Lament
Molly Clayton
Instructor: Roselyn Siphengphone
College Writing
24 February 2015
Lament
Lament is an under appreciated concept and practice in the typical evangelical Christian liturgy and imagination. It may be under appreciated because it is understood as harsh or abrasive language towards God. This may in turn lead one to think that lament is expressing unbelief. Alternatively, lament may be under appreciated because joy is emphasized in evangelical Christianity. Though this emphasis is certainly correct, often joy can be emphasized to the exclusion of feelings of sorrow. This is unfortunate considering the rich tradition of lament in Christian history, as well as in evangelicalism’s most important resource, the Bible. With this lack in mind, this paper will define lament, offer further definition by showing how it can be distinguished from popular misunderstandings, and offer a brief sketch of how lament can function in the church based upon my experience with lament. Walter Brueggemann defines lament as “ a stylized form of speech—usually poetic—and was a preferred and characteristic way of petitionary prayer in Israel” (118). Lament is an urgent prayer in a time of suffering or hardship uttered with the confidence that God will hear and act in response. Lament can be an expression of deep sadness, doubt, suffering, or a cry of protest to God. Whatever the content of the lament is, it is ultimately directed towards God. In Scripture we see examples of prayers of lament in the book of Lamentations, a book fully dedicated to the Israel’s communal sorrow over the loss of its beloved temple. Additionally, a third of the psalms are psalms of lament (Brueggemann 119). Think of one well known lament in Psalm 73, where Asaph, a godly young priest, sees the wicked prospering while his life is filled with much suffering. In a moment of honest grief he cries out to God, saying, “did I purify my heart and wash my hands in innocence for nothing? For I am afflicted all
Instructor: Roselyn Siphengphone
College Writing
24 February 2015
Lament
Lament is an under appreciated concept and practice in the typical evangelical Christian liturgy and imagination. It may be under appreciated because it is understood as harsh or abrasive language towards God. This may in turn lead one to think that lament is expressing unbelief. Alternatively, lament may be under appreciated because joy is emphasized in evangelical Christianity. Though this emphasis is certainly correct, often joy can be emphasized to the exclusion of feelings of sorrow. This is unfortunate considering the rich tradition of lament in Christian history, as well as in evangelicalism’s most important resource, the Bible. With this lack in mind, this paper will define lament, offer further definition by showing how it can be distinguished from popular misunderstandings, and offer a brief sketch of how lament can function in the church based upon my experience with lament. Walter Brueggemann defines lament as “ a stylized form of speech—usually poetic—and was a preferred and characteristic way of petitionary prayer in Israel” (118). Lament is an urgent prayer in a time of suffering or hardship uttered with the confidence that God will hear and act in response. Lament can be an expression of deep sadness, doubt, suffering, or a cry of protest to God. Whatever the content of the lament is, it is ultimately directed towards God. In Scripture we see examples of prayers of lament in the book of Lamentations, a book fully dedicated to the Israel’s communal sorrow over the loss of its beloved temple. Additionally, a third of the psalms are psalms of lament (Brueggemann 119). Think of one well known lament in Psalm 73, where Asaph, a godly young priest, sees the wicked prospering while his life is filled with much suffering. In a moment of honest grief he cries out to God, saying, “did I purify my heart and wash my hands in innocence for nothing? For I am afflicted all
Cited: Brueggemann, Walter. "Lament." Reverberations of Faith: A Theological Handbook of Old Testament Themes. Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox, 2002. 118-20. Print. Harasta, Eva. "Crucified Praise and Resurrected Lament." Evoking Lament: A Theological Discussion. Ed. Eva Harasta and Brian Brock. London: T & T Clark, 2009. 204-17. Print.