RIFE WITH THE PATHOS OF PRAISE
AND THE ETHOS OF AGONY,
THE BOOK OF PSALMS CAPTURES BETTER
THAN ANY CORPUS OF SCRIPTURE,
THE BI-POLAR NATURE OF LIFE.
(William P. Brown: Seeing the Psalms)
AND PSALM 44 SEEMS SPLIT IN THE MIDDLE,
ABRUPTLY CHANGING FROM JOYFUL PRAISE
TO HEARTBREAKING LAMENT!
PSALM 44:1-8 REJOICES IN GOD’S RESCUE!
PSALM 44:9-26 LAMENTS:
SO HOW ARE WE TO MAKE SENSE OF THIS?
GOD’S PEOPLE ARE NOT FAR FROM HIM:
THEY ARE PRAISING HIS MIGHTY DEEDS IN THE PAST,
THEIR HEARTS “HAVE NOT TURNED BACK,”
THEY HAVE “NOT FORGOTTEN THE NAME OF THEIR GOD”
OR “SPREAD OUT THEIR HANDS TO A FOREIGN GOD…”
SO WHY HAS GOD “NOT GONE OUT WITH THEIR ARMIES?”
“WHY ARE THEY BEING SOLD AS SHEEP FOR THE SLAUGHTER?”
THIS VERSE IS THE KEY THAT UNLOCKS THE MYSTERY,
FOR WHENEVER AN OLD TESTAMENT VERSE IS QUOTED IN THE NEW TESTAMENT, THERE IS LIGHT FOR UNDERSTANDING.
WE MAY BE LIVING FOR THE LORD,
SEEKING HIS FACE,
PRAYING THE PSALMS,
AND YET!
SUFFERING PERSECUTION:
FROM THE RULERS OF DARKNESS,
AND HATERS OF GOD.
BUT PSALM 44 SHOWS US
WE MUST LAMENT, SO AS NOT TO BACK UP FROM GOD,
WE MUST KNOW IN OUR HEARTS THAT NOTHING CAN SEPARATE US FROM HIS LOVE.
IN HIS TIME,
HE WILL RISE UP,
AND MAKE US MORE THAN CONQUERERS.
IN GOD’S PROVIDENTIAL TIMING, MY SON J. R. VISITED LAST WEEK AND DID ME THE FAVOR OF FILMING MY FRIEND TWILA’S 5 MINUTE TESTIMONY REGARDING HER DEPRESSION AND PSALM 18, A PSALM
THAT DESCRIBES GOD’S “RISING UP!”
TWILA HAD NOT TURNED HER BACK ON GOD.
SHE HAD NOT FORGOTTEN HIS NAME.
AND YET FOR TEN LONG YEARS SHE SUFFERED DEBILITATING CLINICAL DEPRESSION.
THOUGH SHE DID NOT KNOW WHY GOD “WAS SLEEPING,”
SHE DID NOT STOP CRYING OUT TO GOD
FOR TEN LONG YEARS.
HERE IS TWILA’S STORY, FILMED ON MY WINDY DECK, WHICH I THOUGHT ADDED TO THE DRAMA OF PSALM 18!
SUNDAY:
1. What stands out to you from the above and why?
MONDAY-WEDNESDAY BIBLE STUDY:
2. Read Psalm 44:1-8
A. How does the psalm begin in verse 1?
B. Find the contrasts in each of the following couplets:
vs 2a:
vs. 2b:
vs. 3:
C. Who is the hero in verse 3 and why did he rescue them?
D. For what reasons, according to verses 5-7 are they boasting in their Lord?
3. Read Psalm 44:9-16 and describe the woes the sons of Korah lament to God.
4. Read Psalm 44:17-21 and describe why the son of Korah are confused.
5. Have you ever felt this way — if so, when? (Be brief)
6. Read Psalm 44:23-26:
A. What evidence do you find that the psalmists have not backed up from God, foiling the enemy’s primary goal?
B. Though it may be hard to see, see if you can discover a difference between verse 9 and verses 23 and 26.
Derek Kidner says: “The defeats which seemed to prove God’s withdrawal in wrath now suggest only His refusal to be hurried or to do what everyone has expected of Him.”
New Testament Light:
7. Read Romans 8:35-39, where Psalm 44 is quoted, and share how this gives insight.
A vivid picture of the truth of Psalm 44 occurs in the historical incident of Jesus “asleep in the boat.”
8. How does this incident illustrate the message of Psalm 44? (It is told in Mark 4:35-41)
9. Where does God seem to be sleeping to you? How can you speak to your soul?
Thursday-Friday Sermon
Because it is the close of Romans 8 that gives light to psalm 44, I am suggesting this sermon from Tim Keller. It is not free, but worth the 2.50 for the mp3:
Love Beyond Degrees by Tim Keller
10. Share your notes and comments.
Saturday:
11. What is your take-a-way and why?
112 comments
“The Psalms are Bi-Polar”….I’m thinking that this might be your BEST title ever Dee! Cannot wait to dive in. But before that I just want to dove tail onto last week and the message by Mindy Belz on the Persecuted Church. I only heard it (and saw Nila’s comment on it) early this morning. It is so very important that we listen to such words…..and I have to say that I found Mindy’s delivery dry at first….I had to listen to the first half “on purpose”….but OH, was it ever worth it! I cannot thank you enough Dee, for keeping the suffering of the church in the world before us. I wanted to concur with Mindy’s statement that “when the Lord presses us ….we find ways to help!” (the Persecuted Church). Oh, how true that is….we MUST pray for our dusty hearts to come alive to the needs of our suffering brothers and sisters. When the Lord put the plight of the Syrian refugees upon my heart and I began to pray….He blew the doors off my preconceptions in making connections that I would never have made!! We can pray that LIFE will come out of death……as He showed me to do 11 years ago when my nephew went to prison and I had no words to pray except “please Lord, bring LIFE out of death”….the gospel. Mindy left us with a G.K. Chesterton quote that is golden: “we do not want joy and anger to neutralize each other and produce a surly contentment; we want a fiercer delight and a fiercer discontent. We have to feel the universe at once as an ogre’s castle to be stormed, and yet as our own cottage, to which we can return to at evening.” Isn’t that beautiful?? Sorry to digress so, but I just felt a shout out to listening to Mindy’s message was worth voicing! (and now I promise to focus on the week laid out here for us!)
Thank you so much for this encouragement Jackie. I feared no one is listening, so perhaps they will go back and push through.
Jackie,
I too loved the G.K. Chesterton quote from Mindy Belz’s message. I actually rewound it so I could truly take it all in.
