Sometimes, lamenting comes via text. My daughter sent me a text this week to report that a leaky toilet in her house was being repaired by the plumber for a cost of a $10 flange plus labor. This was good news right up until he were almost finished and suddenly they could hear sounds of water spraying. The plumber’s helper ran down the stairs to turn the water off outside, but not before water started coming through the lights in her kitchen. The next text reported that a restoration company was on the way.

I sure hope that plumber has good insurance, or he will be doing some lamenting of his own.

In Hebrew, the word lament means “to wail.” It is an expression of sorrow, pain, and confusion. We are invited to take our regret, grief, and sadness to God whenever we become overwhelmed by our situation.

In the book of Lamentations, the Old Testament prophet Jeremiah did exactly that. This book expresses the humiliation, sorrow, and regret of the citizens of Jerusalem following the devastation of the city by the Babylonians in 587 BC. Lamentations was probably written for public rituals when the people gathered to remember the destruction of the city of Jerusalem and the Temple. As you read today’s passage, you will certainly hear the weeping and wailing of a defeated nation and a depressed prophet:

Lamentations 1 (Common English Bible)

⁷ While suffering and homeless, Jerusalem remembers all her treasures from days long past.
When her people fell by the enemy’s hand, there was no one to help her.
Enemies saw her, laughed at her defeat.

⁸ Jerusalem has sinned greatly; therefore, she’s become a joke.
All who honored her now detest her, for they’ve seen her naked.
Even she groans and turns away.

⁹ Her uncleanness shows on her clothing; she didn’t consider what would happen to her.
She’s gone down shockingly; she has no comforter.
“Lord, look at my suffering—the enemy has definitely triumphed!”

This is painful to read. The humiliation and deep embarrassment is obvious. Note how Jeremiah personified the city as a fallen woman. It is intended to make us wince.

¹⁰ The enemy grabbed all her treasures.
She watched nations enter her sanctuary—
nations that you, God, commanded: They must not enter your assembly.

¹¹ All her people are groaning, seeking bread.
They give up their most precious things for food to survive.
“Lord, look and take notice: I am most certainly despised.”

If you have ever lamented a situation or regretted a decision you made, you can relate to the depth of despair that Jeremiah felt for his beloved city. Worst of all, it could have been prevented if they had just heeded all the warnings he and the other prophets gave the people. How devastating it must have felt to watch them ignore the word of God and then have everything removed from them.

¹² Is this nothing to all you who pass by?
Look around: Is there any suffering like the suffering inflicted on me,
the grief that the Lord caused on the day of his fierce anger?

¹³ From above he sent fire into my bones; he trampled them.
He spread a net for my feet; he forced me backward.
He left me devastated, constantly sick.

¹⁴ My steps are being watched; by his hand they are tripped up.
His yoke is on my neck; he makes my strength fail.
My Lord has handed me over to people I can’t resist.

Are you lamenting something? Do you feel the sharp sting of an injustice, or a bad decision gone wrong? It is alright to wail. It is normal to weep. When sorrow and anguish are deep, it helps to articulate them and release the overwhelming sadness from your heart.

That is when it is a good time to find a brother or sister in Christ and just vent. That is when it is a good time to pick up a pen and a piece of paper and journal your thoughts. That is when it is a good time to pray.

So if you are lamenting something today, know that you are in good company. And remember that in the end, God heard the lamentations of the people and restored Jerusalem.

And God will restore you, too.

Restored by Michelle Robertson