:46 for real
00:37:46 --> 00:37:48 psalm 88
00:37:48 --> 00:37:51 pray
00:37:51 --> 00:37:52 laments
00:37:52 --> 00:37:52 with a
00:37:52 --> 00:37:53 struggling
00:37:53 --> 00:37:53 friend
00:37:53 --> 00:37:54 when you
00:37:54 --> 00:37:55 don't know
00:37:55 --> 00:37:55 what to
00:37:55 --> 00:37:55 say
00:37:55 --> 00:37:58 give them
00:37:58 --> 00:38:01 the gift
00:38:01 --> 00:38:03 of words
00:38:03 --> 00:38:05 that are
00:38:05 --> 00:38:05 full of
00:38:05 --> 00:38:05 pain
00:38:05 --> 00:38:09 but directed
00:38:09 --> 00:38:09 rightly
00:38:09 --> 00:38:11 pray
00:38:11 --> 00:38:11 them
00:38:11 --> 00:38:12 in your
00:38:12 --> 00:38:12 marriage
00:38:12 --> 00:38:15 when things
00:38:15 --> 00:38:15 are going
00:38:15 --> 00:38:15 badly
00:38:15 --> 00:38:17 own it
00:38:17 --> 00:38:18 together
00:38:18 --> 00:38:18 and bring
00:38:18 --> 00:38:19 it to god
00:38:19 --> 00:38:20 in lament
00:38:20 --> 00:38:21 demonstrate
00:38:21 --> 00:38:22 their value
00:38:22 --> 00:38:22 with your
00:38:22 --> 00:38:23 children
00:38:23 --> 00:38:25 lament
00:38:25 --> 00:38:26 together
00:38:26 --> 00:38:26 and share
00:38:26 --> 00:38:27 your heart
00:38:27 --> 00:38:27 and turn
00:38:27 --> 00:38:28 together
00:38:28 --> 00:38:29 to our
00:38:29 --> 00:38:30 saviour
00:38:30 --> 00:38:31 it's only
00:38:31 --> 00:38:32 then
00:38:32 --> 00:38:32 that we
00:38:32 --> 00:38:33 begin to
00:38:33 --> 00:38:34 normalise
00:38:34 --> 00:38:34 what is
00:38:34 --> 00:38:35 counter-cultural
00:38:35 --> 00:38:37 in this
00:38:37 --> 00:38:38 that humble
00:38:38 --> 00:38:39 authenticity
00:38:39 --> 00:38:40 in the
00:38:40 --> 00:38:41 area of
00:38:41 --> 00:38:41 declaring
00:38:41 --> 00:38:42 need for
00:38:42 --> 00:38:43 help
00:38:43 --> 00:38:44 in the
00:38:44 --> 00:38:44 hardest
00:38:44 --> 00:38:44 of
00:38:44 --> 00:38:45 times
00:38:45 --> 00:38:48 are you
00:38:48 --> 00:38:48 ready
00:38:48 --> 00:38:50 to start
00:38:50 --> 00:38:51 practicing
00:38:51 --> 00:38:55 today we're
00:38:55 --> 00:38:55 going to
00:38:55 --> 00:38:56 sing psalm 88
00:38:56 --> 00:38:56 together
00:38:56 --> 00:38:58 and that
00:38:58 --> 00:38:59 might be a
00:38:59 --> 00:38:59 curveball
00:38:59 --> 00:39:00 for you
00:39:00 --> 00:39:02 it was a
00:39:02 --> 00:39:03 curveball
00:39:03 --> 00:39:03 for me
00:39:03 --> 00:39:08 today we're
00:39:08 --> 00:39:08 going to
00:39:08 --> 00:39:11 first
00:39:11 --> 00:39:12 before we
00:39:12 --> 00:39:12 do that
00:39:12 --> 00:39:14 be reminded
00:39:14 --> 00:39:14 of why
00:39:14 --> 00:39:15 we can
00:39:15 --> 00:39:15 say
00:39:15 --> 00:39:18 you are
00:39:18 --> 00:39:18 the god
00:39:18 --> 00:39:19 who saves
00:39:19 --> 00:39:19 me
00:39:19 --> 00:39:20 as we
00:39:20 --> 00:39:20 pray
00:39:20 --> 00:39:21 and sing
00:39:21 --> 00:39:24 we can
00:39:24 --> 00:39:24 say that
00:39:24 --> 00:39:25 because god
00:39:25 --> 00:39:26 has already
00:39:26 --> 00:39:27 delivered us
00:39:27 --> 00:39:28 from the
00:39:28 --> 00:39:29 worst thing
00:39:29 --> 00:39:30 that has
00:39:30 --> 00:39:31 happened
00:39:31 --> 00:39:32 it's already
00:39:32 --> 00:39:32 happened to
00:39:32 --> 00:39:33 all women
00:39:33 --> 00:39:33 and men
00:39:33 --> 00:39:34 the world
00:39:34 --> 00:39:35 over from