“We do not want joy and anger to neutralize each other and produce a surly contentment; we want a fiercer delight and a fiercer discontent. We have to feel the universe at once as an ogre’s castle to be stormed, and yet as our own cottage, to which we can return to at evening.”
Mindy is an editor at World Magazine and is a frequent guest on their daily half-hour world news podcast. (They are offering a free three month subscription right now to their hard-copy magazine or their online version, with access to the podcasts. I heartily recommend this as a wonderful source and perspective on what is happening in our world today: https://www.worldmag.com/getworldnow/ ) End of advertisement! 🙂
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Jackie (I was tempted to nickname you Barney, for you are such a true Barnabas!)–but I am so glad you encouraged me to go back and finish listening to Mindy Belz!! SO rich!
yay Lizzy!! so thankful you got to share in that rich content! “Barney” only makes me think of Barney Fife on the Andy Griffith show!!! Love it…..but here on this blog I may be one of about a zillion encouragers – you being exhibit A! God has provided such a place of depth for us here, hasn’t He? So much due to Dee’s long walk of faithfulness with Jesus. 🙂
Twila’s testimony stood out! OH OH OH I hope everyone can see it for clinical depression is common among us and we need to hear how she pressed into God…Every time she tells it God quickens me. I am SO excited you have this on video now, Dee!!! And tell Twila I miss her and she did a great job-love love love this.
I will!
I so agree with you about Twila’s testimony, Rebecca. And pressing in to God for not a day, a week….a month or a year….but 10 long years. ALL He has asked of us is “Follow Me”. Twila’s testimony here shows us how HARD that may be…..and yet, weeping may endure for a night….but JOY comes in the morning. The trials and tribulations of our life are precious opportunities for our love for Him to drop from our heads to our hearts…..He invites us to sit at His table and taste and see that He is good! What else would we want to live for? (I know….our idols do come to mind….but by that word “want” I mean our DEEPEST desires!! 🙂 ).
1. What stands out to you from the above and why?
Twila’s testimony. It fills me with hope! In August my dr. is going to start cutting back on my antidepressant and I’m praying that if there is a negative reaction 1. that I will recognize it (sometimes that harder than you’d think) 2. that I will find relief in good things not harmful things and 3. that God will continue restoring my heart and mind and surround me in peace.
We will pray, Dawn!
Dawn–praying for you now–so glad you asked, for I do know this is big. You sound so wise even in these specific requests. Lord I do pray that You will continue restoring and healing Dawn’s heart, cover her with Your peace, protect her from any side effects, and lead her to good choices that nourish and replenish her. Amen
Than you, Lizzy
Dawn – thanks for your boldness in sharing this hard thing…..what a sweet spot for you to open this blog this week and see Twila’s testimony!! 🙂 I read your words here and thought of Romans 5…..out of curiosity I peeked at The Message…loved how that paraphrase put it: “There’s more to come; We continue to shout our praise even when we’re hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next. In alert expectancy such as this, we’re never left feeling shortchanged. Quite the contrary – we can’t round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pour into our lives through the Holy Spirit!” You are hoping and praying for such RIGHT THINGS, Dawn. This morning I add my prayers according to this Romans passage for you as well!
Thank you SO much for that Jackie!
1. What stands out to you from the above and why?
Twila’s story and her heart-felt memorization of Psalm 18 is captivating. Twana, thank you for your vulnerability and for the hope that exudes. And Dawnms, thank you for your vulnerability here. Amen to your prayer request. The Lord knows. I too have had bouts of depression, my most severe one relating to the death of our baby daughter. He met me in this dark place, “this secret place among the unspoken things”, as Amy Carmichael puts it. In these dark or troubled times, this prayer has emerged: “Lord, don’t let it go to waste.”
Dee, thank you for helping us to understand ourselves better ~ the ups and downs as we each ride in our little boats on this unpredictable, sometimes stormy sea of life. I often return to a book I read several years ago entitled, Bright Days, Dark Nights by Elizabeth Scoglund. The author beautifully relates the teachings of Charles Spurgeon to our experiences of depression, loneliness, anxiety and change, for C.H. Spurgeon suffered from depression and he had a heart for others in this regard.
Dee, your statement about lament also stood out: WE MUST LAMENT, SO AS NOT TO BACK UP FROM GOD. Reminds me of Psalm 51:17
Psalm 51:17 Amplified Bible :
17 My [only] sacrifice [acceptable] to God is a broken spirit;A broken and contrite heart [broken with sorrow for sin, thoroughly penitent], such, O God, You will not despise.
Sometimes its in my messy raw-ness that I most know how much He must love me ~ unlovable me.
Nila–you always put things so well. ” In these dark or troubled times, this prayer has emerged: “Lord, don’t let it go to waste.” ” He clearly continues to use your troubled times to bring such beauty in you.
Nila, I agree with Lizzy how God is making you beautiful in your pain and loss-and you are beautiful!
The title of the study is me today: though I cannot say I have ever had clinical depression, I suffer with melancholy and today I feel a deep hurt. I feel God’s love, and yet I feel the pain he allows in my life and I am caught up in the challenge of what to do and feel like I can do nothing.
The Psalms speak to my heart and give me hope. I was so glad to hear Tim Keller’s sermon and will go back to the other sermon as your comments have encouraged me.
I also feel God’s love and know I am unlovable as Nila says in my “messy rawness”.
Shirley–praying for you now, so sorry you are feeling deeply hurt, praying He meets you in your pain
Ah Shirley…..I have been thinking about this entry of yours and offering prayers to God on your behalf. Praying for His hope to flood your soul. I’m wondering if your temperament might be melancholy? Not at all the same thing as being depressed, but definitely is a temperament that FEELS DEEPLY…..I suspect that King David shared that temperament! And oh, how God used him to teach us to lament as well as talk to our souls and rejoice in the Psalms! I am feeling sorrow along with your deep hurt…..thinking here of Nila’s reminder to pray “Lord, don’t let it go to waste”. Amen. May He bring beauty to your life from the ashes your are experiencing at this time. 🙂
3. The woes of the sons of Korah’s…I was listing all of them and when I got to the last one ‘object of revenge’, it stopped me in my tracks. Why are we the objects of revenge? Is it that Satan strikes at us trying to get to God?? But God says that whoever touches His people touch the apple of His eye… So my troubles may last a night, bur rejoicing will come in the morning! My woes are real, but not as real as God my Savior.
Mary — yes — all so true.
Oh wow. I am just blown away by Twila! Hearing her speak, so authentically. as one who has known the real darkness and isolation of depression, and yet never turned from Him, and received the reward, the blessing of His love coming alive in her soul–beautiful. I loved her conviction in quoting v.19 “He rescued me, because He delighted in me”that made my eyes tear up. I am also amazed at how timely this message is. This morning a hymn we sang had a line in the chorus: “Greater is He that is in me” and I just think how impactful that really is to our thoughts, our perspective, if we really let it shape us. “WE MUST KNOW IN OUR HEARTS THAT NOTHING CAN SEPARATE US FROM HIS LOVE.”
