Chapter: Psalm 77

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

77

Voce mea ad Dominum

¹ I will cry unto God with my voice; *

even unto God will I cry with my voice, and he shall hearken unto me.

² In the time of my trouble I sought the Lord; *

my hands were stretched out in the night without rest; my soul refused comfort.

³ When I think upon God, I groan; *

when I ponder, my spirit grows faint.

⁴ You hold my eyelids open; *

I am so troubled that I cannot speak.

⁵ I consider the days of old; *

I call to remembrance the years that are past.

⁶ In the night I commune with my own heart; *

I meditate and search my spirit.

⁷ Will the Lord cast me off for ever, *

and will he no more show his favor?

⁸ Is his mercy gone for ever, *

and has his promise come utterly to an end for evermore?

⁹ Has God forgotten to be gracious, *

and will he withhold his loving-kindness in displeasure?

¹⁰ And I said, “Has his right hand become weak? *

Has the hand of the Most High lost its strength?”

¹¹ I will remember the works of the Lord, *

and call to mind your wonders of old time.

¹² I will think also of all your works, *

and my talk shall be of your deeds.

¹³ Your way, O God, is holy; *

who is so great a God as our God?

¹⁴ You are the God who does wonders, *

and have declared your power among the peoples.

¹⁵ You have mightily delivered your people, *

even the sons of Jacob and Joseph.

¹⁶ The waters saw you, O God; the waters saw you and were afraid; *

the depths also were troubled.

¹⁷ The clouds poured out water, the skies thundered, *

and your arrows flashed on every side.

¹⁸ The voice of your thunder was heard in the whirlwind; the lightning lit up the world; *

the earth was moved and shook.

¹⁹ Your way was in the sea, and your paths in the great waters, *

yet your footsteps were not seen.

²⁰ You led your people like sheep *

by the hand of Moses and Aaron.