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Lament Cycle Part 2: Vav


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.


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