Lizzy, YES! “Greater is He that is in me” and I just think how impactful that really is to our thoughts, our perspective, if we really let it shape us. “WE MUST KNOW IN OUR HEARTS THAT NOTHING CAN SEPARATE US FROM HIS LOVE.”
2. Read Psalm 44:1-8 A. How does the psalm begin in verse 1?
They are recalling what they have heard of God’s covenant work in the past: “O God, we have heard with our ears, our fathers have told us, what deeds you performed in their days, in the days of old”
B. Find the contrasts in each of the following couplets:
In vs. 2, we see God avenges the enemy, but protects His own:
vs 2a:: “you with your own hand drove out the nations, but them you planted”
vs. 2b: “you afflicted the peoples, but them you set free;”
In vs. 3, they acknowledge it is not by man’s power they are saved, but by God’s.
vs. 3: for not by their own sword did they win the land, nor did their own arm save them, but your right hand and your arm, and the light of your face, for you delighted in them.
C. Who is the hero in verse 3 and why did he rescue them?
God is the Hero. He rescued them because He DELIGHTED in them!
D. For what reasons, according to verses 5-7 are they boasting in their Lord?
They recognize that it is only by the Lord’s power that they are saved from their enemies.
Oh how I have missed this place and the life in each of your words! There is something so good about sisters being open and vulnerable…it is a balm to my soul.
1. What stands out to you from the above and why? A few things.
First: the bipolar picture is of a child, not an adult.
Second: There is great beauty in the woman playing violin and ‘dancing.’ She is praising Him through her song and motions, but He is the one who dressed her and He is the one who put her instrument in her hands to play it for Him….still pondering this but the image is striking and quickens me…
Lastly, the phrase: We must lament, so as to not back up from God. So much in this but I can see this is a relational truth. How often I protect myself from closeness in order to not feel the pain, walk through the pain. With God I must be honest otherwise I am depending on something eother than His grace to allow me in His presence, as is. If I do not lament, I am pretending, if I am pretending then I have purposefully (though perhaps subconsciously) put a barrier between Him and I. Again, this is a trust issue in my eyes.
We’ve missed you and your thoughtful input! Glad to see you!
JIll – the woman in red so captivated me as well! Your thoughts on the Lord being the one who dressed her and placed the violin in her hands – and the song in her heart! – took my musings to a new level….thank you!
So grateful to see you “back” again this week! 🙂
Sorry everyone, I fell behind in the homework.
10. You have to be a good listener to be a good preacher.
A simple statement and an attainable application, I fear it is becoming a lost art. Are we on the phone vaguely listening to a friend and them us while checking email or playing with an app? How often are we truly engaged with and focused on what people are saying without multiple distractions?
11. Take away. I need to memorize and apply this, and speaking to my soul.
Pours out his soul
Analyses his hopes
He remembers the love and kindness and grace of God.
He preaches sermons to his heart.
I loved the video of Twila and her reciting Psalm 18. Getting the knowledge of Gods love from our heads to our hearts so crucial. Today in church I was quoting the scripture that Nothing can separate us from the love of God. This past week I have had to remind myself of that as I feel I have had a battle going on with whispers of lies coming at me. I know the Lord is allowing some things to be stripped away. I am being pruned. I am amazed at how current and relevant these blog themes and topics seem to be in my life situations. I too am appreciating being in the Psalms in this raw and difficult time in my life with my marriage hanging by a thread. Thy will be done.
Yes, Liz, these themes are so relevant to the struggles. Getting the word from the head to the heart… Yes, I understand.
Desiring to let the word do the pruning, yet pain comes with the process.
Oh Liz — glad you are here too in this stormy time for you.
Oh yes, Liz…..may His will be done in your life….your marriage……your walk with Him. As I type this I am looking at a rock I placed on my dining table last week…..reminding me of Samuel’s Ebenezer…..”this far the Lord has helped us”. He has helped you so….and He will not fail you now. 🙂
oh Liz, I’m just seeing this–so much pain, I am so sorry. Praying for you now, and will continue–for His strength, comfort, healing. So glad you are here.
Shirley thank you I would love to connect again 🙂 Jackie YES I too had an Ebenezer Stone given to me at a very special time in my life upon completion of the ” Forgiven and Set Free” Bible study thru Care Net. We need those memorials to remember. Dee Again I stand amazed at how these studies are so relevant Thank you Lizzy Prayer is the most important gift we can offer anyone thank you
2. Read Psalm 44:1-8
A. How does the psalm begin in verse 1?
They have heard from their fathers of how God helped them to overcome their enemies in the past-how He raised them up and redeemed them.
B. Find the contrasts in each of the following couplets:
vs 2a: God drove out nations-but planted his people
vs. 2b: He afflicted the peoples of the nation-but set free his people
vs. 3: ..and they didn’t win by their own power or sword but they won by God’s power and sword, and by His light.
C. Who is the hero in verse 3 and why did he rescue them?
God is the hero. He rescued them because He delighted in them. This is so hard for me to ‘get over’ because I am in awe. Here it is again..God’s unmerited favor! That overall they were a stiff necked people, (like us), yet He made them His-and rescued their stubborn hearts over and over again-why? because He delighted in them. Amazing love.
D. For what reasons, according to verses 5-7 are they boasting in their Lord?
God empowered them to overcome their enemies. They would have fallen by the hands of their enemies if God hadn’t fought for them and saved them.
3. Read Psalm 44:9-16 and describe the woes the sons of Korah lament to God.
They feel rejected by God, they feel He has left them to attack. They blame God for their shame and disgrace. They do not believe God’s love for them.
4. Read Psalm 44:17-21 and describe why the son of Korah are confused.
They have remained faithful to God and yet it feels as though He has forgotten them. It feels like He doesn’t care, like He is asleep!
5. Have you ever felt this way — if so, when? (Be brief)
In the darkest of times, while I know God is ever present and all powerful—there are times He feels silent, and I question His ways, what He might allow.
But, I don’t feel the confidence in my faithfulness they express—so I more tend to blame myself as the cause of God’s seemingly turning away…falling into thinking I’m being ‘punished’ for my sinfulness. That’s when it’s helpful to again speak truth to my soul—the penalty for my sin was already paid, cannot be tried again, case closed!
I so identify with your answer to 5, Lizzy!
