Lamentations 1

Naming Our Pain

Posted on by Betsy

I’ve been writing recently about the Book of Lamentations for an adult Bible Study that I have been assigned by Cokesbury, the United Methodist Publishing House. Lamentations was written by the prophet Jeremiah about the destruction of Jerusalem in 586 BCE. This collection of poems is an entire exercise in naming Israel’s pain, and as we read through it, Jeremiah’s faith is evidenced again and again. He never tries to solve their problems but lays it all at God’s throne. 

Jeremiah 1 (Common English Bible)

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.” 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. 

 It is painful to read Jeremiah’s despair over his fallen city, but he sets a proper example for us to take that pain straight to the Lord. Placing our pain in God’s hands is the antidote to the weeping and wailing that we all do from time to time. We are always invited to “take it to the Lord in prayer.” Doing this is not only cathartic, but practical. It is a humble admission that we cannot solve or fix things on our own. It is an act of obedience to stop trying to be self-reliant. It focuses our hearts on God’s sovereignty as well as God’s love for us. After all, God loved the world enough to ease the pain of sin by sending us Jesus. God can surely handle our pain.

You may have experienced opportunities to name and release your pain during worship services or at retreats. From writing something down and burning it, to sitting with a prayer partner and speaking it aloud, or simply opening up a personal journal and letting it all leak out of your pen, we are invited to practice this discipline as a way to let go of past hurts and grievances and move forward in the freedom of knowing that what you give over to God is gone from you forever.

 Read this verse from the Amplified Bible: 

“Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God [set aside self-righteous pride], so that He may exalt you [to a place of honor in His service] at the appropriate time, 7 casting all your cares [all your anxieties, all your worries, and all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares about you [with deepest affection, and watches over you very carefully]” (1 Peter 5:6-8).

I love how this translation says to cast all your cares on God “once and for all.” The spiritual practice of naming our pain and giving it to God should be a once and for all thing, indeed. God loves you that much!

And God is able to handle your pain … but only if you turn it over.

Take it to the Lord in Prayer by Michelle Robertson

Lamenting

Posted on by Betsy

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