Guest Post by Jordy Dyck

I’m excited to feature the writing of Jordy Dyck, Youth Ministry Student at Ambrose University College. Jordy has written a number of personal Psalms. Two of which I am pleased to guest post over this weekend.

Jordy’s Psalms of Lament

Jordy explains his writing.

“I wrote each one of these psalms with the intent of engaging the psalms in scripture on a far deeper level. There are more lament psalms than any other genre of psalm, and I think that is more than significant.“

He adds to this thought.

“In our culture, we have developed almost a fear of lament, and even anger, towards God. Yet, that is not the attitude we see in the psalms. If you think about it, how easy is it for you to see when a close friend of yours is putting up a false front? How much more than, can God see through our falsity?“

Finally, Jordy concludes with the following thought.

“I am not saying that anger toward God is a good thing, only that it is useless trying to hide it. Each of my three psalms has a deeply personal story behind it. What stories do you have that you have not spoken of?

I owe much to Walter Brueggemann for my understanding on this topic. If you’re interested, look up his article ‘Costly Loss of Lament‘.“

“Your Answer is Silence“

Lord, you are the one who has made all things,
In you the world has been formed out of the void.
Your rule is uncontested,
Your dominion spreads across the face of the earth.
The cosmos are sustained by you and you alone,
The sun shines as a reflection of your glory,
The moon sings of your majesty in the darkness.
The birds of the air and the fish of the sea are upheld by your care,
The smallest creature that walks on land is nourished by you,
Your breath is the life of all that live.

Oh Lord, hear my cry when I shout out to you!
My voice grows hoarse from the shouting of my lungs,
My body is weak from my continual cries.

Your children cry out to you,
And you do not answer.
Your sons and daughters, they call upon your name,
And lie still in the dust.

I am alone in the silence,
In the darkness I am surrounded by evil voices,
“Where is your God?” they taunt,
Their hatred of you radiates as a furnace.

Children fight the wars of men,
Women bear the burden of pain,
Corruption slaughters the lives of the innocent,
And you stand by and do nothing.

How long, oh Lord, will justice be corrupted?
Will you stand by forever and allow the wicked to reign?
How long, oh Lord, will your sons and daughters cry out to you in vain?
Until every last one returns to the dust from which we are formed?
Until no more voices arise to counter the darkness?
Is your steadfast love only for those whom you have blessed?
Is your mercy felt by those with no regard for your Name?
Is your wrath reserved for those who trust in you?
Why do we cry out in vain, why do you not answer?
So many children cry out, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachtani!”
Your answer is silence.

Mushrooms grow over Japan,
Blades are heard over Korea,
Rumbles are felt in the Middle East,
Marching echoes through Crimea.

In the darkness the moonlight resonates with hollowness,
In the light the sun shines wan,
The void in my soul refuses to be filled,
The breath that once gave me life comes in noxious.

Oh Lord, do not hold back your justice,
Your mighty arm of strength!
Hear the calling of your children,
The voices of your sons and daughters must be answered!
Turn the jubilation of the corrupt into mourning,
As they drink the blood of the innocent make them choke.
Restore again the fear of the Lord,
Let the wicked tremble as they hear your voice.

As I sit in the silence, let me hear your voice,
In the stillness I know you are God.
Silence the taunts of the accuser,
Their voices will cry out in dismay.
Restore in me your breath of life,
Let my body be filled with strength once again,
My lungs will again shout your praises,
My arms shall work towards your justice,
My deeds must proclaim your glory.

For your glory is unmatched in all the earth,
It stands above the heavens,
Comparison does it no justice.
You will uphold the cause of the needy,
The cries of the dying will be heard.
Your sovereignty will be felt across all the earth,
The evil of the world will be brought to submission,
For you oh Lord, are working unseen,
Your right arm is already shaping.
The universe will forever declare your praise,
And the choir of humanity will join forevermore.

Join the Conversation; Share Your Thoughts

Have you ever written a personal psalm? Have you ever written a lament? If so, how did it assist in your spiritual growth? How did it impact your relationship with God?