LIzzy – count me in with Dee in relating so to your answer to #5!! Ugh, it’s a stomach churning place to be…..but oh, the wonder of this: “the penalty for my sin was already paid, cannot be tried again, case closed!” “And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” (Hebrews 10:10). Oh! Our tongues can never tell the wonder of it all, can they????
I identify too!
1. What stands out to you from the above and why?
“For whenever an Old Testament verse is quoted in the New Testament, there is light for understanding.” This spoke powerfully to me. For Dee, you are like a woman casting a net and then drawing us in….you present such poignant beauty (the woman in red, Twila’s testimony on the shore, the outstretched hands, the agony of lament….) and then you draw us back in with the Living Word….and it’s pull to draw us into Christ….HIs love, His care for us, His faithfulness…..and our hearts are tenderized anew. 🙂
2. Read Psalm 44:1-8
A. How does the psalm begin in verse 1? It begins with faith. Or at the very least knowledge, but if they are crying out with knowledge then this is faith, if not strong then at least beginning.
B. Find the contrasts in each of the following couplets:
2a: God drove out vs God planted
2b. God afflicted the people vs. God set them free
3: Not by their sword or hand but by His sword and hand. There is also a contrast in His victory- victory is usually sought for self-glorification or validation, but God sought victory because He delighted in His people.
C. Who is the hero in verse 3 and why did he rescue them? God is the hero and He rescued them because He delighted in His people. I must be careful here because this can turn into a promise that isn’t actually given – to assume that if He delights in me He will rescue me from all my hardships and trials and battles. I must back up and look eternally and spiritually and redefine “victory”.
D. For what reasons, according to verses 5-7, are they boasting in their Lord? They recognize that He is the source of their strength and victory. He has saved them. They understand it is not by their bow but by Him, this time and the next!
6. Read Psalm 44:23-26:A. What evidence do you find that the psalmists have not backed up from God, foiling the enemy’s primary goal?
They continue to cry out to God. They claim His promise of steadfast love. The way they continually say ‘wake up!’ makes me think they really still believe He holds all the power, and the desire to help—they just feel He is delayed in His rescue.
B. Though it may be hard to see, see if you can discover a difference between verse 9 and verses 23 and 26.
v.9 –they state as fact that God has rejected, disgraced, not gone with them. They are not questioning, they are resigned that He has forgotten them.
v. 23-they plead with Him to not continue to reject them—to come to their rescue as they still believe He will
v.26-they remind themselves of His steadfast love, and call upon God to act in it, there is a voice of faith here, in God’s love for them, they are calling upon God to act in accordance with Who He is
One day last week, I happened upon Joni & Ken Tada on FamilyLife–so much of what they shared reminds me of the lesson this week, I wanted to share this quote, from Joni, in response to having quadriplegia, chronic pain, and most recently cancer:
“I guess I’m at the age, now, where it has become somewhat invigorating:’Oh my goodness! God thinks I can really step up to this plate and swing at this ball? He really thinks I can do that, with His grace? Well, I’m not going to let Him down. I’m not going to disappoint Him. I’m certainly not going to give Satan, on the opposing team, the advantage. I’m going to swing at this ball. By the grace of God, and God alone, we’re going to hit a home run because that ball is heading to heaven. It’s right on the horizon, and I don’t want to do anything that’s going to demerit my capacity for joy, and worship, and service in heaven. I want to—I just want to trust that God knows what He’s doing in my life!'”
Her life, her response, proves to me the truth of Romans 8:35-39
Lizzy
Thanks for sharing this pure gold quote. Only by His grace and His grace alone.
Such faith…I don’t know how she does it. She is a pretty amazing woman. Life is SO hard sometimes. Thanks for sharing.
Lizzy-loved this..And this comes from a life of suffering-being stripped of creature comforts..He is her joy..and He is preparing her-His Bride..love this. “I just want to trust that God knows what He is doing in my life!”
2. Read Psalm 44:1-8
A. How does the psalm begin in verse 1?
The verse acknowledges God’s work of the past.
B. Find the contrasts in each of the following couplets:
vs 2a: God “drove out the people” but then he “planted” as well.
vs. 2b: God “afflicted people” and then “set them free.”
vs. 3: they didn’t save themselves, God saved them.
C. Who is the hero in verse 3 and why did he rescue them?
God is the hero and He saved them because He delighted in them.
D. For what reasons, according to verses 5-7 are they boasting in their Lord?
God has taken up for them. With His name they “pushed down their foes, they tread down those who rise againat them. God puts shame in those who have hated them.
7. Read Romans 8:35-39, where Psalm 44 is quoted, and share how this gives insight.
Paul affirms that we will have trials, some severe. And yet, even in those trials, even in death, the bond of love the Father has for us is never broken, never diminished, never compromised. This love is stronger than the trials, stronger than death; and the power of this love sustains us. All of our doubting in the face of dark despair, does not change the fact that God is always at work, always in control, always awake.
3. Read Psalm 44:9-16 and describe the woes the sons of Korah lament to God.
This reminds me of Jesus being led to the cross and even on the cross! The sons feel God has rejected and abandoned them and is not going before them and helping them in their time of need like he has in the past. They are humiliated and disgraced and it feels like God is turning his face.
4. Read Psalm 44:17-21 and describe why the son of Korah are confused.
They had not forgotten God, they were walking in righteousness yet all of that came upon them.
3. Read Psalm 44:9-16 and describe the woes the sons of Korah lament to God.
They have been been rejected and disgraced. They feel alone. They have been turned around from fighting and their opponents have been winners instead of them. They are scattered and weak because they don’t have a large army. People mock them. They are embarrassed because of their inadequacies.
4. Read Psalm 44:17-21 and describe why the son of Korah are confused.
The sons of Korah believe they have not forgotten God; they have been faithful, not turning to other gods, and don’t understand why He allows them to be slaughtered.
5. Have you ever felt this way — if so, when? (Be brief)
Absolutely, I have felt like this! Many times. The worst was a time when my older son was struggling and drawing the family down with his behavior. Recently though, I wonder why God is silent when attack, after attack, after attack, occurs around the world. I have prayed for Him to show himself so the world could see His glory, but I don’t believe He is ready. I’m not exactly sure why this is so, and it makes me sad to see such life lost.
6. Read Psalm 44:23-26:
A. What evidence do you find that the psalmists have not backed up from God, foiling the enemy’s primary goal?
They are begging Him to awaken and rise up and rescue them. They didn’t back away because they know God loves them and will rise up in his time.
