Bible Passage: “Arise, cry out in the night, as the watches of the night begin; pour out your heart like water in the presence of the Lord. Lift up your hands to him for the lives of your children, who faint from hunger at every street corner.” (Lamentations 2:19 NIV)
Scripture Reading: Lamentations 2:17-22
Lament is to show deep sadness, grief, or regret for someone or something. As a verb, it means to mourn or wail. As a noun, it is a sad expression of grief or a mournful piece of music or poetry. It is, by its very nature, demonstrative, public, open, and revealing.
Lament is a rising concept and practice in modern Christianity. It’s likely been practiced all along, just not by that specific name, and just as likely, not publicly.
Lamentation is vulnerability.
Men—any guesses why this might be hard for us?
Vulnerable is one of the last things men of any age or disposition want to be. Vulnerable means risk. Risk is dangerous. Dangerous because we can be hurt.
Men are often taught, implicitly and explicitly, to be tough, to fix and move on. To show no emotion, to suppress, to be stoic.
I am an island.
But there’s a problem with being an island:
It’s an island…and likely does not have everything necessary for a full and good life. We were not created to live this way.
In today’s verses, Jeremiah, in the midst of his own lament over Jerusalem’s destruction, calls others to lamentation.
Why? Why lament over something we cannot change? Why have, let alone show, emotion over what we cannot change?
Because we know the God who can.
Lament is more than just sorrow. Biblical lament is a deep act of faith, calling out to and upon the God who is still sovereign over the sin-broken world that is the cause of our grief. To raise our voices in mourning, pleading to the God of compassion that we and others are hurting, is to ask the God who has worked and still works to do what only He can.
Whether it is the state of our family, our country, or our world, lament is a deeply faithful response to the tragedy of this world that awaits the triumphal return of our Lord one day.
Prayer: God, there is so much broken in my life and my world, and in the world that is bigger than me. It does hurt to see the tragedy all around me. Please, bring the healing that only You can provide. Amen.
Reflection: What circumstances in your life deserve to be lamented? How might you express your sorrow and grief to God? Take some time to do so today.
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