Episode 201 - “A Lament Without A Solution: Psalm 88.”

Episode Summary

Many psalms are laments in which a psalmist complains about various kinds of crises.  Thought the laments are often bitter, typically toward the end of the psalm God either intervenes to deal with the causse of the complaint or God’s intervention is anticipated.  That is not the case in Psalm 88.  In this lament, there is not amelioration or anticipation of amelioration.  The psalmist prays persistently, but there is no resolution.  At the same time, the psalmist refuses to give up.  Regardless of how bad things are—he seems close to death—he continues to cry out to God.  Ironically, laments only make sense if one believes in God.  If there is no God, there is no expectation of how things should be.  They just are!  Laments underscore how profoundly the lamenter holds on to God.  And, the lamenter continues to pray regardless of the answer.

Additional resources

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