B. Though it may be hard to see, see if you can discover a difference between verse 9 and verses 23 and 26.
In verse 9 it seems he has lost confidence in God’s love for him-he is asking God why he has rejected them. I think of Twila and how it felt like he rejected her those 10 long years, but she found it wasn’t rejection-just delay for if he had rescued her sooner she wouldn’t have truly been set free. Verse 23 and 26 seems to be pouring out of a heart of faith..he knows deep down God won’t reject him and so based on his confidence of God’s love for him he cries out for God’s rescue.
You caught the progress in the lament, Rebecca.
Yes Dee, I thought it might be my “southern drawl” that was messing me up but it ended up being the British Siri voice that couldn’t understand my accent! I wonder if Siri understands Wisconian?
Dee, I posted this in the wrong place. It should go below.
Hi Everyone,
I apologize for not participating this week, and by no means do I think being busy is a reason not to be involved. Playing the drums is very physical, with the amount required this week, and being out of shape, typing has to be put on hold. Typing for me is normally slow and clumsy. What incredible, prestigious and glamorous, gig, would take me away from the study? VBS, yes that’s it, VBS volunteer drummer. Glamour in the music industry is fabricated unless filthy restrooms and something that resembled a dead stuffed cat in a green room is bragging material. Enough typing, back song learning, and Advil lots of Advil.
Dawndrums, I LOVE VBS, and spent time last week helping at our churches event as well. I’m so sorry you are in pain. Yes! Advil is your friend ?. As far as typing goes, have you an iPhone or iPad? You can talk type and it works pretty well (as long as you have the “American English” voice turned on). Otherwise, we will “see” you next week!
American English! Wow — maybe that is why Siri so often doesn’t understand me!
Had to share from my favorite devotional “Streams in the Desert” seems so relevant to this weeks study.
For we through the Spirit by faith wait for the hope of righteousness (>Galatians 5:5, RV).
There are times when things look very dark to me–so dark that I have to wait even for hope. It is bad enough to wait in hope. A long-deferred fulfillment carries its own pain, but to wait for hope, to see no glimmer of a prospect and yet refuse to despair; to have nothing but night before the casement and yet to keep the casement open for possible stars; to have a vacant place in my heart and yet to allow that place to be filled by no inferior presence–that is the grandest patience in the universe. It is Job in the tempest; it is Abraham on the road to Moriah; it is Moses in the desert of Midian; it is the Son of man in the Garden of Gethsemane. There is no patience so hard as that which endures, “as seeing him who is invisible”; it is the waiting for hope.
Thou hast made waiting beautiful; Thou has made patience divine. Thou hast taught us that the Father’s will may be received just because it is His will. Thou hast revealed to us that a soul may see nothing but sorrow in the cup and yet may refuse to let it go, convinced that the eye of the Father sees further than its own.
Give me this Divine power of Thine, the power of Gethsemane. Give me the power to wait for hope itself, to look out from the casement where there are no stars. Give me the power, when the very joy that was set before me is gone, to stand unconquered amid the night, and say, “To the eye of my Father it is perhaps shining still.”
I shall reach the climax of strength when I have learned to wait for hope.–George Matheson
Strive to be one of those–so few–who walk the earth with ever-present consciousness–all mornings, middays, star-times–that the unknown which men call Heaven is “close behind the visible scene of things.”
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7. Read Romans 8:35-39, where Psalm 44 is quoted, and share how this gives insight.
Depression, persecution, satan, sin…nothing can separate us from His Love. He loves us no less when we are depressed, or in a desert time, or being persecuted by our family or co-workers, and when we are stripped of everything here..Cling to Him for His love is sure-and while the world and satan condemn us, He won’t condemn us. Persecution-facing death?? Jesus was persecuted and died on our behalf so that if we ever face death for our faith-as in Isis killing us let’s say- We are free..we are His and this life on earth is short anyway-what matters is eternal, and the temporary really only matters for the eternal..hope I said that right! 🙂 Our thorns and trials may not resolve in the now and we can have this stabbing pain inside yet we can be happy in him. His Love supersedes dark days and brings us comfort-yes this life is painful but He is our comfort for He is for us even if it feels like he is absent-he isn’t. (I am speaking this to my soul this morning for I need to hear this!! Every day! The evil one attacks me CONSTANTLY it seems-always appealing to my sinful nature!! Whispering lies for me to doubt His Love-that He isn’t really for me.)
Rebecca Thanks for sharing here. This is why we cannot isolate ourselves during these trials and especially believe the lie we are the only ones. I know the enemy loves it when we believe that big lie. He loves to beat us down with shame and uses our faith against us twists the Word to his benefit of keeping us down.
3. Read Psalm 44:9-16 and describe the woes the sons of Korah lament to God. They are lamenting because they feel God has left them. They are embarrassed and shamed because they do not have victory. The thing they relied on for reassurance of God’s presence is gone. So they feel alone, vulnerable, and ashamed at the failures given.
4. Read Psalm 44:17-21 and describe why the son of Korah are confused. Because God delivering them to their enemies has always been associated with punishment and justice for sin and idolatry but this time they have been given failure despite their loyalty to God and His name.
5. Have you ever felt this way – if so, when? (Be brief) Absolutely. Tim Keller’s sermon last week summarized it well. (Paraphrase) When bad things happen we tend to say, “Well, obviously you aren’t checking off your daily Christian to-do list. You need to do more.” My gut reaction is still, “What did I do wrong?” but I am seeing more and more that my hardships are really answers to prayer…to teach and train… And to know truth solid without having to have the “happy fuzzies” to go with it. You don’t often get to see the mountain view without trekking the rough mountain terrain.
Good Keller quote — we all can identify!
8. How does this incident illustrate the message of Psalm 44? (It is told in Mark 4:35-41)
The first thing I notice here is that they immediately obey Jesus’ instruction to go across the sea. They were faithful, as those in the psalm had claimed to be. Then the storm comes, they first notice their surroundings, their circumstance—water filling the boat, waves breaking. Then they look to Jesus for help—and He is asleep! Immediately they panic, they accuse Him of not caring for them, as in Psalm 44:9. They forget His character, His promises. The forget who He is.
9. Where does God seem to be sleeping to you? How can you speak to your soul?
There is definitely an area of my life that comes to mind here. What I am finding is that I am tempted to believe God is sleeping, when my eyes are on the waves around me and my hope is in the calming of them. If my hope is on things around me, relationships—even good things I want that I believe God wants too—if my eyes are fixed on those things, the waves never seem to calm, and frustration mounts within me. That is when I feel He isn’t moving fast enough, like He’s sleeping. I hear Him saying ‘wait. Trust Me’. It is so hard to trust when all I am looking at is the breaking waves and water filling the boat. If only I could lean my head up against His shoulder, close my eyes and sleep alongside Him—trusting, believing, He works ALL things together for His good, in His perfect time.
