Lamentations 5 The Prayer Of Despair

Lamentations 5 The Prayer Of Despair

London Bridge is falling down.  Thomas Brooks wrote a long treatise on the national judgment God brought on England through the fire in a bakery in 1666. In three days most of London was burning. The Mayor didn't take it seriously and set up the fire breaks necessary. Politics got in the way of safety.  1 Remember, O LORD, what has befallen us; look, and see our disgrace!  Brooks wrote: When righteous government fails  (1.) Order fails; (2.) Religion fails;  (3.) Trade fails; (4.) Justice fails;  (5.) Prosperity fails;  (6.) Strength and power fails; (7.) Fame and honour fails; (8.) Wealth and riches fails; (9.) Peace and quiet fails ; (10.) All human society fails.  In the church too. In 1662 There was an act of Uniformity that froze out congregational pastors and removed them from their pulpits. Brooks found himself alienated from most pastors because of his congregational principles. He followed the "Congregational Way", rather than submit to direction by either government appointed or presbytery appointed control. He found himself slandered and with only a few of conscience.

(1.) The judgment itself. 2 Our inheritance has been turned over to strangers, our homes to foreigners. 3 We have become orphans, fatherless; our mothers are like widows. 4 We must pay for the water we drink; the wood we get must be bought.

(2.) The causes of it.  7 Our fathers sinned, and are no more;  and we bear their iniquities. 16 The crown has fallen from our head; woe to us, for we have sinned!

(3.) The Despair you may feel. 17 For this our heart has become sick, for these things our eyes have grown dim,18 for Mount Zion which lies desolate; jackals prowl over it.

(4.) The author of this destruction. 19 But you, O LORD, reign forever; your throne endures to all generations.  20 Why do you forget us forever, why do you forsake us for so many days?

(5.) Their only Hope 21 Restore us to yourself, O LORD, that we may be restored! Renew our days as of old— 22 unless you have utterly rejected us, and you remain exceedingly angry with us.    How desolate we have become

Something is missing in life of the church. The passion is gone. The atmosphere is powerless. Complacency shrouds services. Deadness prevails. No fire in altar. Divisions & accusations widespread. Our churches flounder in apathy and mediocrity while the world plunges deeper into sin. Sanctity of home & family is abandoned. Standards of decency both publicly and privately have been forsaken. Lawlessness & rebellion permeates our land.

There was the Prayer of Despair. "Study the history of revival," states, Dr. Adrian P. Rogers (1931-2005), "God has always sent revival in the darkest days. Oh for a mighty sweeping revival today!"

Revival Comes When God's People Get Earnest About Their Condition 17 For this our heart has become sick, for these things our eyes have grown dim, 18 for Mount Zion which lies desolate; jackals prowl over it. EHBC 1976-1980.A dry desert.

Revival Comes When God Sovereignly Works Among His People. 19 But you, O LORD, reign forever; your throne endures to all generations.

Revival Comes When God Restores Us To Himself

21 Restore us to yourself, O LORD, that we may be restored! Renew our days as of old— 1Peter 5: 10 And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. 11 To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

God Wants To Restore You To Himself. To Laodicea, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me" (Rev 3:20).  O for a closer walk with God  A calm and heavenly frame Where is the blessedness I knew When first I saw the Lord Where is the soul refreshing view Of Jesus and His Word. The dearest idol I have known,  Whate'er that idol be, Help me to tear it from Thy throne,  And worship only Thee.

"Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my thoughts; see if there be any wicked way in me: and lead me in the way everlasting." Search me, O God; And know my heart to-day;  Try me, O Lord, And know my thoughts, I pray: See if there be Some wicked way in me:  Cleanse me from every sin And set me free.

I praise Thee, Lord,  For cleansing me from sin: Fulfil Thy word, And make me pure within; Fill me with fire Where once I burned with shame:  Grant my desire To magnify Thy name.

Lord, take my life, And make it wholly Thine:  Fill my poor heart With Thy great love Divine: Take all my will, My passion, self and pride:  I now surrender: Lord, in me abide.

O Holy Ghost,  Revival comes from Thee: Send a revival— Start the work in me: Thy word declares Thou wilt supply our need: For blessing now, O Lord, I humbly plead.

The Prayer of Despair Brings Revival

Get Earnest About Your Situation

Trust In God's Sovereign Work

Be Restored to the Lord Himself:       

Repent  1Come, and let us return to the LORD; Hos 6:1       

Confess 1 John 1:9  

Rely  21 Restore us to yourself, O LORD, that we may be restored! Renew our days as of old—

Draw near to God and He shall draw near to you
Hosea 6: A Call to Repentance 1Come, and let us return to the LORD; For He has torn, but He will heal us; He has stricken, but He will bind us up. 2After two days He will revive us; On the third day He will raise us up,That we may live in His sight. 3Let us know, Let us press on to know the LORD.

The Prayer Of Despair Turns To Revival

EM Bounds discovered: The Discipline of Dawn Prayer   

The Pain That Purifies The Repentance That Restores

The Silence Where God Speaks The Word That Transforms

J Edwin Orr was an elderly man when I met him on the steps of the old Central Baptist Church in George street Sydney. We were both early and found ourselves locked out. So we chatted. For about half an hour. Finally we were admitted and this old Irishman, who had studied and shared revival for most of his life. He wrote the hymn Search me O God and know my heart today, see of there be some wicked way in me, Later in the meeting he preached: Showers of blessing, Showers of blessing we need; Mercy drops round us are falling, But for the showers we plead.  The "mercy drops" are generally interpreted as a description of the present measure of blessing. Now if you go out in thundery weather, and a few heavy drops fall—well, you get ready for a big shower. Sometimes, however, it is a false alarm. The clouds blow round, and it rains elsewhere. But if it kept on dropping—" spitting " is what we Irish vulgarly but expressively say to describe it— dropping big raindrops for weeks and weeks, but no shower following, you would say: " It's a long time coming." Has it not occurred to you that the showers of blessing are a long time coming? Is there something wrong? "But for the showers we plead!" We only think we plead for them. Let us be reasonable. Can you imagine a deaf God and a pleading people? Is God deaf? Is the Almighty asleep? Is the Lord on holiday? You are somewhat shocked, and you murmur "No!" Then why does He give no answer to the united prayers of His people? I'll tell you. It is because they do not mean what they say. My friend, every time you sing a revival hymn, every time you pray for revival, think of the verses of the seventy-eighth psalm: "Nevertheless, they did flatter God with their mouths, and they lied unto Him with their tongues. For their heart was not right with Him, neither were they steadfast in His covenant." There, in a nutshell, you have the reason for unanswered prayer. Inconsistency.