00:39:35 --> 00:39:35 birth namely
00:39:35 --> 00:39:36 that we've
00:39:36 --> 00:39:36 cut ourselves
00:39:36 --> 00:39:38 off from
00:39:38 --> 00:39:38 the living
00:39:38 --> 00:39:40 god through
00:39:40 --> 00:39:40 our sin
00:39:40 --> 00:39:41 sentencing
00:39:41 --> 00:39:42 ourselves to
00:39:42 --> 00:39:43 a spiritual
00:39:43 --> 00:39:44 death in
00:39:44 --> 00:39:45 this life
00:39:45 --> 00:39:46 and for
00:39:46 --> 00:39:46 eternity
00:39:46 --> 00:39:50 but god so
00:39:50 --> 00:39:51 loved all
00:39:51 --> 00:39:52 peoples that
00:39:52 --> 00:39:53 he sent his
00:39:53 --> 00:39:54 only son to
00:39:54 --> 00:39:55 die that
00:39:55 --> 00:39:56 spiritual death
00:39:56 --> 00:39:57 for us and
00:39:57 --> 00:39:58 to be forsaken
00:39:58 --> 00:39:58 by his
00:39:58 --> 00:39:59 father
00:39:59 --> 00:40:01 as he
00:40:01 --> 00:40:01 put on
00:40:01 --> 00:40:02 our sins
00:40:02 --> 00:40:05 while he
00:40:05 --> 00:40:06 felt and
00:40:06 --> 00:40:06 endured our
00:40:06 --> 00:40:07 punishment for
00:40:07 --> 00:40:08 sin and died
00:40:08 --> 00:40:08 upon the
00:40:08 --> 00:40:09 cross while
00:40:09 --> 00:40:09 he cried
00:40:09 --> 00:40:10 out why
00:40:10 --> 00:40:11 have you
00:40:11 --> 00:40:11 forsaken
00:40:11 --> 00:40:12 me to
00:40:12 --> 00:40:13 his father
00:40:13 --> 00:40:14 so that we
00:40:14 --> 00:40:14 would never
00:40:14 --> 00:40:15 be forsaken
00:40:15 --> 00:40:18 no matter
00:40:18 --> 00:40:18 what you
00:40:18 --> 00:40:19 face as
00:40:19 --> 00:40:20 you process
00:40:20 --> 00:40:20 your grief
00:40:20 --> 00:40:21 and loss
00:40:21 --> 00:40:22 you know
00:40:22 --> 00:40:23 that you
00:40:23 --> 00:40:23 have a
00:40:23 --> 00:40:23 god who
00:40:23 --> 00:40:24 saves
00:40:24 --> 00:40:28 who's
00:40:28 --> 00:40:29 rescued you
00:40:29 --> 00:40:29 from sin
00:40:29 --> 00:40:30 and done
00:40:30 --> 00:40:30 the impossible
00:40:30 --> 00:40:31 to redeem
00:40:31 --> 00:40:31 your life
00:40:31 --> 00:40:32 from hell
00:40:32 --> 00:40:34 he is
00:40:34 --> 00:40:35 worthy
00:40:35 --> 00:40:35 listening
00:40:35 --> 00:40:36 and even
00:40:36 --> 00:40:36 if he is
00:40:36 --> 00:40:37 silent for
00:40:37 --> 00:40:37 now he
00:40:37 --> 00:40:37 will not
00:40:37 --> 00:40:38 stay silent
00:40:38 --> 00:40:40 he has
00:40:40 --> 00:40:40 not always
00:40:40 --> 00:40:41 been silent
00:40:41 --> 00:40:43 and he
00:40:43 --> 00:40:43 will always
00:40:43 --> 00:40:44 be working
00:40:44 --> 00:40:45 for your
00:40:45 --> 00:40:45 god for
00:40:45 --> 00:40:46 your good
00:40:46 --> 00:40:50 this hymn
00:40:50 --> 00:40:51 a recording
00:40:51 --> 00:40:51 of it is
00:40:51 --> 00:40:52 available on
00:40:52 --> 00:40:53 our website
00:40:53 --> 00:40:53 today and
00:40:53 --> 00:40:53 on our
00:40:53 --> 00:40:54 facebook
00:40:54 --> 00:40:56 take it
00:40:56 --> 00:40:56 into your
00:40:56 --> 00:40:58 life and
00:40:58 --> 00:40:58 learn it so
00:40:58 --> 00:40:59 it's ready on
00:40:59 --> 00:41:00 your lips to
00:41:00 --> 00:41:02 pray in the
00:41:02 --> 00:41:02 worst seasons
00:41:02 --> 00:41:03 of your life
00:41:03 --> 00:41:05 as you turn
00:41:05 --> 00:41:06 to the god
00:41:06 --> 00:41:06 who saves
00:41:06 --> 00:41:07 let this be
00:41:07 --> 00:41:08 your voice
