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Prepare: This psalm plumbs the depths, so it is important to engage both heart and mind as we seek to enter into its sentiment and story.
A need for lament
Lament and distress are not welcome ingredients in the diet of most worship leaders. Better, we think, to lift the spirits with joyful praise and to sound the note of victory. This psalm is not likely to inspire too many song writers today!
That’s a pity, for two reasons. Sometimes lament is precisely what we long to express, when it appears as though the heavens are as brass and our hearts alternate between trust and despair.
Empathy
Also, lament arouses in us empathy for those whose lives are afflicted by that sense of everything being ‘out of joint’ (v 14) or facing their own roaring bulls and ravening lions (vs 12,13). Psalms such as these enrich our ability to enter into others’ shoes and pray for them.
Christ
The second reason is that it has become identified with Christ’s passion. In Matthew’s account the first sentence of this psalm is on Jesus’ lips (Matthew 27:46). He is the one despised (vs 6,7), bones out of joint, dry of mouth, his coat gambled for.
While the psalmist has got through his troubles to see the goodness of God, for Jesus that road embraces death before resurrection.
Respond: ‘Lord, I pray for all who find themselves in despair, unbearable suffering or isolation today. You have walked that road before, so be with them now and save them. Amen.’
http://www.wordlive.org/Session/Classic/2012-06-24
A need for lament
Lament and distress are not welcome ingredients in the diet of most worship leaders. Better, we think, to lift the spirits with joyful praise and to sound the note of victory. This psalm is not likely to inspire too many song writers today!
That’s a pity, for two reasons. Sometimes lament is precisely what we long to express, when it appears as though the heavens are as brass and our hearts alternate between trust and despair.
Empathy
Also, lament arouses in us empathy for those whose lives are afflicted by that sense of everything being ‘out of joint’ (v 14) or facing their own roaring bulls and ravening lions (vs 12,13). Psalms such as these enrich our ability to enter into others’ shoes and pray for them.
Christ
The second reason is that it has become identified with Christ’s passion. In Matthew’s account the first sentence of this psalm is on Jesus’ lips (Matthew 27:46). He is the one despised (vs 6,7), bones out of joint, dry of mouth, his coat gambled for.
While the psalmist has got through his troubles to see the goodness of God, for Jesus that road embraces death before resurrection.
Respond: ‘Lord, I pray for all who find themselves in despair, unbearable suffering or isolation today. You have walked that road before, so be with them now and save them. Amen.’
http://www.wordlive.org/Session/Classic/2012-06-24
Scripture
About this Plan
WordLive provides a daily slice of Bible reading and commentary that, over four years, covers most of the Bible. The commentary encourages the reader to engage with the Bible passage in order to deepen their relationship with God, through reflection and practical application. The WordLive website offers further multimedia content and group Bible study, while registration offers a daily email, journal and bookmarking, and community tools.
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We would like to thank Scripture Union England & Wales for providing this plan. For more information, please visit: www.wordlive.org/youversion
