Ep. 155: Biblical Lament: Singing in the Blues Heavenward

SHOW NOTES:

 

In Podcast Episode 155, “Biblical Lament: Singing the Blues Heavenward,” Kim discusses the song of lament written by David regarding the deaths of King Saul and his soul friend Jonathan. The book of Psalms contains many individual and communal laments, ones that can lend words to our own bluesy feelings. The laments are also helpful for putting words to our previously unspoken prayers. 

 

The primary scripture texts for this episode are 2 Samuel 1:17-27 with 17-18 as the focal verses.

 

17 Then David composed a funeral song for Saul and Jonathan, 18 and he commanded that it be taught to the people of Judah. It is known as the Song of the Bow, and it is recorded in The Book of Jashar.

 

ADDITIONAL VERSES:

 

1 After David had finished talking with Saul, he met Jonathan, the king’s son. There was an immediate bond between them, for Jonathan loved David. 2 From that day on Saul kept David with him and wouldn’t let him return home. 3 And Jonathan made a solemn pact with David, because he loved him as he loved himself. 4 Jonathan sealed the pact by taking off his robe and giving it to David, together with his tunic, sword, bow, and belt. (1 Samuel 18:1-4)

 

8 O my people, trust in him at all times.

    Pour out your heart to him,

    for God is our refuge.  (Psalm 62:8)

 

23 Wake up, O Lord! Why do you sleep?

    Get up! Do not reject us forever.

24 Why do you look the other way?

    Why do you ignore our suffering and oppression?

25 We collapse in the dust,

    lying face down in the dirt.

26 Rise up! Help us!

    Ransom us because of your unfailing love. (Ps. 44:23-26)

 

1 I cry out to the Lord;

    I plead for the Lord’s mercy.

2 I pour out my complaints before him

    and tell him all my troubles.

3 When I am overwhelmed,

    you alone know the way I should turn.

Wherever I go,

    my enemies have set traps for me.

4 I look for someone to come and help me,

    but no one gives me a passing thought!

No one will help me;

    no one cares a bit what happens to me.

5 Then I pray to you, O Lord.

    I say, “You are my place of refuge.

    You are all I really want in life.

6 Hear my cry,

    for I am very low.

Rescue me from my persecutors,

    for they are too strong for me.

7 Bring me out of prison

    so I can thank you.

The godly will crowd around me,

    for you are good to me.” (Ps. 142:1-7)

Weekly Assignment Feature: 

 

Write a lament, either on behalf of yourself or on behalf of someone else.

 

Additional Resources:

 

• How to Write Your Own Psalm of Lament by Rev. Dr. Carol Bechtel. [1. Protest; 2. Petition; 3. Praise]
• Lament: A Path to Healing by Desert Streams Christian Counseling
• “5 Psalms of Lament to Remind Us We Are Not Alone” by Jessica Brodie
• “Learning to Lament: 4 Lessons from Psalms” by Christina Fox
• “Psalms of Lament: Individual and Communal” by Ken Boa
• “Praying the Bible” by Donald S. Whitney
• Lament - “an expression of grief or sorrow;” “a formal expression of sorrow or mourning, especially in verse or song; an elegy or dirge.” (dictionary.com)
• Blues - “a song often of lamentation characterized by usually 12-bar phrases, 3-line stanzas in which the words of the second line usually repeat those of the first, and continual occurrence of blue notes in melody and harmony;” “jazz or popular music using harmonic and phrase structures of blues.” from Merriam-Webster.com
• Broken Hallelujah, sung by Mandisa
• For more on the Overcast podcast app, go to https://overcast.fm/

I WANT TO BEGIN A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS CHRIST. 

 

RESOURCES USED FOR BOOK OF 1 & 2 Samuel PODCASTS:

• “The Wiersbe Bible Commentary: The Complete Old Testament OT in One Volume”
• “The Tony Evans Bible Commentary: Advancing God’s Kingdom Agenda”
• “Life Application Study Bible”
• “The Swindoll Study Bible: NLT” by Charles R. Swindoll
• Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary
• Exalting Jesus in 1 & 2 Samuel (Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary) by J. D. Greear, Heath A. Thomas
• “The Baker Illustrated Bible Background Commentary” by J. Scott Duvall and J. Daniel Hays (Editors)

"Encouraging Others in Loving Jesus" Facebook Group:

 

Our Facebook Group is devoted to providing a place for us to encourage each other through all the seasons of life. Follow the provided link to request admittance into “Encouraging Others in Loving Jesus”—https://www.facebook.com/groups/encouragingothersinlovingjesus/ Feel free to invite others who will be good encouragers and/or need encouragement to follow Jesus.

 

This podcast is hosted by Kim Smith, a small town Country Girl who left her comfort zone to follow Jesus in a big City World. Now, she wants to use God's Word and lessons from her faith journey to encourage others in loving Jesus.

 

In each episode, Kim will share insights regarding a portion of God's Word and challenge listeners to apply the lessons to their daily lives.

 

If you want to grow in your faith and learn how to encourage others in loving Jesus, subscribe and commit to prayerfully listening each week. 

 

Remember, “It’s Always a Trust & Obey Kinda Day!”

 

If you have questions or comments or would like to learn more about how to follow Jesus, please email Kim at EncouragingOthersinLovingJesus@gmail.com.

 

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

 

1-800-273-8255

 

https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/

 

Reference:

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Tyndale House Publishers. Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Wheaton, Ill: Tyndale House Publishers, 2004.

 

Podcast recorded through Zencastr and edited through GarageBand. The soundtrack was created in GarageBand by Kim Smith.

 

 

The HIDDEN Episodes: 

If you can't access episodes 1-50 on your podcast app (the podcast was then entitled "A Country Girl in a City World - Loving Jesus"), you can get all content at my Podbean site at https://acountrygirlinacityworldlovingjesus.podbean.com/