Oei my goodness, you really give homework. Very good ! How good how you made the title, bipolair, I would never have thought of that.
The Hero of verse 3 is Jesus.
Recognizable is (everything) : verse 3. Yes we see that unfortunately.
What stands out is verse 5!
He gave us everything to stand up!!
I want to let sink in, every day, the truth of what He did, and where we can stand on. These lament-like psalms are always……encouraging us.
The redeeming work of the Cross, is why we see on victory, in spite off..
Faith, accelerates and manifests this victory. When we keep un standing firmly.
Did not do all my homework! Have to get used to this!
Sandra — love your openness. Praying right now for you — and excited to see what God will do!
Sandra-I sense a kindred spirit here..I also love your openness and your encouragement that we need to let sin in, every day the truth of what He did…He gave us everything to stand up! :))
Beautiful testimony and video!
A. We have heard it from our ears what The Lord did long ago
C. The Lord because He loves them
D. He gives them victory, not themselves or their weapons
3. Lots of darkness is over them they feel abandoned by the Lord
4. They were confused because they did not turn from Him.
5. Yes, when my grandmother died so young, she was the sweetest and most selfless lady. I really wanted her to have a relationship with my daughter but the Lord had another plan
6. Read Psalm 44:23-26:
A. What evidence do you find that the psalmists have not backed up from God, foiling the enemy’s primary goal?
They still have hope; they are still asking for His help. They haven’t given up. They say, “Rise up; come to our help.”
B. Though it may be hard to see, see if you can discover a difference between verse 9 and verses 23 and 26.
In verse 9 they are totally hopeless; lacking faith for a moment. In verses 23 and 26 they “believe” again. They have hope that God will come and save them.
Well, after I had answered #9 this morning, I was hit with a “wake up Jesus!” moment this afternoon. This time I feel like I am crying out, begging Him to wake up and meet the needs of my youngest as he was made fun of today and brought to tears. As I prayed with my husband for Jesus to calm this storm in my child, I felt myself wanting His eyes to open and act–but He wants me to trust. He does see, He does care, I know He does–and He will use all of this for good. It is just so hard to watch the storms and wait, but I will trust. Not sure why I am sharing all this here, except that my answer above was put to the test, so I am clinging to His arms, believing He will bring peace and healing.
Oh Lizzy — nothing brings out the mother bear in us like this. I found Keller’s comments on Psalm 83, an imprecatory psalm, helpful, and am praying that for the taunters of your child.
Oh my dear Lizzy…..the storms that flatten our children are SO much harder to bear than almost anything else. He has made us to be tender warriors on their behalf, after all. Our hearts are knit to theirs. SO grateful that your response was….”as I prayed with my husband…” – a gift! A cord of three strands are you, your husband and the Lord! Reading Dee’s words about praying from Psalm 83 led me to read it…..and verse 16 moved me to pray this on your son’s behalf: “Fill their faces with shame, that they may seek your name, O Lord.” Amen. And prayers that the tender faith of your young son might be fortified and strengthened in the storm. 🙂
praying for your youngest Lizzy
Lizzy, this is hard. I will pray for your youngest to overcome the taunts; it is a miserable position to be in, as I have been the victim as a child too. In 5th grade these horrible girls used to chase me home from the bus stop and threaten to beat me up. I am still able to conjure up those feelings of being the harassed one. I am so sorry.
Oh Lizzy The mothers heart for our kids we hurt when they hurt. The hard in life starts young. Praying for his tender heart for yours and for who the person was that did that:( Hurting people hurt people. My oldest daughter went thru that and it rips at your heart. He will bring peace and healing.
oh Liz–tears, thank you. Your words hit my heart–thank you for reaching out to me right now with understanding and your prayers
7. Read Romans 8:35-39, where Psalm 44 is quoted, and share how this gives insight.
For true believers, nothing will separate us from Christ. We are His no matter what.
I find being faithful difficult, although I do believe God has His reasons for being slow to act, or acting in a particular way that makes no sense to me. Again, in my life, I am going through a time where the situation(s) I am up against are confounding; how could He allow this to happen? Why does He sleep? When will our lives be peaceful? Will they ever be the way I think they should be, or always different than what I would like to see?
I am like Lizzy today; upset that circumstances are what they are, and not able to change them or make them right. We are like the Psalmist, who is trying to keep the faith but still wondering what the outcome(s) will be. Help us Lord!
Praying for your Laura. You are in such a hard place. Oh Lord, hear our prayers!
8. How does this incident illustrate the message of Psalm 44? (It is told in Mark 4:35-41)
Jesus has the power to calm any storm in our lives, if and when He decides to do so. The men in the boat were failing in their faith because they were afraid of the literal storm. He points this out to them upon awakening.
Just as the Psalmist in 44 seeks the Lord and wonders when He will come, the men in the boat also seek the Lord when they are afraid, and beg Him to calm the storm.
8. How does this incident illustrate the message of Psalm 44? (It is told in Mark 4:35-41)
The Disciples are gazing at their circumstance ‘first’ and it becomes huge-bigger than Jesus to them, and so they were fearful-the opposite of faith..Just like the sons of Korah whose circumstances overwhelmed them and filled them with fear. In both accounts it seemed God was sleeping. Another parallel I see that I haven’t seen in Mark 4 before is that they woke Jesus up to ask him, “don’t you care if we drown?” This is a lament!! 🙂 Even though they were fearful, they pressed in and lamented, yet they lacked faith. BUT at the end..and i may be stretching this..but at the end they were in awe of Jesus..instead of focusing on themselves and their lack of faith and perhaps their comfort of being out of danger, they were in awe of Jesus.
9. Where does God seem to be sleeping to you? How can you speak to your soul?
My heart is dark and I can’t see the hidden things-so glad He can..It seems God is sleeping in a certain area of my life, but I know He isn’t yet I respond in fear as if He is! He is ‘messing with my heart’ and it is good. Lately I have been in awe of Him through memorizing Romans 8: 31-39. So that is how I am speaking to my soul. SO I am landing on this: “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” He loves me and so I trust that He knows what He is doing in my life. He isn’t out to ‘hurt me’..He delights in me and desires to change me-making me beautiful-and his peeling the layers hurts. The truth is that He wouldn’t love me if he were aloof not tending my vineyard, and i believe He ordains every circumstance in my life to do that.
Thanks for this Rebecca…
“…their circumstance ‘first’ and it becomes huge-bigger than Jesus to them…”
You our helped remind me that He is bigger then any earthly problem we have.
