Outcry
I’ve been watching the footage from Afghanistan and I feel powerless. Where will justice, liberation and rescue come from?
The outcry is great and as tragic as that is, it’s also important. Why? Because scripture gives witness to God who responds to outcry. The Lord told Moses that he certainly heard the outcry (tsa-aq) of Israel during their oppression in Egypt (Ex 2:23, 3:7, 3:9). Pharaoh is given the chance to let Israel go, but his refusal ends in a reversal of fortune. It would be the great outcry (tsa-aq) of Pharaoh and his officials that pierced the night and led to release of the captives (Ex 12:30)
A variety of Psalms containing outcry are referred to as laments. The typical form of a lament begins in complaint, details the suffering, but concludes in praise as it anticipates God’s deliverance (e.g. Psalm 13, 22, 77). The exodus narrative is structure as a “lived lament”. It opens in the cry of the oppressed and ends with liberation and praise songs on the far side of the Red Sea (“Song of the Sea”, Ex 15). Israel had to persevere in affliction, but God would provide deliverance.
There seems to be no quick fix on the horizon for Afghanistan. Anger, frustration and helplessness only begin to describe the feelings that come with watching the unfolding events. We, however, have the opportunity to share in a lived lament as we partner with those trapped by joining in their outcry.
Outcry is a form of hope that says there has to be something better. It refuses to sign off on the status quo. “My soul refuses to be comforted” (Ps 77:2b) is a way of saying “I won’t be turned away until….”
May we join in with the outcry that rises up from Afghanistan as we offer our prayers together and anticipate that God will act and bring deliverance.
“How long, Lord, must I call for help, but you do not listen? Or cry out to you, “Violence!” but you do not save? Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrongdoing? Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and conflict abounds. Therefore the law is paralyzed, and justice never prevails. The wicked hem in the righteous, so that justice is perverted.” Habakkuk 1:2-4
Tsa-aq. My heart does Tsa-aq at the sight of Afghanistan. Thank you Dan!
ReplyDeleteThese are great words Daniel. I have been struggling so much with this. On one hand, it seems like this is an avoidable situation. We can just go into Afghanistan and rescue everyone by force...I mean we have the firepower! But then I have to remember that our battles are not of flesh and blood, but of principalities and forces of darkness. There is probably much more to this situation than we realize and I have to trust that God is doing mighty things behind the scenes. I will join in the outcry and trust that God will rescue those who put their hope in Him.
ReplyDelete