2 Samuel 1

2 Samuel 1, James 5:13

Lament. What do you think of when you hear the word lament? What comes to your mind when you focus on the word lament? For some it may be a confusing word, unsure of how to lament well or what it really even means. For others it may be a term that brings memory of a time in life when they themselves were lamenting an event. Lament. It is a word or concept often avoided or looked down upon in culture. It is a word or concept often misunderstood.

The Bible indicates to us very clearly that lamenting is good. 

In this chapter David is informed that his predecessor and his best friend have died in battle. What is his immediate response? Verse 11 shows that he and his men all mourned and wept. In verse 17 we jump into the song of lament that he wrote due to this event. He cries out to God and honors Saul and Jonathan. He even made it known that he wanted the song to be taught to the people of Judah. Outside of this chapter there are 42 Psalms of lament in the book of Psalms. 

God, through David, makes it very clear to us that lamenting, crying out to him, and mourning is healthy and good. It shows that we are limited and that we have the opportunity to cry out to and trust a limitless God to heal us. 

Have you been in a moment or season of lamenting before? Are you in one right now? Have you tried to avoid it? Does it seem like a challenging and daunting feeling to experience? David shows us that we can go to God in the hardest of times just as we are, ready to lament and cry out. In James 5:13 it says “Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray…”. Whether now or later in life a season will arise when this is necessary. Let us be a Church ready to engage God in the hard times, to cry out, pray, lament, mourn, and be healed by our Creator and Father.