Psalms of Lament

It was about a month ago that I blogged about "Reclaiming the Role of Lament." It stemmed from my growing frustration at how we evangelicals have virtually eliminated anything that "smacks" of negativity from our corporate worship experience. In a response to that post, esteemed visitor and comment officianado -- Karl Thienes -- remarked about how he used to call this phenomenon "The Cult of the Nice".

Anyway, I made some suggestions at the end of that post, and have remained committed to following my own suggestions with our congregation.

When our lives become unbearable, when our circumstances could be described as -- to use a familiar Old Testament phrase -- "the Pit", the ancient testimony of scripture suggests that we take initiatives to right the trouble. Respected theologian, Walter Brueggemann explains that "the Pit"...

"...refers to any diminishment of impairment of human well-being. Thus it refers to sickness, imprisonment, social isolation and rejection, or, in extremity, physical death. It comprehends the whole gamut of troubles that beset human beings." (Theology of the Old Testament, p. 470)

The scriptural model, explains Brueggemann, is for the human person in great trouble to become a "complaining person" (p. 470-71).

"The complaining person is one who treats his or her troubles as serious and legitimate and not to be accepted as normal. The complaining person refuses silence and resignation, but rather issues a vigorous and shrill protest grounded in the covenantal right to be granted well-being and to be taken seriously" (p. 470).

For Brueggemann, the psalms of lament -- or as he prefers to call them -- complaint psalms offer a helpful and instructive model for those in relationship with God; Psalm 13 being a convenient example.

Psalm 13
How much longer will you forget me, LORD? Forever?
How much longer will you hide yourself from me?
How long must I endure trouble?
How long will sorrow fill my heart day and night?
How long will my enemies triumph over me?

Look at me, O LORD my God, and answer me.
Restore my strength; don't let me die.
Don't let my enemies say, "We have defeated him."
Don't let them gloat over my downfall.

I rely on your constant love;
I will be glad, because you will rescue me.
I will sing to you, O LORD,
because you have been good to me. (TEV)

AND SO... I preached on Psalm 13 last Sunday, emphasising the importance of "being real" with God. Drawing from the classic characteristics of what constitutes a "complaint psalm" (a la Brueggemann), I encouraged our congregation to practice the following in relation to God:

• Be real about your complaints (vs. 1-2)


• Be real about your petitions (vs. 3-4)


• Be real about your trust (vs. 5a)


• Be real about your hope (vs. 5b)


• Be real about your thanksgiving and praise

And THEN...
I encouraged everyone present to compose their own psalm of lament (during the rest of the service) and to come up and place it on the altar (an outward expression of giving it to God).

WOW! I was blown away by their willingness to pour out their hearts to God, while reaffirming their trust and hope in him. Here's one of the "annonymous" lament psalms that ended up on the altar:

Lord, I feel so alone. I feel so far away from you.

Are you still there? I can not hear your voice.
How can I get through this without you?
I have no answers to the questions that have been plaguing me
night and day.

Lord, I want to hear from you soon.
I want to make the right decisions for everyone concerned.
I don't want to wake-up one day and realize what a mess I've made of things.

But I know in my heart you love me
and I'm going to learn a valuable lesson and I will be glad.
Thank you, Lord.

I'm thinking about puting a page full of these complaint psalms on our church's website -- there are so many which are quite moving.

After reading Alan Jamieson's book last year, "A Churchless Faith", I've been working at making our congregation a safer place for people to struggle with questions, doubts, and God himself. For too long, those of us in the Evangelical church have grown up believing it was wrong to complain or be mad at God; that such notions were inconsistent with biblical faith and would damage our relationship with God. And we fell for it!

But all that is beginning to change. Evangelicals are beginning to seek and embrace much more holistic expressions of their faith. The taboo against including psalms of lament in our corporate worship times is falling.

Aren't you glad?

Comments

[Chris(tine)]

"Aren't you glad?"

Yes and Amen!

I've just been reading Richard Foster's Prayer, and the first prayer he talks about after "Simple Prayer" is the "Prayer of the Forsaken". This is good stuff.

Your congregation is blessed to have a pastor like you!

[Andii]

I'm with you on this Chris [blogged about it myself on more than one occasion]. Nice way to handle it congregationally, too. I've been wondering if making Advent and Lent something of seasons of lament might help. People at present probably expect certain kinds of things from corporate worship and being plunged into lament could be hard to handle if it's done without preparation. Knwoing that there would be something of the lament about a season might help ... ?

[Karl Thienes]

Excellent Chris!

[tammy]

wow.

i like what you're saying.

20 years ago we spent nearly a year hearing sermons about the israelites as they journeyed out of egypt to the promised land. the thing that stands out most to me from that year is this: 'don't grumble or complain, cause the israelites did that and it was a sin.' which is true.

but to hear this side of things, and to read it in the psalms -- wow.

this has made my head spin tonight.

[Heidi]

ok, that settles it - we're moving to california to come to your church. man - your descriptions make me so jealous! your congregation (are they called that in an emergent church? :) are blessed!

[Seraphim]

DP,

I am touched by this that you've shared here. Reminds me of what the psalmist said, in Psalms 62:8 "Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah."

But how do you tell the difference from 'lamenting' and 'murmuring and complaining?

Peace

LYB

Seraphim

[Chris]

"But how do you tell the difference from 'lamenting' and 'murmuring and complaining?"

Seraphim, that's a good question -- no, that's an important question.

I wouldn't assume to have any sort of difinitive answer, but here's what my gut says -
If Psalm 13 serves as an instructive example of biblical lament, then "lament" tends toward (includes) hope -- whereas murmuring and complaining (in isolation) tend toward bitterness. The former is focused on and exercises faith, whereas the later may (at least) termporarily set faith aside.

That said however, I don't believe we should think that those who murmur or complain don't have faith, but I agree with Brueggemann who sees biblical lament as an expression of faith and of covenantal reciprocity with the God we're partnered with.

[Daniel]

"Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted."

Thanks for this, Chris. I hope you won't mind if I borrow liberally for a message I'm working on?

[Chris]

By all means, Daniel -- help yourself!
btw - hope all is well with you, my friend.

[Matt]

Awesome Chris!