A Season of Laments
The past few weeks have been filled with tragedy. Bridges collapse in Minnesota and in China. Miners have fallen to their death, some killed in mine collapses, and others in rescue attempts. Hundreds have died in Peru from earthquakes. Floods have ravaged Texas. Moreover, hundreds of innocents die every day in Iraq and Afghanistan by the hand of other human beings in illegal and immoral wars.
How do we deal with all this tragedy? It is very real for those that are affected directly by it. It is obscene to simply hope that things will get better. There are times when we must simply cry out in grief and anger to our God. The psalmists of old knew this. Among the many psalms we find in scripture are those that are simply cries of lament. Each of these laments usually ends with a message of hope for the one who is grieving. One of these is sixth Psalm from the Hebrew scriptures. I thought we might let it be our prayer this week as we deal with all this suffering and death. I leave it for your consideration.
O LORD, do not rebuke me in your anger, or discipline me in your wrath.
Be gracious to me, O LORD, for I am languishing;
O LORD, heal me, for my bones are shaking with terror.
My soul also is struck with terror, while you, O LORD--how long?
Turn, O LORD, save my life; deliver me for the sake of your steadfast love.
For in death there is no remembrance of you; in Sheol who can give you praise?
I am weary with my moaning; every night I flood my bed with tears;
I drench my couch with my weeping.
My eyes waste away because of grief; they grow weak because of all my foes.
Depart from me, all you workers of evil,
for the LORD has heard the sound of my weeping.
The LORD has heard my supplication; the LORD accepts my prayer.
All my enemies shall be ashamed and struck with terror;
they shall turn back, and in a moment be put to shame.
AMEN
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