Pastor Paul Karanick speaks of the importance of understanding lamenting. Most people experience hard times. As Christians, we sometimes get so angry with God that we feel as though He is against us, rather than on our side. The Scripture tells us of many people in the Bible who felt the same way and they were devoted followers of God.
Lamentations 3
”I am the man who has seen misery Because of the rod of His wrath. He has driven me and made me walk In darkness and not in light. Indeed, He has turned His hand against me Repeatedly all the day. He has consumed my flesh and my skin, He has broken my bones. He has besieged and surrounded me with bitterness and hardship. He has made me live in dark places, Like those who have long been dead. He has walled me in so that I cannot go out; He has made my chain heavy. Even when I cry out and call for help, He shuts out my prayer. He has blocked my ways with cut stone; He has twisted my paths. He is to me like a bear lying in wait, Like a lion in secret places. He has made my ways deviate, and torn me to pieces; He has made me desolate. He bent His bow And took aim at me as a target for the arrow. He made the arrows of His quiver Enter my inward parts. I have become a laughingstock to all my people, Their song of ridicule all the day. He has filled me with bitterness, He has made me drink plenty of wormwood. He has also made my teeth grind with gravel; He has made me cower in the dust. My soul has been excluded from peace; I have forgotten happiness. So I say, “My strength has failed, And so has my hope from the Lord.” ¶Remember my misery and my homelessness, the wormwood and bitterness. My soul certainly remembers, And is bent over within me. I recall this to my mind, Therefore I wait. The Lord’s acts of mercy indeed do not end, For His compassions do not fail. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I wait for Him.” The Lord is good to those who await Him, To the person who seeks Him. It is good that he waits silently For the salvation of the Lord. It is good for a man to bear The yoke in his youth. Let him sit alone and keep quiet, Since He has laid it on him. Let him put his mouth in the dust; Perhaps there is hope. Let him give his cheek to the one who is going to strike him; Let him be filled with shame. For the Lord will not reject forever, For if He causes grief, Then He will have compassion In proportion to His abundant mercy. For He does not afflict willingly Or grieve the sons of mankind. To crush under one’s feet All the prisoners of the land, To deprive a man of justice In the presence of the Most High, To defraud someone in his lawsuit— Of these things the Lord does not approve. Who is there who speaks and it comes to pass, Unless the Lord has commanded it? Is it not from the mouth of the Most High That both adversity and good proceed? ¶Of what can any living mortal, or any man, Complain in view of his sins? Let’s examine and search out our ways, And let’s return to the Lord. We raise our heart and hands Toward God in heaven; We have done wrong and rebelled; You have not pardoned. You have covered Yourself with anger And pursued us; You have slain and have not spared. You have veiled Yourself with a cloud So that no prayer can pass through. You have made us mere refuse and rubbish In the midst of the peoples. All our enemies have opened their mouths against us. Panic and pitfall have come upon us, Devastation and destruction; My eyes run down with streams of water Because of the destruction of the daughter of my people. My eyes flow unceasingly, Without stopping, Until the Lord looks down And sees from heaven. My eyes bring pain to my soul Because of all the daughters of my city. My enemies without reason Hunted me down like a bird; They have silenced me in the pit And have thrown stones on me. Waters flowed over my head; I said, “I am cut off!” I called on Your name, Lord, Out of the lowest pit. You have heard my voice, “Do not cover Your ear from my plea for relief, From my cry for help.” You came near on the day I called to You; You said, “Do not fear!” Lord, You have pleaded my soul’s cause; You have redeemed my life. Lord, You have seen my oppression; Judge my case. You have seen all their vengeance, All their schemes against me. You have heard their reproach, Lord, All their schemes against me. The lips of my assailants and their talk Are against me all day long. Look at their sitting and they’re rising; I am their mocking song. You will repay them, Lord, In accordance with the work of their hands. You will give them shamelessness of heart, Your curse will be on them. You will pursue them in anger and eliminate them From under the heavens of the Lord!”
Lamentations 3:1-66 NASB2020

Also Read:
Psalms 109:1-31 NASB2020
https://bible.com/bible/2692/psa.109.1-31.NASB2020

Psalms 118:1-29 NASB2020
https://bible.com/bible/2692/psa.118.1-29.NASB2020

Pastor Paul discusses the importance of the role of the church in reaching the lost and sharing the Gospel.

