The Psalms of Lament
PART 4:   Psalm 44
When We Want to Ask "Why?"

©2004 Sandra Glahn

Part 1 - Psalm 6   (PDF format)

Part 2 - Psalm 13 (PDF format)

Part 3 - Psalm 27 (PDF format)

Part 4 - Psalm 44 (PDF format)
- Shuffle the Deck
- Deal the Cards
- What Are You Holding?
- Group Option
- Play Your Hand

Part 5 - Psalm 69, 70 (PDF format)

Part 6 - Psalm 74, 88, 102 (PDF format)

"How to SPS"

"How to Lead a Group SoulPerSuit"

"Shuffle the Deck for Groups"

LAMENT
WEEK 1 - ½ or full page
WEEK 2 - ½ or full page
WEEK 3 - ½ or full page
WEEK 4 - ½ or full page
WEEK 5 - ½ or full page
WEEK 6 - ½ or full page

Supplies

Shuffle the Deck (top)

1) Take a walk outside and gather sticks, leaves, feathers, flowers, stones, etc. Try one of these ideas in your journal:
- Do a little free associative writing about your finds.
- Write an acrostic using the letters in “autumn.”
- Make impressions of your finds in clay.
- Use crayons to try to match the colors in a flower petal or leaf, then doodle a border around your journaling page.
- Press the flowers and leaves for use in your card project.
- Use tempera paint to turn your finds into simple stamps.
- Make a rubbing of the things you’ve found.

2) Write down a story that’s been passed down from one generation to the next in your family. If you can’t think of one, write down one of your favorite family traditions or a memory about your childhood.

Deal the Cards (top)
“Suffering may be a battle scar rather than a punishment--the price of loyalty in a world that is at war with God.” --Derek Kidner

1. Prayerfully read Psalm 44 in the NET Bible version.

2. This is a Maskil. Find out what a “Maskil” is. (If you have Ryrie Study Bible, see the note at Psalm 32.)

3. List three things God did for Israel listed in verses 1-3.

4. List things He has done in your past to show His love.

5. Read verse 1. How did Israel learn of God’s past faithfulness?

6. Read verse 4. Then read Genesis 35:10-12. Why does the writer poetically refer to Israel as “Jacob”?

7. In verse 6, the author indicates he will not trust in the wrong things.
(A) What were those things? (B) Do you ever substitute things for God as your source of security? If so, what are those things? Spend some time praying that the Lord will remove the gods in your life and replace them with Himself.

8. What does verse 7 indicate God did for them?

9. What does verse 8 say their response was? For how long will they praise God?

10. List the afflictions now facing the nation in verses 9-16 under the headings Disasters or Disgraces.

11. Note the difference in pronouns between verses 9-14 and 15-16. What does this say about how national trauma can affect individuals?

12. What has been Israel’s response to such difficulties (verses 17-18)?

13. Despite their response, what has been the result (vs. 19)?

Note the progression of events:

a. We heard about God and how He saved us (1)
b. We boasted in Him (8)
c. But He put us to shame (9-12)
d. But we still trusted (17)
e. But He let us be killed anyway (19)

Do you know people who have been faithful to the Lord, yet their circumstances have not improved? What questions does this raise for the psalmist (vs. 24)? For you? What emotions does this evoke?

14. Are these bad circumstances coming as a consequence of the Israelites’ sin (20-22)?

15. Why are they being put to death (22)?

16. Contrast what God has done with Israel in the past (1-3) with what He appears to be doing as the psalmist is writing (19-22).

17. Why does the writer say God should rise up, help and redeem them (26)?

What Are You Holding? (top)

18. The writer’s response to difficulty is prayer. What does he request in verses 23-26?

It may sound like a cliche to say we need to pray about our difficulties, but sometimes we are quick to call all our friends instead of pouring out our hearts to God. Is there something for which you need to pray—really pray?

19. Psalm 121:4 says God never slumbers nor sleeps (121:4 Look! Israel's protector1does not sleep or slumber!). Why do you think the psalmist asks God to awaken in verse 23?

20. Note that Paul provides an assurance in response to believers who have the very questions raised—actually quoting this Psalm. Read Romans 8:35-39.

8:35 Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will trouble, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 8:36 As it is written, "For your sake we encounter death all day long; we were considered as sheep to be slaughtered." 8:37 No, in all these things we have complete victory through him who loved us! 8:38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor heavenly rulers, nor things that are present, nor things to come, nor powers, 8:39 nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

According to Romans 8:35, what are some of the circumstances God allows his loved ones to endure?

21. What great assurances do we find in Romans 8:37-39 in response to these? Note that we are not told why God does this, but we are assured that we’re loved in spite of how it may feel. Spend time thanking God for having that kind of love.

Group Option: As a group, make a list of no more than 6 things we as a society or individuals commonly seek for security instead of God. Discuss why you think we seek these things for security over and over again.

Play Your Hand (top)
Decorate a playing card or a playing-card-sized piece of paper or cardboard that expresses one of the following:

- How God has proven Himself faithful to you in the past.
- What your first response to difficulty is.
- How it feels to hear God say He loves you and yet He allows you to be “put to death.”
- Your response to this truth: “Nothing in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

(top)
©2004 Sandra Glahn

We want your cards in the Lament Gallery! Take a digital picture or scan them in and e-mail the image to us. And please tell us about your card so I can include that also.

1. Appeal
2. Complain
3. Request
4. Response
5. Praise