COV LIFE BLOG

Habakkuk 1:12-2:1 – The Gift of Prayerful Lament

Habakkuk’s second complaint in Habakkuk 1:12-2:1 is founded upon God’s sovereignty, perfection, and compassion. Not only is evil occurring in the streets among the people of Judah, but God has promised to bring “traitors” and “the wicked,” the Chaldeans of 1:6, to overtake those who are “more righteous” than the foreign nation. Is God to continue allowing this “bitter and hasty” nation to slice and devour those nations, including Judah, that lie in their path forever? How is this just? How can God allow this to happen?

This lament is familiar to us. Habakkuk isn’t alone in his plea to God to stop violence and evil, especially when God’s own people are facing it. This is why we have the gift of prayerful lament. 

What is a lament? “A lament is an implicit act of faith in which the community of faith turns to God as its only source of hope and comfort.” (Worship Sourcebook, first edition, page 111). 

This week in our worship service, we will pray a lament together from Psalm 13. During times of sorrow, disbelief, shock, worry, and other troubling seasons, we can all cry to the LORD knowing that He will deal bountifully with His children because of His steadfast love.

Psalm 13:1-6
How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
How long must I take counsel in my soul
and have sorrow in my heart all the day?
How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?
Consider and answer me, O LORD my God;
light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death,
lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed over him,”
lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken.
But I have trusted in your steadfast love;
my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.
I will sing to the LORD,
because he has dealt bountifully with me.

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SONG FOR THIS WEEK
Sovereign Over Us by Shane and Shane