Lament as Praise

The Biblical Practice of Lament

Though the practice of lament may be foreign to us, it is found throughout scripture. We learned on October 9 that expressing our laments is a humble, honest act of trust in God. As we explore lament, it is important to keep in mind that in whatever we may be lamenting, God is with us.

This week, we encourage you spend some time in silence and prayer with some of the following passages of lament.

Psalms of Lament

Community Laments: Psalm 12, 44, 58, 60, 74, 79, 80, 83, 85, 89, 90, 94, 123, 126 Individual Laments: Psalm 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 13, 14, 17, 22, 25, 26, 27

From Lamentations to Praise

This short, poetic book of Lamentations expresses lament over the destruction of Jerusalem in 587 B.C. With the Temple destroyed and many dead or displaced, the writer of Lamentations issues a call for the Hebrew people to return to God. Don’t skip the dire situation in chapters 1 and 2, but notice the “turn” to praise in chapter 3:22-23: “the steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”

Lament in the Gospels

Jesus laments over Jerusalem: Matthew 23:37-39

Jesus in Gethsemane: Matthew 26:36-46; Mark 14:32-42; Luke 22:39-46

Jesus on the cross: Matthew 27:45-50

The “Holy Innocents”: Matthew 2:16-18