Psalms of Lament

Order of Service

• Prayer of Invocation
• Scripture Reading — Psalm 3
• Sermon
• Congregational Prayer

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Sermon Title: Psalms of Lament

Scripture: Psalm 3

I. Introduction: Sorrow as a Universal Experience

A. Suffering is universal but not equally distributed B. The believer is not left to respond to trials the same way as the unbeliever — God has given us the lament Psalms C. The nature of lament: a personal, deeply felt crying out in the midst of suffering D. Biblical lament is a boon to a weary and worn-down faith E. The genre of lament is the most prevalent in the Psalter; Psalm 3 is the first

II. The Five Parts of a Lament Psalm (Alan Ross)

A. Address — the lament always specifically addresses God (Yahweh) B. Lament Proper — the psalmist states the situation: this is what I am facing C. Confession of Trust — a surprising, jarring statement of confidence in God in the midst of the trial D. Petition — a specific request: Lord, do this, change this, act in this way E. Declaration of Praise — the lament closes with praise to the Lord

III. Context of Psalm 3

A. The superscription identifies the author (David) and the occasion (when he fled from Absalom his son) B. This draws the reader back to 2 Samuel 15

1. Absalom has formed a plot against David and is turning the hearts of Israel away from the king
2. David's life is in jeopardy — they seek his death
3. David flees Jerusalem with a small band of faithful servants, men, women, and children C. David was acutely aware of family fracture — driven out by his own son

IV. Psalm 3 Examined Through the Five Parts

A. Address (Psalm 3:1)

1. David cries out to Yahweh — the covenantal name (all-caps LORD)
2. He does not take his lament only to other people; he goes first and ultimately to the Lord

B. Lament Proper (Psalm 3:1–2)

1. "How many are my foes" — almost all of Israel has turned against David
2. "Many are rising against me" — his life is in jeopardy
3. "There is no salvation for him in God" — they attack not only his life but his faith; body and soul are in jeopardy
4. David sugarcoats nothing; he names the gritty details

C. Confession of Trust (Psalm 3:3–6)

1. Everything turns on the word "But" — "But you, O Lord, are a shield about me"
2. David bases his confidence on covenant: the Lord is Yahweh, the God who makes and keeps covenant
3. David bases his confidence on experience: he has seen the Lord's faithfulness again and again (cf. 1 Samuel 15 onward)
4. He can even lie down and sleep — the Lord sustains him
5. "I will not be afraid of many thousands" — confidence in the face of overwhelming trial

D. Petition (Psalm 3:7)

1. "Arise, O Lord! Save me, O my God!"
2. He calls upon the just God for justice against an unjust action
3. The petition is grounded in the character of God — who he is, what he is like

E. Declaration of Praise (Psalm 3:8)

1. "Salvation belongs to the Lord" — invoking the covenantal name
2. David shifts from speaking to God in the first person to speaking of God's blessing on his people
3. The covenantal God of the individual is also the covenantal God of all his people

V. Biblical Lament Defined

A. Biblical lament is a confident trust leaning into God in the face of raw trials

VI. Application to Prayer

A. Consider to whom you go — bring your sorrow ultimately to the Lord, not only to others B. Bring the exact details of your trial to the Lord — name them specifically, as David does C. State your petition specifically — name what you are asking for D. Ground all lament in the character of the Lord — who he is from his Word and from your own experience of him E. Use the language of the lament Psalms as an aid to your personal lament F. Consider Christ himself

1. No person ever had more reason to lament than Christ
2. Christ would have prayed and sung these very words of Psalm 3
3. Christ sleeping in the boat (Matthew 8:24) mirrors Psalm 3:5 — confident trust in the Father in the face of danger
4. Christ is the living picture of confident trust in the face of many reasons for lament — learn from your Savior