00:41:08 --> 00:41:08 for the
00:41:08 --> 00:41:09 darkness
00:41:09 --> 00:41:12 and if you
00:41:12 --> 00:41:12 need to go
00:41:12 --> 00:41:13 further today
00:41:13 --> 00:41:14 with your
00:41:14 --> 00:41:14 grief
00:41:14 --> 00:41:17 and pray with
00:41:17 --> 00:41:17 a brother and
00:41:17 --> 00:41:18 sister i'm
00:41:18 --> 00:41:19 here after the
00:41:19 --> 00:41:19 service and
00:41:19 --> 00:41:20 many more
00:41:20 --> 00:41:20 here would
00:41:20 --> 00:41:21 love to pray
00:41:21 --> 00:41:21 with you and
00:41:21 --> 00:41:21 speak with
00:41:21 --> 00:41:23 you we are
00:41:23 --> 00:41:24 all here to
00:41:24 --> 00:41:25 share whatever
00:41:25 --> 00:41:26 has happened
00:41:26 --> 00:41:27 and whatever
00:41:27 --> 00:41:29 will happen in
00:41:29 --> 00:41:29 this life
00:41:29 --> 00:41:31 together why
00:41:31 --> 00:41:32 don't you stand
00:41:32 --> 00:41:32 and join me in
00:41:32 --> 00:41:32 this
00:41:32 --> 00:41:47 all day and night
00:41:47 --> 00:41:50 i cry for you
00:41:50 --> 00:41:53 allow my prayer
00:41:53 --> 00:41:56 before you
00:41:56 --> 00:41:59 incline your ear to
00:41:59 --> 00:42:01 hear my plight
00:42:01 --> 00:42:05 lord turn your gaze
00:42:05 --> 00:42:06 to me
00:42:06 --> 00:42:12 see my weary hands
00:42:12 --> 00:42:13 like shadows
00:42:13 --> 00:42:17 touching death itself
00:42:17 --> 00:42:33 where is your voice in
00:42:33 --> 00:42:34 this darkness lord are you faithful to me where is your love that you promise
00:42:34 --> 00:42:51 you are the god who saves me
00:42:51 --> 00:42:58 you send me out abandon me to deep despair forgotten you drown my screams with ceaseless waves and pinned me to me to despair
00:42:58 --> 00:43:05 you send me out abandon me to deep despair forgotten you drown my screams with ceaseless waves and pin me down with wrath blind and chains with ceaseless waves and pin me down with wrath
00:43:05 --> 00:43:12 blind and chained with grief and sorrow near my grave from you
00:43:12 --> 00:43:42 oblivion i call my home
00:43:42 --> 00:44:12 with shame to sooth my fears where is your voice in this darkness lord are you faithful to me where is your love that you promise you are the god who saves me
00:44:12 --> 00:44:19 will your assaults and horrors heal your praise swell while you slay me shall i proclaim your righteousness if all i love are love
00:44:19 --> 00:44:22 nh drier
00:44:22 --> 00:44:25 owa
00:44:25 --> 00:44:31 Your prayers heal your praise well while you slay me.
00:44:31 --> 00:44:43 Shall I proclaim your righteousness if all I love are lost?
00:44:43 --> 00:44:54 Lord, why turn your back and shun me? Where are you, my God?
00:44:54 --> 00:45:09 Your terrors strike and flood with doubt and darkness is my friend.
00:45:11 --> 00:45:22 Where is your voice in this darkness? Lord, are you faithful to me?
00:45:22 --> 00:45:34 Where is your love that you promised? You are the God who saves me.
00:45:34 --> 00:45:39 You are the God who saves me.
00:45:39 --> 00:45:44 You are the God who saves me.
00:45:44 --> 00:45:48 You are the God who saves me.
00:45:48 --> 00:45:51 You are the God who saves me.
00:45:51 --> 00:45:56 You are the God who saves me.
00:45:56 --> 00:46:00 You are the God who saves me.
00:46:00 --> 00:46:03 You are the God who saves me.