Crying Out

18 Let your heart cry out to the Lord. O wall of the people of Zion, let your tears flow down like a river day and night. Give yourself no rest. Do not let your eyes stop crying. 19 Get up and cry out in the night, at the beginning of the night hours. Pour out your heart like water before the Lord. Lift up your hands to Him for the lives of your children who are weak with hunger on every street.” 20 See, O Lord, and look! To whom have You done this? 

zaaq: To cry out, to call for help, to shout

The verb conveys an urgent, often loud appeal for help or justice. It can describe a distressed shout, a summons for aid, or an appeal presented in a formal complaint. About seventy-two occurrences span the Pentateuch, Historical Books, Wisdom Literature, and Prophets, revealing consistent theological contours: human need, divine attentiveness, and covenantal intervention.

(Strong's Hebrew)

"Prophetic texts stress that unrepentant cries (Jeremiah 11:11, Zechariah 7:13) meet divine silence, underscoring moral accountability."  (Also Strong's Hebrew)

13 “‘When I called, they did not listen; so when they called, I would not listen,’ says the Lord Almighty." (Zechariah 7:13)

(Jeremiah 11:11 does not seem applicable to today, but oh my, Zechariah 7:13 does.)

Lament and Heartbreak

Yahweh, I cry out to you from a heart broken by the sin of the world, and my own sin as well. Right now, I see the devastating evil being practiced in this country--what I formerly called "my" country, but what I no longer wish to claim. Worse still, I see many of my Christian brothers and sisters falling for the unBiblical rationale for the hateful, hurtful, illegal, and arrogant actions being made, sometimes using Your name as justification.

These kinds of evil have happened before in the life of this nation, in the life of the world, and in the life of Your people. Why am I feeling entitled to a trouble-free existence?  In quite a few ways it feels like a test. Am I strong enough -- not without You, of course -- to stand up and do the right thing? Am I thinking clearly enough to evaluate the situation correctly? Most of all, am I walking with You closely enough (always allowing that a closer walk is possible and desirable) to see, recognize, and hear what You and Your great heart are doing, and how I can partner with You in doing it?

May it be so, Yahweh. May I be tender-hearted enough to withstand the brokenheartedness that comes with these times.

And may I beg You to protect my dear son-in-law Christopher and my daughter Amy specifically in these evilly insane, and insanely evil, immigration times?

 

Flash Prayer

 Father, I have always liked many of the flash-mob singing that I have seen online.  Today's entry is a flash-prayer!  

Worship Flash Mob

In my devotions, I am commiserating with Job.  I also see some of his friends in a new light.  Are they really misguided or malicious?  I guess I am unwilling to judge them because I am seeing how many dear and wonderful believers have fallen for falsehoods.  God my Father, please help me to avoid falling!

Reading, Journaling, Finally Praying

 

Still good morning, Abba.  With so much to do, I just got distracted for almost 30 minutes.  I realize, however, that with DH out of the house, this is our time.  

I have been eager, maybe a little anxious, to hear about the arbitrator's decision, which is due soon.  I haven't told anyone, especially DH, about the upcoming finding.  (More on that later, possibly in another entry.)  However, no matter what the decision is, I will accept it and move on.  I acknowledge that I have wondered about a financial settlement, even though I pointed out to the attorney and to the union representative that this issue is not about "making me whole" for financial losses.  That will be Your decision.  You will get at least 10%, more likely 15%, if there is a settlement.  I release that imagination to You.

Being in the book of Job has reignited some of the early emotions that I had when this ordeal began.  So much is unresolved; I am not sure that I will ever find closure in the therapeutic sense of the word.  I am sure, however, that I will find peace in knowing You and knowing more about how You do things and make choices for Your people.  I recall one interaction described to me between two other people where the counselor person asked the other, "What if it is God's will to fail?"  What if it is, or was, Your will for this misunderstanding and false accusation to occur?  I can see a fair amount of spiritual growth in myself as a direct response to my struggles with the situation.  Maybe....

I have to go get my hair dried and ready for DH to take me on an errand (car having remote starter installed).  I go back to the beginning; so much to do.  This was sweet time, though, Abba.  May I prioritize our time together and may I not talk so much and listen so much more.  

Love, Me.