Hope is a Lament

photo by me

A little while ago I had the opportunity to hear a talk on the power of lamentation, and the speaker brought up something I found so beautiful; that there is Hope in a lament. This part of the message greatly caught my attention so I've decided to dive into this truth a bit on my own.

An expression of lament is characterized by "mourning deeply" or "expressing passionate grief/regret" and is synonymous with a great "wail." But even greater than its definition alone, where better can one look to understand the depth and purpose of a lament than the book of Lamentations? It's actually a quick read and was contextually written as the city of Jerusalem's lamenting response to destruction due to their unfaithfulness against the Lord.

One of the first things you'll notice about the characteristic of a lament is expressed in the first chapter; while Jerusalem states of the destitution of its people there is also recognition of their sin that caused the affliction. The author speaks for his entire nation saying "The Lord is righteous, yet I rebelled against His command" (1:18). In various other pieces in this passage this same expression comes about as Jerusalem acknowledges its rebellion. This is an occasion where two pieces to come into the story of a lament--both grief and regret. A lamentation that arrives out of punishment or disobedience requires such acknowledgment of one's wrongs.

The author goes on to lament "my groans are many and my heart is faint" (1:22b) and later exclaims "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" (2:18). If there is any purpose in lamenting it is to bring our groans before the Lord. It is to lower ourselves (in humility) and remember where the sovereign One sits.

 That then brings about the question of God's will, punishment, and experiencing sorrow and grief altogether. A bit of these ideas are addressed in versus 32 and 33 which say, "Though He brings grief, He will show compassion, so great is His unfailing love. For He does not willingly bring affliction or grief to anyone."

He does not willing bring grief to anyone, grief is not in His will. Yet, there are circumstances that don't necessarily seem to fit into Jerusalem's example because their grief was brought on by man's rebellion. What of those grievances where regret is not really applicable? All of this goes back to the idea I spoke about in my last post, recognising that God's story is greater than our own, and that hope in Him is the ultimate goal. If our lives bring us to a place where we can humble ourselves and understand that his thoughts and ways are higher--and far greater--than our own, I think that will make all the difference. If we can look to respond in love, peace, joy, and wisdom in our moments of unexplained grief we become more resonant of the image of God and can coincide with His greater story.

Whether regrettably or not, however, we can learn to lament, groan, cry out, and wail in hope for new life. The very idea that the most wise response to Jerusalem's great affliction was to wail says a deal about the power, and necessity, in a lament. The hope that exists in lamentations is defined so perfectly beautiful:

"Yet, this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: 

Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed for his compassions never fail. 

They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, 'the Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.' 

The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks Him"

Lamentations 21:25

He is our hope.