What is a lament? Why are laments an important part of the Psalms? Why did King David insist that the nation learn to lament?

A lament is a way of expressing sorrow, anger, pain, regret, and other similar emotions before God. Laments allow us to process the brokenness we experience both in our own lives and in the world around us. The laments in the Psalms give us the language to come before God when words like, “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?” (Psalm 27:1) are far from our lips.

(10 mins. reading time)