9. Where does God seem to be sleeping to you? How can you speak to your soul?
Wow, I feel that God is SO asleep in two situations in my children’s lives right now. both are ongoing and seem insurmountable. I don’t know how each will progress or “pan out.” Both are sad for me; watching my children in the throes of life ?. I will not elaborate, but suffice it to say that as a mother, I am not pleased with my children’s actions and feel the need to interfere. I am speaking to myself and my soul daily. Here is an example…
Oh Lord! I am devastated by the current events in my children’s lives. Help us! It feels like you are so far away and don’t care at all. I feel like a complete failure. Where did I go wrong? How could I have made it better as I raised them? Why did I think I was doing a good job when apparently I wasn’t? Why is the world such an awful place where my children find the exact places to land that harm them?
I know You make beauty out of ashes Dear One. I long to see what You can make out of the mess these kids have themselves in. It is totally out of my hands, other than to stick beside You and watch You work in their lives. I will continue to pray for them. I will NOT interfere. I did what I thought was right as I raised them; I did the best I could do. They have good hearts; that is one thing. Protect them oh Lord. Protect them now and forever. Amen.
Laura – I read your entry here earlier this morning…..out walking dogs right after and felt led to pray fervently that the Lord would strategically place true believers on your children’s paths. I pray this for my own children and so many others…..including the young adult children of our sisters here. Praying for your sweet, sweet grandson as well….that a love for Jesus and faith in Him alone might come for him at an early age and for all of his days.
dear Laura, agreeing with Jackie’s good prayer for your kids–and I am just imagining the transformation they have witnessed in your own life, your growing so in your faith–trusting the seeds that have been planted will produce faith.
Laura your prayer melted me..He so has your heart and you are such an inspiration to me-your faith in this ongoing storm. Lord you are the one who can rock the waves and still them, you are the one who turned Paul’s heart into putty so that you could shape him..I ask you would do that with Laura’s children. Stop them in their tracks and rescue them and we ask, unless you have a different plan, that you would do that soon. I am in awe of you-how you are making Laura beautiful in this heart wrenching trial and grateful you not only know how Laura feels as a parent, but that you feel it with her. In your powerful and Holy name, amen.
Thank you ladies, I appreciate all your prayers for my children and me. I am patiently (trying) to wait on Him no matter what and in the mean time I have all of you! SO precious! I am humbled this morning with your outpouring to us. Thank you, thank you!
I hear you listening to your soul in paragraph 2, Laura — but then speaking in paragraph 3. Love to you.
3. Read Psalm 44:9-16 and describe the woes the sons of Korah lament to God.
The thing that struck me MOST about all of the woes….is the constant refrain – “You have…..” , referring to God Himself. There is just something about this. Though it may sound accusatory of God at first glance, I think there’s so much more going on here. It is as though the sons of Korah are reckoning with Who God is…..His Sovereignty, if you will. It’s so consistent with so many others in the Scriptures….David, Job, Jeremiah (Lamentations 3!)….I see this as a way of crying out in despair and sorrow – and YET bending the knee to Almighty God, wrestling through this in His presence and desiring no one but Him. It is true lament – gut wrenching in it’s brutal honesty and heart rending pain…..yet allowing that very pain to draw one closer to the God and to bring the sense of betrayal to Him, knowing that all of the rhyme and reason of this life turned upside down reside in Him alone. Jesus did the same in the garden of Gesthemane. God the Father is a safe place to bring our woes…..He is our tender Abba. He WILL turn our mourning into dancing!
Jackie — I love how you really look at these God-breathed words.
“You are…” So good.
4. Read Psalm 44:17-21 and describe why the sons of Korah are confused.
They have not forgotten their God or forsaken their covenant with Him. Their steps have been faithful in following His way and not running after idols. They know well that God’s own Word assures them that this is the way of BLESSING (Psalm 1). But oh my….don’t we ALL struggle with exactly what God’s blessing on our lives really is???? When I listen to Jesus’ words in Matthew 5:3-11 (The Beatitudes) I cannot help but recoil at some of those words! “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account…”. It takes FAITH to persevere when God’s blessing upon our lives looks like such persecution and being lied about. But He calls me to look at what is unseen (“…your reward is great in heaven”) and not what is seen!
5. Have you ever felt this way? If so, when?
Many times. Three years ago I was walking through the hardest season of my life. Legitimate sorrows came in waves….the death of my daughter’s fiance, her revelation that she was being treated for a late stage, terminal cancer, my middle son’s horrific struggle with addiction…..my marriage in an absolutely brutal place…..in the course of a few short months all of this was raging. BUT NONE OF THIS ALONE WAS THE TRUE CORE OF MY SUFFERING. My suffering was too personal to even share here…..but it was entirely between me and my God. My God who I loved with all of my being….and I had specific “reasons” to feel that He had betrayed me. That He had turned HIs back on me. That He was “like a bear lying in wait for me….tearing me to pieces…..setting me as a target for his arrow….driving his arrows into my kidneys….driving me into darkness….my flesh and my skin wasting away….breaking my bones…..(all of this from Lamentations 3). It was real. Horrific. But I could not walk away from Him. And He turned my mourning into dancing!!! (most of the “circumstances” remain to this day…..but it’s in HIs hands…..it is well with my soul).
Ohhhh Jackie. The brutal fires you have faced and come through like gold.
Oh Jackie…… The Lord knows.
Remember back in the day when people dedicated songs on the radio (maybe they still do that…. I don’t know.) Well, this song by Audrey Assad, is dedicated to you, Jackie. And it is for all of us that need the reminder of Psalm 139.
It its entitled Known. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUiyu4TLjjg
Nila, Nila. Just listened to this song with full heart, full eyes. Thank you. I had awakened with the song John 3:16 going through my mind….as well as thoughts of “I just cannot lead this study this morning, Lord. I cannot. I am not the woman they think I am……” This song calmed my restless soul. Brought me to the wondrous Psalm 139, yes. And I am that weaned child of Psalm 131:2…..and I am quickened like that swallow soaring in the sky with Him. 🙂 Perhaps more than anyone else I know, the Lord has indeed gifted you with music….sharing it with us (and others!) in a way that honors Him greatly. Amen.
Jackie. OH how I wish I wasn’t so tired and could find the words to eloquently describe how blessed I am by your presence here. I cannot imagine your pain–your trials are just too much–and YET, you faithfully pour out your offerings to Him, and He has brought such incredible wisdom and beauty forth in you. Your circumstances are different, but in many ways you remind me of Joni E. Tada. You show us a glorious picture of what brokenness brought before the Cross can really look like–your true humility allows Him to shine all the more.