From the Bible:
Luke 15
1Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near Jesus to listen to Him. 2And both the Pharisees and the scribes began to complain, saying, “This Man receives sinners and eats with them.”
3And so He told them this parable, saying, 4“What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the other ninety-nine in the open pasture and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? 5And when he has found it, he puts it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found my sheep that was lost!’ 7I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance.
The Lost Coin
8 “Or what woman, if she has ten silver coins and loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? 9And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found the coin which I had lost!’ 10In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
The Prodigal Son
11And He said, “A man had two sons. 12The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the estate that is coming to me.’ And so he divided his wealth between them. 13And not many days later, the younger son gathered everything together and went on a journey to a distant country, and there he squandered his estate in wild living. 14Now when he had spent everything, a severe famine occurred in that country, and he began doing without. 15So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16And he longed to have his fill of the carob pods that the pigs were eating, and no one was giving him anything. 17But when he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired laborers have more than enough bread, but I am dying here from hunger! 18I will set out and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight; 19I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me as one of your hired laborers.” ’ 20So he set out and came to his father. But when he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. 21And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet; 23and bring the fattened calf, slaughter it, and let’s eat and celebrate; 24for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’ And they began to celebrate.

Did you know that Jesus said for us to prove to be His Disciple?

From the Bible:
I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Remain in Me, and I in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself but must remain in the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches; the one who remains in Me, and I in him bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in Me, he is thrown away like a branch and dries up; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you remain in Me, and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples. Just as the Father has loved Me, I also have loved you; remain in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will remain in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and remain in His love. These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.

John 15:1-11
https://my.bible.com/bible/2692/JHN.15.1-11

Doing good deeds is not the answer to being obedient to God. Jesus says that if you love Him, keep His commandments. Notice that He does not say that doing random good deeds is the equivalent. God expects us to study the Scripture and follow what He says. Too many Christians are doing good deeds that make them feel good, but it is not necessarily the same as following God’s Word.

From the Bible:

So David assembled all Israel together, from the Shihor of Egypt to the entrance of Hamath, to bring the ark of God from Kiriath-jearim. David and all Israel went up to Baalah, that is, to Kiriath-jearim, which belongs to Judah, to bring up from there the ark of God, the L ord who is enthroned above the cherubim, where His name is called. And they carried the ark of God on a new cart from the house of Abinadab, and Uzza and Ahio drove the cart. David and all Israel were celebrating before God with all their might, with songs and with lyres, harps, tambourines, cymbals, and trumpets. When they came to the threshing floor of Chidon, Uzza put out his hand to hold the ark, because the oxen nearly overturned it. But the anger of the L ord burned against Uzza, so He struck him because he had put out his hand toward the ark; and he died there before God. Then David became angry because of the L ord ’ s outburst against Uzza; and he called that place Perez-uzza as it is to this day. David was afraid of God that day, saying, “How can I bring the ark of God home to me?”

1 Chronicles 13:5-12
https://my.bible.com/bible/2692/1CH.13.5-12

Jehoshaphat would seek answers from God before going into battle. When the enemy was coming to battle with Jehoshaphat, God told him that he would not need to fight because God would fight for him. Jehoshaphat gathered all the people and instead of fighting the enemy, the people began to praise God.

