Voicing Our Distress - The One Year Book of Psalms

When we think of the Psalms, often we think of praising God and giving him thanks. Praise certainly is a major theme, but it may surprise you to learn that more than fifty psalms are called “laments.”

There are seven ingredients that are typically found in a psalm of lament, although it is unusual for any one psalm to contain all seven ingredients.

Addressing God with a cry for help

Listen to my prayer, O God.

Do not ignore my cry for help!

Psalm 55:1

Referring to God’s blessings in the past or to his character

O Lord, you are so good, so ready to forgive,

so full of unfailing love for all who ask your aid.

Psalm 86:5

Describing the cause of distress

They are always twisting what I say;

they spend their days plotting ways to harm me.

Psalm 56:5

Confessing trust and confidence

You are my strength; I wait for you to rescue me,

for you, O God, are my place of safety.

Psalm 59:9

Asking God to hear and deliver

Please, LORD, rescue me!

Come quickly, LORD, and help me.

Psalm 40:13

Further questioning and petitioning

Please, don’t punish me anymore!

I am exhausted by the blows from your hand.

Psalm 39:10

Praising God for his answer or promising to praise and worship in the future

I will praise you forever, O God,

for what you have done.

Psalm 52:9

What is a “lament”? It is a psalm in which the psalmist is troubled and seeking deliverance. He is going through a time of physical, spiritual, or emotional distress, which may be caused by something within him or by something outside of him, such as an attacking enemy. As he cries to God for help, however, he displays his confidence that God will hear and answer him, providing protection, forgiveness, or whatever else he needs. Often the psalmist offers praise for what the Lord will do, even though there is no indication of what will happen.

There are many different kinds of problems that the psalmist could have been experiencing as he wrote his laments. In Psalm 51, for instance, the problem is his own sin; in Psalm 54, he needs physical deliverance; in Psalm 55, the psalmist is suffering from emotional distress.

Like the psalmists in ancient times, we encounter difficulties and struggles and need God’s help. Sometimes our problems are brought about by our own sin. Other times our problems are physical in nature. Still other times our problems stem from some emotional difficulty. Whatever the case, the psalmists have shown us that we can cry out to God and express our distress. We can do so with confidence that God is listening and will reach out to us.

Jesus knows all about our struggles,

He will guide till the day is done;

There’s not a friend like the lowly Jesus,

No, not one! no, not one!

JOHNSON OATMAN