Vav is the sixth letter of the Hebrew alphabet. It looks basically like a line with a small flag on the top that always points to the left. ד
In the Hebrew language, vav connects things. It's usually translated "and". But it has other uses. One of those is called the adversative. Then it is usually translated "but" (or sometimes "yet"), and marks a shift in thinking. (Are you still with me?)
The vav adversative occurs frequently in biblical laments. It marks a mysterious transition in the heart and mind of the lamenter. Sometimes you get the feeling that it marks the point at which he simply exhausts himself against God. Sometimes it marks the point at which he stops pouring out complaint and begins to paradoxically pour out praise from his own emptiness. The shift is unpredictable. Sometimes it happens in verse five. Sometimes in verse fifty-five.
When the "crossing of the line" (remember vav is a vertical line) occurs, the psalmist dramatically shifts focus from himself and his pain to God and His glory. Often the shift is so abrupt that the only explanation seems to be that God somehow "showed up" and radically transformed the perspective of the one who was lamenting, but who is now worshipping.
Michael Card, "A Sacred Sorrow Experience Guide: Reaching Out to God in the Lost Language of Lament", p. 29
Vav
Vertical line of crossing
The shifting, the moving
Unpredictable, mysterious transition
The conversion, the progression
Unforseeable, incomprehensible alteration.
Vav
The expanse transversed
Through the province of sacred sorrow
The but, the yet
Where lament is transposed into praise
Vav advertisae.
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"But You, O LORD, be not far off: O my Strength, come quickly to help me. Deliver my life from the sword, my precious life from the power of the dogs. Rescue me from the mouth of the lions; save me from the horns of the wild oxen." Psalm 22:19-21
I come
A broken and battered reed
Hollow and so thin
Trampled down and cast aside
Nothing left inside
I come.
I come
Helpless and hopeless
Leveled within.
Hear this cry of agony
From my own Gethsemane
I come.
I come
Remaining and awaiting
A despondent sojourner
I cast on You this plea
Be not ever far from me!
I come.
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"Surely God is my help; the Lord is the one who sustains me." Psalm 54:4
Here my heart is tearing
Here my heart is despairing
And the sorrow is beyond words.
When my soul is aching
When my soul is quaking
And the prayer I pray is beyond words.
Here You cherish what I cannot convey
Here You remove despair and dismay
Where comfort lies beyond words.
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"Yet I am poor and needy; come quickly to me, O God. You are my help and my deliverer; O LORD, do not delay." Psalm 70:5
Sit in solemn silence, suffering soul
Sit in solemn silence
Summon the suppressed
Stir the subconscious
Select the instances that show
His surpassing, staunch, steadfast, and sure
Sympathy and sustenance
Sit in solemn silence, suffering soul
Sit in solemn silence.
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"If only I knew where to find Him; if only I could go to His dwelling! I would state my case before Him and fill my mouth with arguments. I would find out what He would answer me, and consider what He would say." Job 23:2-5
Job's Questions
you tell me, you tell me
It's a sun-lit sky
But I can't see through the tears in my eyes
you tell me, you tell me
There's a bigger plan
Oh, but I am a worm of a man
you tell me, you tell me
Suffering only comes from sin
But your "truth" is where lies begin
Questions
I ask the questions
Dwelling in a barren land
Weary and forlorn
I curse the day I was born
From His hand I have been torn
Questions
you tell me, you tell me
God blesses the innocent one
Simply repent of deeds I've not done
you tell me, you tell me
From wickedness flee
But the arrows of the Almighty are in me
you tell me, you tell me
My words bluster like the wind
But I drown before you in my affliction
Questions
I ask the questions
Contending in a hopeless state
Begging to perceive
Grieving as I cleave
Why is silence all I receive?
Questions
Why do You assail me, flail me?
Why do You shatter me?
Yet I yearn for my Redeemer
I'm not a schemer
Nor a dreamer
But in my flesh I will see God
I will see You, God
Questions
You ask the questions
Giving me new sight
I did You misconstrue
I now let my words be few
You bring Your presence through and through
Questions
Questions
You ask the questions
Of knowledge too great to behold
I repent in ashes and dust
You alone are my trust
You are love and You are just
Answers.
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"Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my sighing. Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray." Psalm 5:1-2
"Hear my prayer, O LORD; let my cry for help come to you. Do not hide your face from me when I am in distress. Turn your ear to me when I call, answer me quickly." Psalm 102:1-2
Standing in the sanctuary
Paper thin
Surrounded by masses--imperceptible
See!
Permeate this broken shell
All this inner anguish quell
Standing in the sanctuary
Hear!
The reverberations of a tear
Let it shatter heaven's praises
But for an hour
Solace and succor shower
Here in Your sanctuary.
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"But I call to God, and the LORD saves me. Evening, morning and noon I cry out in distress and he hears my voice." Psalm 55:16-17
I cry to You
Cry to You
Cry to You
Cry to You
Won't You hear me?
Hear me?
Hear me?
Hear me?
Will You lift Your head?
Rebuke the storm?
Chide my little faith?
Frayed and torn
Although little it may be
It will not let go of thee
And You hear me
Hear me
Hear me
Hear me.
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"My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." Psalm 73:26
Just yesterday
I stood before Your altar
Just yesterday
My heart thrilled to sing Your praise
Just yesterday
There was song and joy and light
Just yesterday
But today
The earth is growing older
And today
The winds are blowing colder
Today
I am misery's beholder
Today
Still I
Cling to Your goodness
Still I
Declare Your name
Still I
Exalt You; glory in You; bow before You.
Still I will.