A Lament Psalm (in 4 parts) – looking back at 75 years ago from 2019 – Bill Hall – Nov. 17-21, 2019

 

(1) Oh Lord God Almighty, You are everywhere and everywhen. By You and through You, all things exist. You are before all things, and in You all things hold together. You have always been and always will be. From everlasting to everlasting, You are God. Nothing is hidden from You. Nothing is too hard for You.
Bear with your simpleminded lowly servant, as he ponders what You have allowed to be brought to his awareness these past nine months. With Your approval, in fullness of time – not too soon, not too late – a curtain is pulled back, a veil is lifted, a light shines into the dim, misty past.
The soul of your weak-minded servant cries out to You, as he wrestles with the unfathomable, the inexplicable, the unpardonable and the unfixable. Great hurt and painful rejection were inflicted upon the innocent. What can I possibly do, from here? How can I possibly help, from now? Can anything be done, for those in the “there and then,” by someone in the “here and now”? WHAT CAN BE DONE?
Logical, reasoned thoughts begin to swirl about, caught up in whirlwind and maelstrom; a vicious vortex. Everything remains the same, even though everything is different. Past life events are framed within a larger context. All that was heretofore known, has been revealed to be the successor of a predecessor. It is like discovering that the foundation of a house sits on top of another.
(2) The accuser denounces, “Roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it. Inequity runs rampant! Does this shabby sorry servant fear God for nothing? With blessings from birth, of course he has chosen You!”
The adversary roars,
“Such injustice; for he had plenty, while they had poverty!”
The servant’s mind is disturbed and moans, “I was unaware and did not know.”
The accuser roars,
“Such unfairness; for he enjoyed new clothes, new shoes, new books; while they made do!”
The servant’s heart is troubled and groans, “I was dumb and did not know.”
The adversary roars,
“Such inequality; for he feasted on steak and cake, while they went without!”
The servant’s soul roils and bemoans, “I was young and did not know.”
The accuser and adversary – roars, roars, roars,
“Model trains, horse, pool, drums, billiards table, piano, organ, violins, motorbike, and more!
Permission was given him to enjoy lavish luxury, while they suffered leanness!
Through the years, his sisters’ pleas echo, “How much a little money would have helped!””
(3) The Advocate responds,
“ENOUGH!!! AWAY ACCUSER!!! You mix lies and truth!!! There is no condemnation!!!
It is within the purview of the sovereignty of the Most High Almighty Lord.
He raises up, and brings down. He gives and He takes away.
He directs people’s paths, and the ways around or through.
He walks before, behind and alongside.
I was watching over my servant, before he knew I was there.
I was watching over them, before he was born, and even before they were born.
I testify the truth that he did not know, that he could not know. (Greater than 15 years were put in between them. They were children of the 40’s. He was a child of the 60’s. More than 500 miles were in between them. They were three states away. Even if, when he had come of age at 12 years old – and if the history had been told, and if he had forgone possessions or had them sold, and if trustworthy people had carried the gold – the younger of the two would have been 27 years old.) NONETHELESS!!!
I heard their cries then, and his prayers now, and met their needs.
I am with them then, I am with them now, I am with them always.”
The lighting and thunder stop. The storm ceases. The wind returns to a gentle breeze. And once again, the warm sun fills the sky.
WHAT CAN BE DONE? Plenty.
(4) The Lord God Almighty has already given instruction about the way to go. What He has said in His Word – that is what His servant will do:
Act justly, love mercy, walk humbly.
Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. Make petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving for all people.
Bear the fruit and share the fruit, of the Spirit – love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
Share the grace that was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time.
Walk in the light, as He is in the light. Replace rejection with reconciliation.
And never, never forget, that these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
And above all, LOVE covers over a multitude of sins.

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⁽¹⁾ Col. 1:17;  Ps. 90:2;  John 8:58;  Heb. 4:13;  Gen. 18:14 , Jer. 32:17 , Jer. 32:27;  1 Chron. 28:9;  Dan 2:47

⁽²⁾ Job 1:9-11;  Zech. 3:1;  1 Peter 5:8;  Luke 22:31;  2 Cor. 2:11;  Rev. 12:10;  Isa. 50:7-9;  Job 16:19;  1 John 2:1

⁽³⁾ Mat. 4:10;  Rom. 8:1;  Isa. 46:10;  1 Sam. 2:6;  Job 1:21;  Ps. 139:5, 13, 16;  Ps. 106:44;  Phil. 4:19;  Mat. 28:20

⁽⁴⁾ Micah 6:8;  Eph. 6:18 , 1 Tim. 2:1;  Gal. 5:22-23;  2 Tim 1:9;  1 John 1:7;  2 Cor. 5:18;  1 Cor. 13:13;  1 Peter 4:8