Freedom in Lent - Day 28

Lamenting is expressing the deep pain we feel at the injustice of the world, of life, of death, of loss. It's a profound and painful way of talking about the real feelings we have - whether it be at the loss of life in war, the death of a loved one, the climate emergency and the real possibility of the end of human life, the deep prejudices which see those of certain, race, culture, sexual identity, or gender identity oppressed, excluded, condemned, or hurt, or any of those things we feel powerless in the face of and which brings us feelings of despair. Scripture encourages us to feel, and not to ignore,  those feelings, to embrace them in order that we might integrate them into who we are rather than try to cut ourselves off from them.

This is not wallowing in self-pity, as many of us have been taught, but an expression of genuine feelings. We are free, we are encouraged, to share the depths of what we feel with the God who loves us.

In the story of King David, his son who rebelled against him, Absalom, is killed by David's soldiers - who think that the King will be pleased with the putting down of the rebelling. The King, instead, laments the loss of his son. The song below, and the Scriptures, explore this lament. 

Then Ahimaaz cried out to the king, ‘All is well!’ He prostrated himself before the king with his face to the ground, and said, ‘Blessed be the Lord your God, who has delivered up the men who raised their hand against my lord the king.’ The king said, ‘Is it well with the young man Absalom?’ Ahimaaz answered, ‘When Joab sent your servant, I saw a great tumult, but I do not know what it was.’ The king said, ‘Turn aside, and stand here.’ So he turned aside, and stood still.

Then the Cushite came; and the Cushite said, ‘Good tidings for my lord the king! For the Lord has vindicated you this day, delivering you from the power of all who rose up against you.’ The king said to the Cushite, ‘Is it well with the young man Absalom?’ The Cushite answered, ‘May the enemies of my lord the king, and all who rise up to do you harm, be like that young man.’

The king was deeply moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept; and as he went, he said, ‘O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Would that I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!’

                                                            2 Samuel 18.28-33

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Artwork - Marc Chagall, David and Absalom