A Lament of Love

Last semester when I took a class on the Old Testament Poetic books and we had an assignment to write a lament Psalm. Laments are probably the most frequently neglected part of Bible literature today, yet the most common type of Psalm is lament. While the Psalter contains a lot of beautiful collection of praises to God, it also contains a lot of angry words uttered against God. Thus the mere fact that it is part of the Bible shows not only that God can handle it, but that He values it. As lets be honest there are times when shouting at God in anger is much more open and honest than attempting to cheerly praise God for how everything is great when it is clearly not the case. Finally, the vast majority (but not all) of the Biblical laments take a turn toward the positive at the end.

1 How long O Yahweh will you despise me? - (synonomous)
When O God will you stop tormenting me?

2 You ordained that it is not good for a man to be alone - (synthetic)
So male and female you created man

3 You say finding a wife, O Yahweh is a sign of your favor - (antithetical)
But you have caused me to be alone all of my days

4 All of my friends have abandoned me for their lovers - (synthetic)
As community has given way to dating and double dating

5 Day and night I cried out to You, to deliver me from loneliness - (antithetical)
But I have only gotten wet with tears in Your deafness

6 The light of the sun, illuminates not my search of desperation - (synonomous)
The darkness of the night, conceals not my wanderings of madness

7 Will your favor be ever departed from me O Yahweh? - (synonomous)
When will you remember man should not be alone, O God?

  Selah

8 O Yahweh, my hope in you was failing in the darkness - (antithetical)

But Your broke though with a faint glow renewing my trust in You, O Yahweh

9 Praise Yahweh who has shown favor to His servants (synonomous chiasmus)
Together we shall continue to praise Yahweh

A Judgement Oracle

This semester in seminary I’m taking a class called Hebrew Prophets on the Old Testament prophetic books. One of our assignments was to write a judgment oracle for today in English but in the style of Hebrew poetry around an issue that we feel strongly about. The assignment is not to be taken as Scripture writing but to better understand the Biblical role of prophets. As while the prophetic books include prophecies, they also express concern about the here and now in expressing strong disapproval of injustice, unrighteousness. Also the professor points out that God speaks through Scripture, therefore it is not a misrepresentation to speak out against things in God’s name which clearly go against what is written in the Scriptures. I wrote my oracle against the frequent neglect for social justice for the poor, a theme which comes up often in the Bible, yet is rarely preached upon today as often as it should be. Personally I view this work mainly as a tool to draw attention to the issue and not as a prophet of doom.

1 Thus says Yahweh of hosts,
Snarling words of fury against His People

2 “Woe to you rich Christians who neglect justice,
You well-off who ignore the poor.

3 Because you have exploited the poor to live in luxury,
Surrounding yourselves with sweatshop goods.

4 You have gorged yourselves with rich foods,
But have allowed others to perish for lack of food.

5 You have guzzled gallons of fancy coffee lattes, sodas and wines,
But have neglected those in need of clean drinking water.

6 I despise your many prayers for riches,
But I am deprived of prayers on how to use wealth to bless others.

7 You were blessed to be a blessing upon others,
But selfishly you have hoarded the blessing unto yourselves.

8 Therefore, I will withdraw my blessing from you,
I will set my hand against you.

9 You have whored yourselves after consumerism and greed,
therefore, your pursuit of wealth will betray you.

10 You shall desire and shall not receive,
What you have shall not satisfy you any longer.

11 And in that day I will refuse to listen to you,
For you did not listen to the cries of the poor.

12 Therefore I will not relent,
Unless you repent!” declares Yahweh.