From the Bible:
2 Chronicles 20:2-25
‘Jehoshaphat was afraid and turned his attention to seek the Lord ; and he proclaimed a period of fasting throughout Judah. Then some came and reported to Jehoshaphat, saying, “A great multitude is coming against you from beyond the sea, from Aram; and behold, they are in Hazazon-tamar (that is Engedi).” So Judah gathered together to seek help from the L ord ; they even came from all the cities of Judah to seek the L ord . Then Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the L ord in front of the new courtyard; and he said, “L ord , God of our fathers, are You not God in the heavens? And are You not ruler over all the kingdoms of the nations? Power and might are in Your hand so that no one can stand against You. Did You not, our God, drive out the inhabitants of this land from Your people Israel, and give it to the descendants of Your friend Abraham forever? They have lived in it, and have built You a sanctuary in it for Your name, saying, ‘If disaster comes upon us, the sword, or judgment, or plague, or famine, we will stand before this house and before You (for Your name is in this house), and cry out to You in our distress, and You will hear and save us. ’ Now behold, the sons of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, whom You did not allow Israel to invade when they came out of the land of Egypt (for they turned aside from them and did not destroy them), see how they are rewarding us by coming to drive us out from Your possession which You have given us as an inheritance. Our God, will You not judge them? For we are powerless before this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are on You.” All Judah was standing before the L ord , with their infants, their wives, and their children. Then in the midst of the assembly the Spirit of the L ord came upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, the Levite of the sons of Asaph; and he said, “Listen, all you of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and King Jehoshaphat: This is what the L ord says to you: ‘Do not fear or be dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours but God’s. Tomorrow, go down against them. Behold, they will come up by the ascent of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the valley in front of the wilderness of Jeruel. You need not fight in this battle; take your position, stand and watch the salvation of the L ord in your behalf, Judah and Jerusalem.’ Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow, go out to face them, for the L ord is with you.” Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before the L ord , worshiping the L ord . The Levites, from the sons of the Kohathites and from the sons of the Korahites, stood up to praise the L ord God of Israel, with a very loud voice. They rose early in the morning and went out to the wilderness of Tekoa; and when they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Listen to me, Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem: Put your trust in the L ord your God and you will endure. Put your trust in His prophets, and succeed.” When he had consulted with the people, he appointed those who sang to the L ord and those who praised Him in holy attire, as they went out before the army and said, “Give thanks to the L ord , for His faithfulness is everlasting.” When they began singing and praising, the L ord set ambushes against the sons of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; so they were struck down. For the sons of Ammon and Moab rose up against the inhabitants of Mount Seir, completely destroying them; and when they had finished with the inhabitants of Seir, they helped to destroy one another. When Judah came to the watchtower of the wilderness, they turned toward the multitude, and behold, they were corpses lying on the ground, and there was no survivor. When Jehoshaphat and his people came to take their spoils, they found much among them, including goods, garments, and valuable things which they took for themselves, more than they could carry. And they were taking the spoils for three days because there was so much. ‘

2 Chronicles 20:2-25
https://my.bible.com/bible/2692/2CH.20.2-25

Daniel was a true man of God. He not only talked about his faith, he lived it out in every part of his life. Everyone around him was fully aware of his faith in God by his words and his actions. He is a great example for all of us to live by today in our walk with Christ.