Lizzy – as you probably knew I would say, I am not Joni. But I so appreciate your heart and I know what you are saying…..He shines through her as though she was entirely permeable! She exemplifies my “life verse” of John 3:30 (“He must increase, but I must decrease”)Soooooo beautifully. Like a multifaceted gem I see different glimpses of Him everywhere I look here in our sisterhood on the blog! He is continually shaping me, increasing in my life, as I see Him doing the same in others. And you, Lizzy, are always out there on the front lines….pushing forward into Him above all else. I have just prayed again for your precious son….with overflowing gratefulness that he is a little man of prayer….that his mommy and daddy model a life of prayer….and I am passing along Nila’s song that she shared here to him…..praying that Psalm 139 soaks DEEPLY into his being. 🙂
Love your faith and love for Jesus even when your circumstances remain.
Such faith! You are such an encouragement to me. Thanks for being here! Raging; I get that…all at once, in the midst of life, 3-4 things develop and boom! There you are to deal with it all. Crazy, huh?
Jackie I think you nailed it here. We truly do struggle to know what Gods blessings truly are. I think much of the time we have it all wrong He never has it wrong. We need to trust He knows exactly what we need. Read in Romans 11:33-36 that I just wrote down in my journal that pretty much said the same thing.. Thank you for this.
6. Read Psalm 44:23-26:
A. What evidence do you find that the psalmists have not backed up from God, foiling the enemy’s primary goal? They are still calling on Him. They still petition for help “because of your unfailing love.” In fact, as we have discussed, they may be pressing in more and looking for God’s “awakening” and so their eyes are trained on Him and His word, looking, searching, humbling themselves in prayer. They still believe.
B. Though it may be hard to see, see if you can discover a difference between verse 9 and verses 23 and 26. Verse 9 says “abandonment.” That God has left and cares no more. Verses 23 and 26 assume He is there and assume His unfailing love yet ask when He will send help to them. The psalmists have gone from despondency to waiting in trust (though still painful). They have hope. (Who posted that, Nila?, about waiting with and without hope?)
6. Read Psalm 44:23-26.
A. What evidence do you find that the psalmists have not backed up from God, foiling the enemy’s primary goal?
“Awake!….Rouse yourself!…” The psalmists KNOW He is there!! “Redeem us for the sake of your steadfast love!” The psalmists not only know that God is there, but they know that God is a Redeemer….and that He is Merciful. And that He will be glorified ultimately through it all!
B. Though it may be hard to see, see if you can discover a difference between verse 9 and verses 23 and 26.
in verse 9, the sting of God’s rejection is overwhelming. In verses 23 and 26 the tide is turning….the psalmists are reminding themselves that this rejection is NOT forever! God is a Redeemer who does come to the aid of his people who are helpless….for His own Name’s sake. 🙂
Has anyone else out there read any of Walter Brueggemann’s writings on the Psalms?? He has written a book entitled Praying the Psalms. In it he suggests that we regularly find themselves in one of three places:
a place of orientation, in which everything makes sense in our lives;
a place of disorientation, in which we feel we have sunk into the pit; and
a place of new orientation, in which we realize that God has lifted us out of the pit and we are in a new place full of gratitude and awareness about our lives and our God.
This link discusses Brueggemann’s work more thoroughly: https://korycapps.wordpress.com/about/
I doubt I will be able to post more this week–our last home study tomorrow, and then my first ever since kids time away with my husband. Thank you Liz, Dee, Jackie for your loving response about my son. He is anxious about my being gone over night, and that has brought on a terrible bout of his tics. An entire group of kids imitating him at day camp yesterday brought him to tears. I am just heart sick. But he loves Jesus and prayed this morning and wanted to go back and try today. But to know that I can cry out here, and feel such a response of prayer and love, is just a treasure–thank you. So thankful to be a part of this amazing blog family~
Lizzy-my heart tore when I read this! You are an amazing mom! :)))Your son’s heart is so soft for Jesus that these times most likely will be opportunities for him to cling to Jesus and rest even more in His approval and love for him. It is hard to know when to pull them from things and when to let them stay..I do believe protecting them from abuse is important because it teaches them to set boundaries with abusive people. Yet at the same time it is an opportunity to teach them how to handle mean people. It sounds like he wants to try one more day-what a precious boy..I think God will make it clear to both of you. Lord what a gift Lizzy’s son is. I ask you would protect him from the evil one taunting him at camp and that you would help him to keep clinging to you. Surround him with good friends to lift him up and use this to help strengthen him in you.
amen Rebecca.
Oh Lizzy — know that you and he are covered in prayer today.
Was praying Thursday and Friday…I hope things went better and there was peace in his heart. I also hope you had a wonderful time on your first ever since kids night away with husband!
Jackie, in response to your number 5 above (but putting it here so that you will catch it): I had an immediate reaction of “solid” but have been trying to figure out how to articulate it. There is something about those whom God has brought through true suffering (by His hand we are saved) … It is as if the pain, suffering, fire of trial burns away all the mist and fluff of religious niceties and truly pulls their feet to standing on solid rock…solid…foundation…able to see because they have had to clear their eyes and look. I am not sure what I am trying to say except that I see this in you: solid. I know you are not peffect and you still struggle but I do see that clarity of faith in you that has you standing on the only foundation that will sustain: Christ.
7. Read Romans 8:35-39, where Psalm 44 is quoted, and share how this gives insight. The Romans passage shows what we have been discussing – that nothing can separate is from God. That He is still there when we have tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, danger…In fact Romans goes on to say that through these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. So clinging to Him through these things allows Him to conquor through us. So what we see as “surely this can’t be in the plan” is indeed a victory and not a failure.
3. Describe the woes.
You have rejected and humbled us, our adversaries have plundered us. You gave us up to be devoured and scattered us among the nations. The enemy is bent on revenge.
4. Why are the sons of Korah confused?
We had not forgotten you or turned to a foreign god. We had not been false to your covenant.
5. Ever felt this way?
Even though I have been struggling lately, I don’t feel like God has rejected me. It seems like people do, and they disappoint me.
6. What evidence the Psalmists have not backed up from God?
They call out to God and plead for God’s help in their affliction.
6b. Verse 9 states that “Thou hast cast off and put us to shame”, verse 23 and 26 is their prayer to the Lord, to “cast us not off forever and arise, help and redeem us for thy mercies’ sake”.
7. Share how Romans 8: 35-39 gives insight. It reminds us that Nothing separates us from the love of Christ! And that we are more than conquerors through him who loved us!
This passage gives me strength to keep on keeping on though the enemy attacks and draws me into the sadness and melancholy mood.
9. God is speaking to me and I know I am loved, though I may feel ignored and devalued.
I just want to say that each of you encourages through your posts and sharing. Jackie, Lizzy, Rebecca, Laura, Nila, thanks to each of you during this study.
Dee, how the laments of the Psalmists touch my heart. God is our hope and our faithful Lord.