You are currently browsing the monthly archive for April 2024.
Today is World Earth Day. Today we lament what has happened to God’s Good Creation.
HAS GOD LEFT CREATION?
Has God left Creation?
We stumble over the carcasses of earth in search of life.
Abandoned, betrayed, and denied its Goodness, we weep.
Lightless.
Hopeless.
Helpless.
God, you once moved and lived and breathed in all things.
God, you once walked in the Garden and consecrated Creation.
God, you once bound us all together in your covenant of salvation.
But where is our help to be found
In this world clouded by sin?
But how can we reach you, God,
As we choke on this poisoned air?
But when can we eat this food,
Emerging from toxic soil?
All of your Creation struggles to breathe,
To live and thrive.
Our city’s streets are slick with oil,
Our walls with slime.
Your birds falter.
Your deer stumble.
Your streams die.
God, you have seen Creation and called it good.
Save us now.
God, you have made Creation in Your image.
Save us now.
God, you have called us into your healing love always.
Save us now.
God, you knock at our doors, begging entrance.
But we look away, we turn toward ourselves.
God you invite us down a different path.
But we go our own way, sure of our footing.
God, you offer us abundance and plenty.
But we see only through eyes of fear and greed.
God, be with us in our despair and hear us as we cry out to you.
By Jessica Abell
I suspect everyone reading this lament has suffered from a broken relationship that was romantic in nature. I have. I remember the wonderful feeling of being “in love” (which is more often than not, being obsessed or infatuated), and all the hopes, dreams, longings and expectations that come with that feeling. And then one day it is gone. Dreams are dashed and hope has gone to hell. Depression and despair set in and tears fall. Christians can feel the pain as much as anyone, but for the Christian, weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.
Lament of the Brokenhearted.
In the stillness of this twilight hour,
My heart weeps, weak and without power.
O, how my life spins with inner strife,
And sorrow grips the core of my life.
Oh, the anguish of broken hearts,
Torn asunder by obsession’s darts.
Grief’s silent tears, a river deep,
Wallowing in sorrow, we have to weep.
I mourn for days of laughter gone,
Replaced by silence, a mournful song.
The pain of longing, a constant achen’
For solace, for peace; my soul’s forsaken.
Yet in the depths of this lamenting cry,
Hope flickers, like stars in the night sky.
For even in sorrow’s darkest hour,
God’s true love has lasting power.
So let us lament, but not despair,
For joy awaits; someone does care.
In Christ’s embrace, we find our balm,
And turn our lament into a healing psalm.
King Saul tried many times to kill David. Jonathan was David’s best friend. King Saul and his son Jonathan died on the battlefield and David grieved for both of them. Here is his lament taken from 2 Samuel 1.
“Your glory, O Israel, is slain on your high places!
How the mighty have fallen!
Tell it not in Gath,
publish it not in the streets of Ashkelon,
lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice,
lest the daughters of the uncircumcised exult.
“You mountains of Gilboa,
let there be no dew or rain upon you,
nor fields of offerings!
For there the shield of the mighty was defiled,
the shield of Saul, not anointed with oil.
“From the blood of the slain,
from the fat of the mighty,
the bow of Jonathan turned not back,
and the sword of Saul returned not empty.
“Saul and Jonathan, beloved and lovely!
In life and in death they were not divided;
they were swifter than eagles,
they were stronger than lions.
“You daughters of Israel, weep over Saul,
who clothed you luxuriously in scarlet,
who put ornaments of gold on your apparel.
“How the mighty have fallen in the midst of the battle!
“Jonathan lies slain on your high places.
I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan;
very pleasant have you been to me;
your love to me was extraordinary,
surpassing the love of women.
“How the mighty have fallen,
and the weapons of war perished!”
To Enjoy God 