May 18 | Luke Dahlenburg
LAMENT
Bible Reading: Psalm 88
The dark night of the soul
- Lament = a cry to God in deep distress.
- Three times the author says, “I cry to you,” (88:1,9,13) orientating themselves to God. But quickly spiral into disorientation.
- Lament is an act of faith (88:2). We don’t need to pretend = faith wrestles and waits in the dark. God included this so we would know him more – he knows what we are like when life falls apart.
1. I cry out day and night (Psalm 88:1-9)
Orientation
- 1-2: To you, who saves, please hear my prayer
Disorientation
- 3-5: I feel like death
- 6-9: Everything is against me (Pit, Dark, Wrath, No friends, Tears, Grief, No Escape)
Lesson: Cry out to God.
2. I cry out every day (Psalm 88:9-12)
Orientation
- 9: Everyday I call to you
Disorientation
- 10-12: But I question you and your ways
Lesson: Meditate on God’s character.
3. I cry to you in the morning, Lord (Psalm 88:13-18)
Orientation
- 13: I pray each morning,
Disorientation
- 14-18: But I’m suffering and surrounded by terror and darkness.
Lesson: Assurance is real, but felt assurance can ebb and flow.
4. I can cling to the one who went to the pit for me, Jesus
As you lament, look to Christ (Hebrews 12:1-3), fix your eyes on and consider him so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
Come and See Devotional
This devotion series, written by Sarah Condie, was created to encourage you to ponder the loving deeds of the Lord, so that songs of joy and thankfulness bubble forth from within you. Remembering the character of God and the wonderful things he has done moves us to praise and thank our great God for who he is and what he has done. Some devotions will focus on small but significant habits, while others will focus on the character of God. At the end of each devotion and prayer, Sarah has provided a link to a song. Everyone’s taste in music is unique, so please, if you don’t like her choices, choose songs that you love.