The framework for psalms of lament is a form involving a direct address to God, a description of the situation in which help is needed, a confession of trust, a petition for help and a vow of praise (with sometimes a curse on the enemies perceived to be causing the suffering). This form provides a structure for suffering which so often is needed: these times of bewilderment leave us reeling, disoriented and afraid because of the uncertainty engendered in us, and having some structured form to guide us in prayer can be very helpful.
Communal psalms of lament remind us also that suffering is not simply individual: it is part of the human condition and part of the life of a community of faith. Perspective and hope can be restored as God’s faithfulness is realised (Ps 44:4-8, Ps 60:6-8), and there is a need for the journey through the staging posts of grief, denial, anxiety and acceptance. These psalms walk us through every stage of the journey and allow us to remain whole, even when we are broken by tragedy and grief. Each of these psalms may shout out with loss and grief, but there are ‘echoes of mercy, whispers of love’ (‘Blessed Assurance’) in each one. Lament is a vital part of life (as the book of Lamentations, with its tightly controlled acrostic framework, makes plain), but it is only one part of life. Paul urges us to ‘rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.’ (Rom 12:15) May the Psalms frame our ability to rejoice and mourn in Biblical ways, never losing hope, always trusting God to be with us, no matter what our situations.