Chapter: Psalm 80

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

80

Qui regis Isræl

¹ Hear, O Shepherd of Israel, you that lead Joseph like a sheep;*

show yourself also, you that sit upon the cherubim.

² Before Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh, *

stir up your strength and come to help us.

³ Restore us again, O God; *

show the light of your countenance, and we shall be whole.

⁴ O Lord God of hosts, *

how long will you be angry with your people that pray?

⁵ You feed them with the bread of tears *

and give them plenteous tears to drink.

⁶ You have made us the derision of our neighbors, *

and our enemies laugh us to scorn.

⁷ Restore us again, O God of hosts; *

show the light of your countenance, and we shall be whole.

⁸ You have brought a vine out of Egypt; *

you have cast out the nations and planted it.

⁹ You made room for it, *

and when it had taken root, it filled the land.

¹⁰ The hills were covered with the shadow of it, *

and the boughs thereof were like the mighty cedar trees.

¹¹ It stretched out its branches to the sea *

and its boughs to the river.

¹² Why have you broken down its hedge, *

so that all those who go by pluck off its grapes?

¹³ The wild boar out of the wood roots it up, *

and the wild beasts of the field devour it.

¹⁴ Turn again, O God of hosts, look down from heaven; *

behold, and visit this vine,

¹⁵ And the place of the vineyard that your right hand has planted, *

and the branch that you made so strong for yourself.

¹⁶ As for those who burn it with fire and cut it down, *

let them perish at the rebuke of your countenance.

¹⁷ Let your hand be upon the man of your right hand *

and upon the son of man, whom you made so strong for yourself.

¹⁸ And so we will not turn back from you; *

O let us live, and we shall call upon your Name.

¹⁹ Restore us again, O Lord God of hosts; *

show the light of your countenance, and we shall be whole.