The Importance of Lament to Create a Healthy Society

In the book of Lamentations, Jeremiah responds to the tragedy and suffering of the fallen city of Jerusalem. The proper response to a tragedy of this proportion is to offer up a lament. The book begins with the poignant words, “How deserted lies the city, once so full of people!” How can it be? In the historical moment of crisis and destruction, it is proper to express to God our lack of understanding. It is appropriate to lament a situation that is not a fulfillment of God’s plan of shalom for the world. The Septuagint translation of the title of this book is “wailing.” Wailing in Near…