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October 10, 2018

Spotlight on the Soul

G. Kevin Baker   |   Read Psalm 22:1-15

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Lectionary Week
October 8–14, 2018
Scripture Overview

Faithful people still have questions for God. Job wishes he could sit down with God and plead his case because he wants God to justify what has happened to him. The psalmist, traditionally identified as David, also feels abandoned by God and wonders why God is not coming to his aid. God can handle our questions. Job wanted an advocate, and Hebrews says that Jesus now fills that role for us. He is our great high priest and understands our sufferings, so we may boldly approach him for help. In Mark, Jesus deals with the challenge of money. It is a powerful force and can come between God and us if we cling to our resources instead of holding them loosely with thanksgiving for God’s provision.

Questions and Suggestions for Reflection

• Read Job 23:1-9, 16-17. When have you, like Eliphaz, attributed your own suffering or that of others to wickedness on your part or on theirs? How often do you find yourself blaming others for the situations in which they find themselves?
• Read Psalm 22:1-15. How could your prayer life be more honest and transparent? What feelings do you hold back?
• Read Hebrews 4:12-16. When God shines the spotlight on your soul, what does God see?
• Read Mark 10:17-31. How do you square your “wealthy” life with Jesus’ call to discipleship?

Respond by posting a prayer .

Psalm 22:1-15

1 My God! My God, why have you left me all alone? Why are you so far from saving me so far from my anguished groans? 2 My God, I cry out during the day, but you don’t answer; even at nighttime I don’t stop. 3 You are the holy one, enthroned. You are Israel’s praise. 4 Our ancestors trusted you they trusted you and you rescued them; 5 they cried out to you and they were saved; they trusted you and they weren’t ashamed. 6 But I’m just a worm, less than human; insulted by one person, despised by another. 7 All who see me make fun of me they gape, shaking their heads: 8 “He committed himself to the LORD, so let God rescue him; let God deliver him because God likes him so much.” 9 But you are the one who pulled me from the womb, placing me safely at my mother’s breasts. 10 I was thrown on you from birth; you’ve been my God since I was in my mother’s womb. 11 Please don’t be far from me, because trouble is near and there’s no one to help. 12 Many bulls surround me; mighty bulls from Bashan encircle me. 13 They open their mouths at me like a lion ripping and roaring! 14 I’m poured out like water. All my bones have fallen apart. My heart is like wax; it melts inside me. 15 My strength is dried up like a piece of broken pottery. My tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth; you’ve set me down in the dirt of death.

Unless otherwise indicated, scripture quotations are from the Common English Bible. Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible. Used by permission.

Years ago, Swiss psychiatrist Elisabeth Kübler-Ross identified five stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. Yet long before this modern-day understanding gleaned from psychology, the psalms of lament gave spiritual expression to these deep and dark emotions, including Psalm 22.
Between the opening and closing verses of the...

Lord, sometimes it feels like trouble is always near and help is not. Give me courage to pray and express honestly where I am, including my doubts, fears, and anger. Hear me when I cry to you. Amen.


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