This is part of the worship series
"A Closer Look at Worship"
Series Introduction
Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4
Week 2
Honesty in Our Covenant Relationship
Relationships depend on honest communication. The key to any relationship, and especially a deep covenantal relationship like marriage, is honesty. Mistakes need to be admitted. Problem areas must be identified. Sin must be named and rooted out. The good news of our relationship with God is that there is room for that honesty in our worship. The psalms are a beautiful model of this.
Confession, lament, and intercession are all in different ways an acknowledgment that the kingdom of God has not fully come. We still long and hope for a world that isn’t here yet.
Intercession and lament, by themselves, aren’t sufficiently honest. They do acknowledge that the world isn’t all right, but they can be a way to avoid taking responsibility for it. That’s why we also need to confess our sins. There is something soberingly honest about confessing our sin before God. Without confession, we are kidding ourselves.
Worship does not, of course, exhaust our acts of confession. A lot of the work of confession is very personal, the kind of thing that is hard to deal with in the middle of a worship service. Still, our worship services set the pattern. They remind us of the importance of confession; they give us words and phrases and songs to help us.
Central Idea:
A covenantal relationship demands honesty. Honesty demands that we confess our sin and acknowledge with pain the world’s brokenness. Without this, we quickly fall into hypocrisy, the sin where inward attitudes don’t match our outward actions. When we express our honest prayers before God, we do so in the context of our covenant relationship.
Scripture Texts
Psalm 89
Consider having one reader for each of the sections of the psalm (vv. 1–2, 3–4, 5–18, 19–37, 38–45, 46–48, 49–52). If you read less than the whole psalm, consider reading the first verses of each section of the psalm, so that the movement from praise to oracle (God’s voice) to lament to covenant prayer is clear (use vv. 1–2, 3–4, 5–6, 15–16, 19–21, 30–33, 38–40, 46–48, 49–52). Perhaps a group of nine readers can be used, each reading one section of the psalm.
Psalm 89 is known as a covenant psalm. Like Psalm 81, it alternates between the human-Godward movement (vv. 1–2, 5–18), and God-humanward movement (vv. 3–4, 19–37). Remarkably, it begins in praise and ends in lament. The trust and faithfulness of God established in the covenant relationship creates the space for the psalmist to express bold lament (for another example, see Psalm 44). In moments of utter despair, the psalmist still clings to God’s covenant love as a source of hope.
Nehemiah 9
Consider using two readers for this passage, the first for the voice of the narrator (vv. 1–5), the second for the voice of Ezra (vv. 6 and following). The reading could include the entire chapter or verses 1–15 and 26–37.
In Nehemiah 9, notice how verses 5–31 are like a long history lesson contained right in the middle of a prayer. This recital of covenant history was a common way to express praise to God (see the many historical psalms for other examples). The logic here is straightforward: the people are praying that God will act toward them in mercy in the same way as in the past. (For other examples of prayers of confession, see Ezra 9; Daniel 9; Nehemiah 1:5–11; each of these prayers begins by reclaiming the covenant relationship with God).
Hebrews 4:14–16
Hebrews 4 teaches us about the logic of prayer in the New Covenant. We can pray with confidence “in our time of need” because of what Jesus has done for us. Whether we suffer from a cause outside of ourselves or are crushed by guilt because of something we have done, we can approach God on the power of Jesus’ priesthood.
Key Related Themes
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The Meaning of Worship and the Logic of the Liturgy
The classic shape or order for Christian worship features a prayer of confession as an essential element in the divine-human dialogue. Usually, the conversation is set up this way: words of scripture (God’s word to us) are used to invite, challenge, and call us to covenantal honesty. A prayer of confession for both personal and corporate sin follows (our words to God). Then we hear God’s covenantal promises to us again, words of scripture that assure us of pardon.
Worship Elements
Call to Worship
This series uses four variations on Psalm 8:1–4 as a call to worship. Each week uses a different variation. Using several of these approaches during the series is an excellent way to introduce some variety and yet remain closely linked with the overall theme of covenant renewal.
Variation 2: Congregation reads Psalm 89:1–4 responsively, perhaps led by a child:
Sing of the Lord’s great love forever!
With our mouths we will make known his faithfulness to all.
His love is firm forever!
He established his faithfulness in heaven itself.
God made a promise to David.
A covenant which lasts till today.
All: Praise the Lord!
—Adapted from Psalm 89:1–4
A Prayer of Confession
This prayer can be used all four weeks.
Lord, you have called us to worship you.
We gladly gather!
As we praise you, though,
our own inadequacy reminds us
of how we have broken our relationship with you.
Because we have sinned against you,
even our worship fails to be what it could.
We often treat it as a show.
We simply go through the motions,
failing to recognize that you want to engage us on a very deep level.
Renew us, we pray, according to your steadfast love.
Remind us of your covenant faithfulness
and have mercy on us in the name of Jesus Christ.
Amen.
A Prayer of Lament and Fear
O God, your people have always had their fears.
And so we come to you in humility and with honesty, naming our own.
Lord, we fear the future. What is coming next?
“Will there be a place for me when I’m done with high school or college?” we young people ask.
“Will there be safe places for our children?” we parents ask.
