Seder 85 and Seder 86: Prayer in a Time of Suffering

 In discussing Leviticus 13, commentator Jay Sklar notes some things that the chapter does not mention.  Most notably, there is no explanation of why certain skin conditions lead to ritual impurity.  Moreover, there is also no discussion in Leviticus about how people dealt with the great suffering that can go with skin conditions.  

Sklar observes that we can get a sense of this suffering from another part of the Bible---the Psalms.  There we find prayers made in times of suffering.  Sklar lists Psalms 6, 13, 38, 41 as examples.

These psalms give a sense of the magnitude of suffering involved.  They also show a firm trust in God's help---see 6:8-10; 13:5-6; 38:15; 41:11-12.

Another lament of this type is in Psalm 88. At Church of the Messiah, Kyle Kettering gave a sermon on this psalm on September 27, 2925.

Psalms of this type remind us that life includes lots of suffering, and in our worship we should not ignore this part of life.  As Ecclesiastes 3:4 says, there is a time to mourn.  

Seder 85: Psalm 6---From Lament to Confidence

 Psalm 6, an individual lament, is one of the seven "penitential psalms" traditionally read on Ash Wednesday.  In the midst of suffering, the psalmist (traditionally David) asks God to have mercy on him in accordance with his covenantal promises (vv 2-4). He looks forward to continuing to publicly praise God, which he would not be able to do from the grave.  

There is a shift in tone after verse 7, where the psalmist goes from describing his weariness in suffering to rebuking his enemies.  He has received assurance of his deliverance (vv 8-9)  and warns his enemies to prepare for the fact that God will vindicate him.  This kind of transition from lament to victory is seen in a number of Psalms (see Ps 22, 28, 31, e.g.).  

Some New Testament passages use the language of Psalm 6.  In John 12:27, Jesus says, "Now is my soul troubled," as in Ps 6:3.  The language of Ps 6:8 ("Depart from me, all you workers of evil") appears in Matt 7:23 and Luke 13:27.  In suffering, the psalmist is a forerunner of Jesus, who has achieved victory over sin and death and will cast out the enemies of the kingdom.  He comes to our aid in times of suffering.