I’ve just finished listening to an interesting interview with Rachel Wilhelm on a “Resound” podcast (Ep 32, 21 March 2017).She defines lament as (paraphrasing), “Coming to the LORD, expressing sorrow, being honest with God – but coming with expectation, not despair. Lament has hope as the backdrop. Lament is the place where doubt is welcome. God will show up.” I rather like that.
This is so authentic to our life experiences, it makes me wonder where all the ‘lament’ songs are. Looking through our Dropbox folder of songs for church services I can’t see too many. Why might that be? Is it because we fear being honest with God and not finding the hope? Might it be due to a fear of opening up areas in our hearts that are rather messy?
I’d be interested in your thoughts. Drop me a line, or leave a comment here. In the meantime, here’s a Psalm of lament by that great song-writer, King David:
“For the director of music. A psalm of David. How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me? Look on me and answer, Lord my God. Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death, and my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,” and my foes will rejoice when I fall. But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing the Lord’s praise, for he has been good to me.” (Psalms 13:0–6 NIV11)
Many thanks & God bless,
Malcolm
