The Modern Need for Lamentations

Last updated on: October 5, 2013 at 10:34 pm by Guest Contributor

The Modern Need for Lamentations 2013-10-05T22:34:00-05:00 Guest Contributor

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Twenty first century readers of the Scriptures are likely uncomfortable with the book of Lamentations and its stories of weeping, groaning, and grieving. But, the act of lamenting is not unique to biblical Israelites.

Today’s world is full of lament-worthy situations. One need only turn on the nightly news to hear countless stories from places like Detroit, Michigan and Camden, New Jersey – plagued by record foreclosures, abandoned buildings, corrupt government officials, and boarded up businesses – to understand the devastating impact of high unemployment, increased crime, and precarious civic finances that have taken a toll on communities. Further, the country’s working poor earn wages that are so meager they have a hard time providing basic necessities for their families. Many cannot make ends meet without help from public assistance programs, which ultimately leads to feelings of despair and a decreased sense of self-worth. Modern readers also lament over:

The stories of Chicago honor student, Hadiya Pendleton, Sandy Hook Elementary School children, and Washington DC Naval Yard employees that recall the horror of death triggered by gun violence in America.
The circumstances of those displaced by Hurricane Katrina, or the recent flooding in Colorado, which evoke concern for the thousands of people who are devastated by natural disasters each year.
The chilling statistic that 2.5 million persons, individuals like Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus, and Michelle Knight, are victims of kidnapping and/or human trafficking throughout the world.
The possibility of participating in yet another war which weighs heavy on the hearts and minds of Americans who have already watched countless mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, aunts, uncles, nephews, nieces, spouses, partners, and assorted loved ones march off to serve as part of our military only to return limping on crutches, sitting in wheel chairs, or laying in flag-draped boxes.

It is no surprise the Book of Lamentations is unpopular even among Bible enthusiasts. Its title, authorship, and images are troubling. Few who read the Bible for devotional purposes seek spiritual uplift from laments. The title alone may explain why. In all my years of attending church services, I have yet to experience a sermon built upon the Book of Lamentations. Despite its lack of popularity, Lamentations models the importance of acknowledging dreadful situations in today’s modern society.

Our world is full of lament-worthy circumstances, and this oft-forgotten book highlights a critical element of the lament process: hope. More importantly, the theology of Lamentations affirms the importance of giving voice to our feelings of despair.

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