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October 5, 2021

Lament and Grace

J. R. Daniel Kirk   |   Read Psalm 22:1-8

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Lectionary Week
October 4–10, 2021
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 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 us and God 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 22:1-8

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.”

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

What does it mean to be forsaken by God? As Christians we sometimes take a few quick leaps that go something like this: Jesus cried out, “My God, why have you forsaken me?” This, then, is when God the Father turned God’s back on the Son while the Son was...

God of our salvation, show yourself faithful by saving those who are mocked and even killed for trusting in you. Amen.


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