A lament for Israel (and us) from Psalm 2

 

here is a lament for israel. But it will also help you.

Do you ever feel attacked at work? From family members?

Or maybe you attack yourself? Your brain spirals in negative self-hate with thoughts about unimportance and failure. You wonder if your thoughts are true–are you worthless? Unloved? Abandoned?

You’re not.

You are perfectly and wonderfully made (Psalm 139). God sees you in the lonely places and sits with you in the darkness. He listens for you to cry out–to lament–to bring your fears and burdens to him. Even in the worst of circumstances, God is able to intercede, direct, transform, and redeem. Prayer is an avenue for us to trust God, to affirm that he is in control. That he’s not worried.

We must learn how to lament. Our visit to the Western (Wailing) Wall in Israel stunned us. The residents and devout Jews who visit the wall stand and weep over their country, their loved one, their problems. They call out to God in faith that he can save them.

Lament is better than dumping on a friend, who can’t change your thinking. It’s better than manipulating a situation (which puts you in a tougher one). It’s better than ignoring God because your life is hard (it’s not his fault, and he’s not unconcerned).

In my book Soulspeak: Praying Change into Unexpected Places, I wrote two chapters on the prayer of lament. Lament  will change the way you look at everything that happens to you and around you. It will literally revolutionize your faith. Here are a couple quotes about lament from the book:

• The word lament means “to cry out,” which is not the same thing as crying.
• Your spiritual enemy is no friend of lamentation.
• He doesn’t sympathize with us—He feels us. It’s why He bothered to come to earth in the first place.
• That is how God woos us. He gives grace. And He waits patiently for us to catch hold of it.

When I’m grieving or overwhelmed, I pray the Psalms. Most of them are prayers, anyway. It’s really easy.

I pray God’s inspired words right back to him (can’t say the wrong thing if God wrote it, right?). The power of God’s Word transforms me. Here’s Psalm 2 for you to pray. I imagine there are Israelis praying this right now, at this very momen. Let’s join them.

But I’m giving you a paraphrase that might work for you–

O Lord,

I am afraid! Everyone is against me! People are saying that you can’t come through for me. I know that’s not true. You’re my protection. You’re like a wall around me. You show me honor and bless me. I can cry out to you, and you hear me, even from heaven. When I lie down or get up, you’re still present with me. I will not fear, even if thousands are against me on all sides. Lord, deliver me from my enemies. Beat them down! Show your power and glory by making yourself known. You bring deliverance to your people. Bless us, Lord. We need you.

Amen.

 

If you’d like to help the cause in Israel, click here for information about the ISRAEL WAR RELIEF FUND.