Sermon Notes
Communal Lament
GOD’S PLAYLIST – Part 7
September 14, 2025
1 You, Lord, showed favor to your land;
you restored the fortunes of Jacob.
2 You forgave the iniquity of your people
and covered all their sins.
3 You set aside all your wrath
and turned from your fierce anger.
4 Restore us again, God our Savior,
and put away your displeasure toward us.
5 Will you be angry with us forever?
Will you prolong your anger through all generations?
6 Will you not revive us again,
that your people may rejoice in you?
7 Show us your unfailing love, Lord,
and grant us your salvation.
8 I will listen to what God the Lord says;
he promises peace to his people, his faithful servants—
but let them not turn to folly.
9 Surely his salvation is near those who fear him,
that his glory may dwell in our land.
10 Love and faithfulness meet together;
righteousness and peace kiss each other.
11 Faithfulness springs forth from the earth,
and righteousness looks down from heaven.
12 The Lord will indeed give what is good,
and our land will yield its harvest.
13 Righteousness goes before him
and prepares the way for his steps.
Psalm 85
8 And the word of the Lord came to Zechariah, saying, 9 “Thus says the Lord of hosts, Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another, 10 do not oppress the widow, the fatherless, the sojourner, or the poor, and let none of you devise evil against another in your heart.” 11 But they refused to pay attention and turned a stubborn shoulder and stopped their ears that they might not hear. 12 They made their hearts diamond-hard lest they should hear the law and the words that the Lord of hosts had sent by his Spirit through the former prophets. Therefore great anger came from the Lord of hosts.
Zechariah 7:8-12
“‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: You have gone far enough, princes of Israel! Give up your violence and oppression and do what is just and right. Stop dispossessing my people, declares the Sovereign Lord.”
Ezekiel 45:9
Small Group Discussion Questions for the Week of September 14, 2025.
Opening
What is one of your pet peeves?
Digging Deeper into the Scriptures
Read Psalm 85
1. Psalm 85 has three basic movements (or sections). Can you identify and describe each of these movements?
2. In your own words, summarize verses 10-13.
Read Zechariah 7:8-12, Ezekiel 45:9, and 2 Kings 17:7-15
3. What may have caused God’s anger in Psalm 85 according to these other passages?
4. Worshipping other gods is reason enough for God to become angry with his chosen people. But explain why
straying from God and his ways brings about natural consequences as well.
Applying the Scriptures
1. Do you tend to struggle with the concept of God’s anger or wrath? Why or why not?
Do the passages that you just read help to bring understanding?
2. Communal lament is something that we tend to not be very good at.
Do you agree with this statement. Why or why not?