Toni’s Title
A Lament Concerning the Presence of Evil
ESV Title
O God, Do Not Keep Silence
Literary Type
This is a community lament.
Laments
More than 1/3 of the Psalms fall into the category of complaints to God in situations of limitation or threat. These laments were a form of prayer and praise based on the conviction that God is concerned about people and answers the human cry in ways surpassing human expectation or understanding. Israel’s laments out of distress were a way of praising God even when he seemed absent. The faith of the psalmists is founded on the good news that God intervenes in desperate situations to help those who are distressed. The psalmists share a deep confidence that God is compassionate, concerned, hearing his people and involved with them; God is faithful and trustworthy. A lament is an outcry to God from a responsive heart. Laments came from individuals or from the community.
Examples: Psalms 3-5, 22, 27:7-14, 42, 51, 69, 90, 130, 137 and many others
NT Prayer Guide
Rev. 6:9-17
Superscription
A Song. A Psalm of Asaph
83
Deus, quis similis?
1 Hold not your tongue, O God; keep not silent, *
but rouse yourself, O God.
2 For behold, your enemies murmur, *
and those who hate you have lifted up their head.
3 They have conspired secretly against your people *
and taken counsel against your cherished ones.
4 They have said, “Come, and let us wipe them out, that they may be no more a people, *
and that the name of Israel may be remembered no more.”
5 For they have brought their heads together with one consent *
and are aligned against you:
6 The tents of the Edomites and the Ishmaelites, *
the Moabites and Hagarenes,
7 Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek, *
the Philistines with those who dwell at Tyre.
8 Assyria also has joined with them, *
and has helped the children of Lot.
9 But do to them as you did to the Midianites, *
to Sisera and to Jabin at the brook of Kishon,
10 Who perished at Endor *
and became as dung on the earth.
11 Make their princes like Oreb and Zeëb; *
indeed, make all their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna,
12 Who said, “Let us take for ourselves *
the pastures of God as our possession.”
13 O my God, make them like whirling dust *
and like stubble before the wind,
14 Like the fire that burns up the woods *
and like the flame that consumes the mountains.
15 Pursue them even with your tempest, *
and make them afraid with your storm.
16 Cover their faces with shame, O Lord, *
that they may seek your Name.
17 Let them be disgraced and dismayed ever more and more; *
let them be put to shame and perish.
18 And they shall know that you, whose Name is the Lord, *
are alone the Most High over all the earth.