Tuesday 23 February 2016

Psalm: Psalm 40:1-10

Background

The first part of Jeremiah 14 includes a community lamentrelated to drought; today's passage includes one related to war(verse 17) and famine (verse 18). Such laments are also found amongthe Psalms (eg Psalm 44) and usually have a common structure.The language often expresses strong emotions and raw feelings.

The first part of verse 18 may be a reference to the siege ofJerusalem in 588-587 BC, which lasted approximately 18 months andwas accompanied by a famine (see 2Kings 25:3).

Here, the prophet's lament over the situation (verses 17-18) isfollowed by the people's: they ask "Why have you struck us down sothat there is no healing for us?" (v. 19), confess their sins andthose of their ancestors (verse 20), appeal to God for help (verse21), and, amidst acute suffering, express their confidence in God(verse 22).

To Ponder

• Have your eyes ever run down with tears night and day? If so,what were the circumstances?

• What situations have led you to offer laments to God? What hasbeen the balance between those relating to more personal or localmatters and those relating to national or international ones?

• What forms have your laments taken and how have the laments inthe Bible helped to shape your own? If not immediately, at whatstage have you been able to say that you set your hope onGod?