When The Walls Come Crumbling In
Praise in Minor Key
Michael Ryan Stotler
Part of Life of David
June 18, 2023

When the Walls Come Crumbling In

Bible Passage: Psalm 142

Psalm 142 (NIV)
A maskil of David. When he was in the cave. A prayer.

1 I cry aloud to the Lord; I lift up my voice to the Lord for mercy.
2 I pour out before him my complaint; before him I tell my trouble.
3 When my spirit grows faint within me, it is you who watch over my way. In the path where I walk people have hidden a snare for me.
4 Look and see, there is no one at my right hand; no one is concerned for me. I have no refuge; no one cares for my life.
5 I cry to you, Lord; I say, “You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.”
6 Listen to my cry, for I am in desperate need; rescue me from those who pursue me, for they are too strong for me.
7 Set me free from my prison, that I may praise your name. Then the righteous will gather about me because of your goodness to me.

Introduction

When David went on the run from King Saul, he had to flee for his life and found refuge in caves. It was during this time, possibly while hiding in a cave, that he wrote this Psalm. In his words, we can hear his lament and pain.

The Experience of Overwhelming Circumstances

  1. Crying out to the Lord: David cries out to the Lord, expressing his need for mercy.
  2. Feeling trapped: He acknowledges his lack of refuge and concern from others.
  3. Desperate need for rescue: David recognizes his own weakness against those pursuing him.
  4. Longing for freedom: He pleads to be set free from his prison, with the hope of praising God’s name and gathering with the righteous.

The Reality of Brokenness and God’s Presence

  1. Living in a broken world: We are born into a world that we were not truly made to inhabit. Our brokenness blocks our relationship with God.
  2. Question of God’s presence: “Where are you, God?” We often wonder about His presence during challenging times.
  3. Question of God’s love: “If you love me, why is this happening?” We question God’s hesed, His unconditional love and kindness.
  4. God’s presence in the midst of brokenness: God is always present, even in the darkest of places, such as the pits of Sheol.

The Connection between Brokenness and Sin

  1. Sin’s entrance into the world: Sin entered the world, bringing death, sickness, and suffering, affecting our relationship with God’s hesed.
  2. The impact of sin: Pain and suffering can sometimes be direct consequences of sin, while other times, they are part of the brokenness we experience.
  3. The example of Job: Job, a righteous man, faced walls crumbling down despite having done nothing to deserve it.

Starting with Lament

  1. The importance of lament: Lament is the language for loss and a necessary process for our pain.
  2. Lament as worship: It honors God by recognizing His presence and the process we go through.
  3. Examples of lament: Jesus, Paul, and David all expressed their lament through mourning, crying, and wailing.
  4. Setting our hearts on God: We set our hearts on God and go through the process, relying on the support of friends and family when we have none.

  5. Moving towards praise: Keeping our focus on what truly matters allows us to praise God in a major key

    when we come out of the disorienting stage, having grown stronger.

Next Steps

  1. Differentiating lament from depression: Lament is not depression; it praises God and raises us up, while depression drags us down.
  2. Allowing lament and praise: Let lament happen, and in due time, let praise happen when the walls crumble down.

“Everyone has a story. Lament is never a song you set out to sing. But in the discovery of lament, everyone can find grace for the pains of life.” - Mark Vroegop, Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy

–