Open Heavens

LAMENTATION AS PRAISE! – Thursday February 26th 2015

 

LAMENTATION AS PRAISE! 

Memorise:

For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. Psalm 30:5

Read: Psalm 30:7-12, Bible in one year: Ezekiel 19-20, Revelation 7

A lamentation is a song mourning or sorrow. In the Bible, lamentations were usually motivated by national disasters (2nd Chronicles 35:25), by bereavement (2nd Samuel 3:33-34), personal suffering (Psalm 102:1-11) or by the judgment of God (Amos 5:1-2). Lamentations could also be inspired by repentance as shown in Daniel 9:4-20.

 

A lamentation can obtain praise of express thanksgiving and gratitude to the Almighty God. Such was the lamentation of Daniel in Daniel 9. it was laced with praises to God even though He was mourning the captivity of the children of Israel. No wonder the Lord heard his lamentation and quickly dispatched an archangel to conform him. Jesus in Matthew 5:4 said:

“Blessing are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.”

This reveals that there is blessedness even in mourning. There is still a reason to glorify God for His goodness and His mercy even in morning. it shows that though there is lamentation, there will be clear reasons to praise God at the end. Singing songs of sorrow can therefore lead to comfort.

 

An example of sorrow leading to comfort is seen when we lament for our sin, mistakes and errors in such a way that leads to genuine repentance. Such repentance leads to righteousness.

 

“Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.”

2nd Corinthians 7:9-10

In the above passage, the lamentation and sorrow of the Corinthians led to repentance. Paul rejoiced to see this genuine repentance take place in the life of the people. Godly sorrow brings repentance unto salvation. What started as lamentation or a song of sorrow, produced reasons to praise God at the end. Lamentation becomes a source of praise God at the end. Lamentation becomes a source of praise when godly sorrow produces genuine repentance. Such repentance leads to the joy of salvation, divine approval and blessing.    

 Prayer point: 

Father, let your Church experience godly sorrow that leads to genuine repentance in Jesus’ Name.