Transcript:

Hello, this is Pastor Don Willeman of Christ Redeemer Church. Welcome to The Kingdom Perspective.

Have you ever felt overwhelmed by the sadness of life? Well, you are in good company.

The Bible is no stranger to weeping and sadness. “Lament” is an entire genre of biblical literature. The Bible is full of lament. Numerous Psalms fall into this category, not to mention that an entire Old Testament book is named “Lamentations.”

And, of course, there is the book of Job, whose sad life goes on for over forty chapters! Job goes deep into the confusion of lament, but he does so before God, and thus, in faith to Him. Listen to great preacher Charles Spurgeon explain:

“Job was very much troubled, and did not try to hide the outward signs of his sorrow. A man of God is not expected to be a stoic. The grace of God takes away the heart of stone out of his flesh, but it does not turn his heart into a stone. I want you, however, to notice that mourning should always be sanctified with devotion. ‘Ye people, pour out your hearts before Him: God is a refuge for us.’

When you are bowed down beneath a heavy burden of sorrow, then take to worshipping the Lord, and especially to that kind of worshipping which lies in adoring God, and in making a full surrender of yourself to the Divine will, so that you can say with Job, ‘Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him.’”

God welcomes our weeping. He calls us to bring our lament before Him.

Something to think about from The Kingdom Perspective.

“Therefore I will not restrain my mouth;
I will speak in the anguish of my spirit;
I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.
Am I the sea, or a sea monster,
that you set a guard over me?
When I say, ‘My bed will comfort me,
my couch will ease my complaint,’
then you scare me with dreams
and terrify me with visions,
so that I would choose strangling
and death rather than my bones.
I loathe my life; I would not live forever.
Leave me alone, for my days are a breath.
What is man, that you make so much of him,
and that you set your heart on him,
visit him every morning
and test him every moment?
How long will you not look away from me,
nor leave me alone till I swallow my spit?
If I sin, what do I do to you, you watcher of mankind?
Why have you made me your mark?
Why have I become a burden to you?
Why do you not pardon my transgression
and take away my iniquity?
For now I shall lie in the earth;
you will seek me, but I shall not be.”

~ Job 7:11-21 (ESV)

Citation: “Job’s Resignation: Job 1:20-22” by Charles H. Spurgeon on 11 March 1886 as recorded in Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Volume 42.