GPBC Blog

"I wish the church had a foyer that was full of crutches, wheelchairs, and bandages so that when we come into the sanctuary, we would look like we need more healing,” says Lisa Harper, biblical scholar and teacher. “Too often, the church becomes a place where we worship, but we never drop our guard completely." Amen! This has been the cry of my heart as God has had me delving into the topic of lament through my study of Psalm 22. Does it resonate with you?

My first encounter with lament was three years ago when I lost my uncle during the pandemic. I was in America, far from home (Zimbabwe), and unable to attend his funeral. I realized my need for God, but I struggled to connect with Him--lacking the words--and feeling that His presence was distant. A few months later, I came across a book by Mark Vroegop titled "Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy," which introduced me to the concept of lament. Psalms 10 and 77 became my refuge during that period.

Lament is a unique form of praise characterized by a deep relationship between two parties. The petitioner knows they can bring their sorrows and concerns to a caring God. There is a profound level of trust by the lamenter that their cries will be held; they trust the receiver and are willing to share their deepest pain. Lament is our way of being vulnerable with a father who cares enough to pay attention and listen to us. He is eager to meet us where we are and welcome us into His embrace.

The Psalmist opens Psalm 22 by expressing his feelings of being distant from God, pouring out his heart, and questioning why the Father has seemingly abandoned him (verse 2). He then transitions to praising God's holiness, expressing a deep longing for His presence. When we lament, we bring our genuine hurt and concern to the Father while also honoring who He is.

When one laments, they cry out for a deeper level of intimacy, calling to God to be nearby. The Psalmist cries, "O Lord, do not be far off” (19), needing God's closeness to rescue him from the works of the evil one. Lamentation is our sincere form of communication that brings us closer to God. It gives us the power to ask legitimate questions of God, questions that we would be too terrified to bring to our Father without it. Theodicy involves contemplating various life scenarios that raise the question of why a good God allows certain things to happen. It allows us to understand God as just and open to our questions, addressing our concerns.

David’s psalms are a good example of how we can ask questions. Jesus, while being crucified on the cross for people's sins, quotes the beginning of Psalm 22, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? Why are You so far from helping Me, and from the words of My groaning?.” He expresses intense pain and suffering in that moment, yet His cry transitions into a proclamation of trust in God's ultimate deliverance and victory.

Often it leads us to thanksgiving. In Psalm 22, we sense a change in tone and attitude as the psalmist remembers God's faithfulness and his past role as a deliverer (verse 24). Lament allows us to delve deeper into our relationship with Christ and how he has shown up in our lives. It is the vehicle that moves us from pleading, grief, and sadness to joy, thanksgiving, and praise. Church, I welcome you to the joys & depth of Psalms.