From the Bible: Daniel 6
‘Now when Daniel learned that the document was signed, he entered his house (and in his roof chamber he had windows open toward Jerusalem); and he continued kneeling on his knees three times a day, praying and offering praise before his God, just as he had been doing previously. Then these men came by agreement and found Daniel offering a prayer and imploring favor before his God. Then they approached and spoke before the king about the king’s injunction: “Did you not sign an injunction that any person who offers a prayer to any god or person besides you, O king, for thirty days, is to be thrown into the lions’ den?” The king replied, “The statement is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which may not be revoked.” Then they responded and spoke before the king, “Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, O king, or to the injunction which you signed, but keeps offering his prayer three times a day.” Then, as soon as the king heard this statement, he was deeply distressed, and set his mind on rescuing Daniel; and until sunset he kept exerting himself to save him. Then these men came by agreement to the king and said to the king, “Recognize, O king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians that no injunction or statute which the king establishes may be changed.” Then the king gave orders, and Daniel was brought in and thrown into the lions’ den. The king said to Daniel, “ Your God whom you continually serve will Himself rescue you.” And a stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the signet rings of his nobles, so that nothing would be changed regarding Daniel. Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting, and no entertainment was brought before him; and his sleep fled from him. Then the king got up at dawn, at the break of day, and went in a hurry to the lions’ den. And when he had come near the den to Daniel, he cried out with a troubled voice. The king began speaking and said to Daniel, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you continually serve, been able to rescue you from the lions?” Then Daniel spoke to the king, “O king, live forever! My God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths, and they have not harmed me, since I was found innocent before Him; and also toward you, O king, I have committed no crime.” Then the king was very glad and gave orders for Daniel to be lifted up out of the den. So Daniel was lifted up out of the den, and no injury whatever was found on him, because he had trusted in his God. The king then gave orders, and they brought those men who had maliciously accused Daniel, and they threw them, their children, and their wives into the lions’ den; and they had not reached the bottom of the den before the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones. Then Darius the king wrote to all the peoples, nations, and populations of all languages who were living in all the land: “May your peace be great! I issue a decree that in all the realm of my kingdom people are to tremble and fear before the God of Daniel; For He is the living God and enduring forever, And His kingdom is one which will not be destroyed, And His dominion will be forever. ‘

Daniel 6:10-26
https://my.bible.com/bible/2692/DAN.6.10-26

As Christians, we should be the voice of Truth. We are the ambassadors of Christ and are empowered of sharing the Truth of the Way to Salvation. People may not always want to hear the truth, but it should still be spoken. The Bible tells us that people would rather hear lies that give them false hope, but we are required to speak God’s Word in truth. People can depend on God’s Word as Truth and they should be able to depend on our delivery of God’s Word is also truth.

2 Chronicles 18:1-8
Now Jehoshaphat had great riches and honor; and he allied himself by marriage to Ahab. 2Some years later he went down to visit Ahab at Samaria, and Ahab slaughtered many sheep and oxen for him and the people who were with him. And he incited him to go up against Ramoth-gilead. 3Ahab king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat king of Judah, “Will you go with me against Ramoth-gilead?” And he said to him, “I am as you are, and my people as your people, and we will be with you in the battle.”
4However, Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, “Please request the word of the Lord first.” 5 So the king of Israel assembled the prophets, four hundred men, and said to them, “Should we go to battle against Ramoth-gilead, or should I refrain?” And they said, “Go up, for God will hand it over to the king.” 6But Jehoshaphat said, “Is there no longer a prophet of the Lord here, that we may inquire of him?” 7And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “There is still one man by whom we may inquire of the Lord, but I hate him, for he never prophesies anything good regarding me, but always bad. He is Micaiah the son of Imlah.” But Jehoshaphat said, “May the king not say so.”

“Who is this who darkens the divine plan By words without knowledge? Now tighten the belt on your waist like a man, And I shall ask you, and you inform Me!
Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?
Tell Me, if you have understanding, Who set its measurements?
Since you know.
Or who stretched the measuring line over it?
On what were its bases sunk?
Or who laid its cornerstone, When the morning stars sang together And all the sons of God shouted for joy?
Or who enclosed the sea with doors When it went out from the womb, bursting forth; When I made a cloud its garment, And thick darkness its swaddling bands, And I placed boundaries on it And set a bolt and doors, And I said, ‘As far as this point you shall come, but no farther; And here your proud waves shall stop’?
Have you ever in your life commanded the morning, And made the dawn know its place, So that it would take hold of the ends of the earth, And the wicked would be shaken off from it?”
Job 38:2-17
https://my.bible.com/bible/2692/JOB.38.2-19

