2.21.21 HUDDLE

Zach Below   -   February 22, 2021

INTRO QUESTION

  1. As a kid, what was your favorite thing to do on a snow day? Do you have any specific memories from snow days growing up?

 

 

LESSON INTRO

This week we begin a new series called “Restore: Rebuilding A Broken Soul.” Last month we explored the Old Testament book of Haggai where God called his people to “rebuild the temple.” In the New Testament (after the death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus), the temple becomes a metaphor for the people of God . . . you and me. I think it is safe to say that 2020 broke all of us down in one-way or another. We want to spend the next several weeks “rebuilding the temple.” Today we are going to explore the first step in that process . . . lament.

 

  1. When you look back on the past year, what is one word or phrase you would use to sum it up?

 

  1. What are a few things from 2020 that stand out in your mind?

 

 

BIBLE ENGAGEMENT—LAMENT

It is well-documented that taking adequate time to process and grieve events is an important part of moving on in a healthy way. Scripture doesn’t deny that bad things will happen. In fact, it assumes that we will have times of grief. One of the beautiful things about the Bible is that it models our freedom to express the full extent of our emotions before God. The book of Psalms is full of this type of expression, also known as a “lament.” A lament is simply grieving something openly before God. Some scholars say that as many as 70% of the Psalms are laments in one form or another. Today, we are going to look at a few examples of laments from Scripture and explore how it speaks to our own faith today.

 

 

PSALM 10:1

“Lord, why do you stand so far away?

Why do you hide in times of trouble?”

 

 

PSALM 13

How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
2 How long must I wrestle with my thoughts
and day after day have sorrow in my heart?
How long will my enemy triumph over me?

3 Look on me and answer, Lord my God.
Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death,
4 and my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,”
and my foes will rejoice when I fall.

5 But I trust in your unfailing love;
my heart rejoices in your salvation.
6 I will sing the Lord’s praise,
for he has been good to me.

 

 

PSALM 69:1-4

1 Save me, O God,
for the waters have come up to my neck.
2 I sink in the miry depths,
where there is no foothold.
I have come into the deep waters;
the floods engulf me.
3 I am worn out calling for help;
my throat is parched.
My eyes fail,
looking for my God.
4 Those who hate me without reason
outnumber the hairs of my head;
many are my enemies without cause,
those who seek to destroy me.
I am forced to restore
what I did not steal.

 

 

PSALM 6
1 Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger
or discipline me in your wrath.
2 Have mercy on me, Lord, for I am faint;
heal me, Lord, for my bones are in agony.
3 My soul is in deep anguish.
How long, Lord, how long?

4 Turn, Lord, and deliver me;
save me because of your unfailing love.
5 Among the dead no one proclaims your name.
Who praises you from the grave?

6 I am worn out from my groaning.

All night long I flood my bed with weeping
and drench my couch with tears.
7 My eyes grow weak with sorrow;
they fail because of all my foes.

8 Away from me, all you who do evil,
for the Lord has heard my weeping.
9 The Lord has heard my cry for mercy;
the Lord accepts my prayer.
10 All my enemies will be overwhelmed with shame and anguish;
they will turn back and suddenly be put to shame.

 

 

BIBLE ENGAGEMENT QUESTIONS

  1. What stands out to you from these texts?

 

 

5 BULLET POINTS TO HELP US BETTER UNDERSTAND AND BECOME MORE COMFORTABLE WITH LAMENT

  • LAMENTS ARE INSPIRED BY GOD

 

  1. The Christ-centered worldview holds that all of Scripture is inspired by God. This means that God wanted it in there. Why do think these Psalms are in Scripture? What is God showing us/teaching us by including them?

 

 

  • LAMENTS ARE INDIVIDUAL AND CORPORATE

 

  1. Many of these laments from the book of Psalms were used in corporate worship. Why do you think that is? Do you think that there is something healing in grieving with other people?

 

 

  • LAMENTS ARE A WAY TO BEGIN WHERE YOU ARE

 

  1. Look at Psalm 13:5-6 again. Almost all of the Psalms of lament end with the writer praising God or expressing trust in God. Why do you think these Psalms begin with lament and end in trust rather than beginning with praise/trust and then ending in lament?

 

 

  • LAMENTS ARE POETICALLY HONEST
  1. There are multiple times in Scripture where it says that we are not to complain or grumble. In fact, the Israelites are punished in the book of Numbers for complaining against God. This begs the question, what is the difference between a lament and grumbling or complaining?

 

Leader Note: One possible answer is the direction of your heart. A lament is a turning toward God.

 

 

  • LAMENTS INVITE HIS PRESENCE
  1. Pastor Bret said, “The fundamental difference between a complaint and a lament is that laments are turning toward God.” What do you think this means and how does it connect with the idea that laments invite his presence?

 

  1. Read Psalms 34:18, “The Lord is near the brokenhearted; he saves those crushed in spirit.” How would you describe “crushed in spirit” in light of 2020?

 

 

CLOSING ACTIVITY

FIRST, as a group, discuss some things that need to be grieved about 2020. What are some things that were hurtful or hard that need to be acknowledged and processed?

 

THEN, give each group member a piece of paper and a pen and how them write down their own lament. The journey towards restoration begins with grieving what is lost and turning towards God. Reassure them that whatever they write is just between them and God. They will not have to turn it in or discuss it out loud.

 

Watch the following video as an example.

 

 

 

FINISH BY TAKING COMMUNION TOGETHER . . . A SYMBOL OF SUFFERING TURNED TOWARDS HOPE.