“Will I die in peace and with dignity?” we seniors ask.
Refrain: "Don't Be Afraid" Bell
O God, your people have always had their fears.
And so we come to you in humility and with honesty, naming our own.
Lord, we fear the future. What is coming next?
“Will there be a place for me when I’m done with high school or college?” we young people ask.
“Will there be safe places for our children?” we parents ask.
“Will I die in peace and with dignity?” we seniors ask.
Lord, we fear the pain that comes with illness and broken bones and aging.
Some of us wonder how we’re going to make it through more treatment and medication.
Some of us wonder how we can possibly face chronic illness.
Some of us wonder if prayers for healing even reach your throne.
Physical pain frightens us.
Refrain: "Don't Be Afraid" Bell
Lord, as a church, we wonder about our ministries and programs.
What if they don’t “work”?
What if outreach and faith nurture don’t happen?
We fear the dependence we have to have on your Spirit
to be One to breathe life into Christians and non-Christians.
Refrain: "Don't Be Afraid" Bell
Lord, we are afraid of people who are different than ourselves.
Those more powerful than us,
those poorer than us,
those of a different color or creed,
those smarter than us,
those with different personalities.
How do we talk to these people, O God?
How do we make peace with them?
Refrain: "Don't Be Afraid" Bell
Lord, we have acquaintances, friends, family members whom we deeply love,
but who do not know you.
We are afraid for their salvation.
Refrain: "Don't Be Afraid" Bell
We admit, O God, that we’re fearful of stillness and quiet.
It seems as if the last thing we want to do
is slow down and be attentive to you.
Help us not to shy away from quiet times,
from the simplicity of prayer, scripture, and your presence.
It seems, O God, that, in the busyness of countless invitations
to parties and activities we are afraid to say no.
Refrain: "Don't Be Afraid" Bell
And for all those fears for which we cannot name,
we come to you, O God.
Those we cannot name because they’re either unknown or unspeakable,
receive them in our silence.
Refrain: "Don't Be Afraid" Bell
We are fearful so often, O Lord,
because, in encounters with sin and evil,
we find ourselves weak and poor.
We thank you so much then, Jesus,
for your actions and for your words—
for love and the promise of nearness,
which are our strength and our riches.
Amen.
Song of Gratitude: “Give Thanks” Smith
Two Prayers For Illumination
These prayers could be used for all four weeks.
Prayer 1
God of mercy, you promised never to break your covenant with us.
Amid all the changing words of our generation,
speak your eternal Word that does not change.
Then may we respond to your gracious promises
with faithful and obedient lives;
through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
—Prayer of Illumination, #6, Book of Common Worship, p. 91.
Prayer 2
“Lord, to Whom Shall We Go” John 6:68
Blessing
This blessing could be used for all four weeks.
May the God of peace,
who through the blood of the eternal covenant
brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus,
that great Shepherd of the sheep,
equip you with everything good for doing his will,
and may he work in us what is pleasing to him,
through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
—Hebrews 13:20–21 NIV
Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs
“Stand Up and Bless the Lord” Montgomery
Based on Nehemiah 9:5, this song would work well as an opening encouragement to praise.
“Let Heaven Your Wonders Proclaim” Bell
A setting of Psalm 89 proclaiming God’s covenant faithfulness. Suitable for the opening of worship.
“Give Me a Clean Heart” Douroux
A prayer of confession in African-American gospel style.
“Change My Heart, O God” Espinosa
A sung prayer of confession.
“To You, O Lord, I Lift My Soul” Haugen
A responsorial setting of Psalm 25 for confession rooted in remembering God’s covenantal mercy and love of old.
“I Will Bless the Lord” Hernandez
Another setting of Nehemiah 9:5. A beautiful response (“acclamation”) to the reading of scripture or to words of forgiveness.
“In All Our Grief” Dunstan
Having a high priest who sympathizes with us, we may approach God’s throne with these bold words. Use as sung intercessory prayer, just prior to spoken intercessions.
“My Song Forever Shall Record” Psalter 1912
A hymn of praise based on Psalm 89, for use before the dismissal.
Small Group Discussion Starters: Week 2
- Discuss the following statement from Witvliet’s final observations: “Praise is one (essential) form of covenant communication. But praise isn’t the main point of worship. The point is the relationship. In a full-orbed covenant relationship, praise is joined by confession, lament, intercession, and listening. In a marriage relationship, conversations marked by exclusive praise would feel like false flattery. They might start out fine, but soon they ring hollow.”
- “Relationships depend on honest communication.” In our covenant relationship, do we speak honestly with God? What things are hardest to say? To hear?
- “Confession, lament, and intercession are all in different ways an acknowledgement that the kingdom of God has not come yet.” What does confession do that lament and intercession do not? Are all three part of your church’s present worship practices? How so?
- Why confess when we know the outcome? In fact, why speak common words of confession when we know that not everyone present means what they say?
- How might our honest communication with God change in heaven? (This assumes honesty will still characterize the relationship!)
Revised Common Lectionary
Year A: Season after Pentecost—Proper 8 (13)
Year B: Season after Pentecost—Proper 11 (16)
Year B: Season after Pentecost—Proper 23 (28)