God Speaks to Job’s Friend
‘It came about after the Lord had spoken these words to Job, that the Lord said to Eliphaz the Temanite,
“My wrath is kindled against you and against your two friends, because you have not spoken of Me what is trustworthy, as My servant Job has. Now therefore, take for yourselves seven bulls and seven rams, and go to My servant Job, and offer up a burnt offering for yourselves, and My servant Job will pray for you. For I will accept him so as not to do with you as your foolishness deserves, because you have not spoken of Me what is trustworthy, as My servant Job has. ” So Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite went and did as the Lord told them; and the L ord accepted Job. ‘

Job 42:7-9
https://my.bible.com/bible/2692/JOB.42.7-9

False Prophets in Ezekiel
They see deceit and lying divination, those who are saying, ‘The Lord declares,’ when the Lord has not sent them; yet they wait for the fulfillment of their word! Did you not see a false vision and tell a lying divination when you said, ‘The Lord declares,’ but it is not I who have spoken?” ’ ” Therefore, this is what the Lord God says: “Because you have spoken deceit and have seen a lie, therefore behold, I am against you,” declares the Lord G od . “So My hand will be against the prophets who see false visions and utter lying divinations. They will have no place in the council of My people, nor will they be written down in the register of the house of Israel, nor will they enter the land of Israel, so that you may know that I am the Lord God . It is definitely because they have misled My people by saying, ‘Peace!’ when there is no peace. And when anyone builds a wall, behold, they plaster it over with whitewash; ‘

Ezekiel 13:6-10
https://my.bible.com/bible/2692/EZK.13.6-10

Micah 2

‘Arise and go, For this is no place of rest Because of the uncleanness that brings on destruction, A painful destruction. “If someone walking after wind and falsehood Had lied and said, ‘I will prophesy to you about wine and liquor,’ He would become a prophet to this people. ‘

Micah 2:10-11
https://my.bible.com/bible/2692/MIC.2.10-11

‘It happened that as we were going to the place of prayer, a slave woman who had a spirit of divination met us, who was bringing great profit to her masters by fortune-telling. She followed Paul and us and cried out repeatedly, saying, “These men are bond-servants of the Most High God, who are proclaiming to you a way of salvation.” Now she continued doing this for many days. But Paul was greatly annoyed, and he turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her!” And it came out at that very moment. But when her masters saw that their hope of profit was suddenly gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the authorities, and when they had brought them to the chief magistrates, they said, “These men, Jews as they are, are causing our city trouble, and they are proclaiming customs that are not lawful for us to accept or to practice, since we are Romans.” The crowd joined in an attack against them, and the chief magistrates tore their robes off them and proceeded to order them to be beaten with rods. When they had struck them with many blows, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to guard them securely; and he, having received such a command, threw them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. Now about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the prisoners were listening to them; and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s chains were unfastened. When the jailer awoke and saw the prison doors opened, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, thinking that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul called out with a loud voice, saying, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here!” And the jailer asked for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear, he fell down before Paul and Silas; and after he brought them out, he said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” And they spoke the word of God to him together with all who were in his house. And he took them that very hour of the night and washed their wounds, and immediately he was baptized, he and all his household. And he brought them into his house and set food before them, and was overjoyed, since he had become a believer in God together with his whole household. ‘

Acts 16:16-34
https://my.bible.com/bible/2692/ACT.16.16-34

‘‘Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, I will also help you, I will also uphold you with My righteous right hand.’ “Behold, all those who are angered at you will be shamed and dishonored; Those who contend with you will be as nothing and will perish. “You will seek those who quarrel with you, but will not find them, Those who war with you will be as nothing and non-existent. “For I am the L ord your God who takes hold of your right hand, Who says to you, ‘Do not fear, I will help you.’ ‘

Isaiah 41:10-13
https://my.bible.com/bible/2692/ISA.41.10-13