Volume 4, Issues 2-3
April/May 2007

After Much Mourning, Lamentations Tells of Hope

Both President Bush and the Democratic Party have made claims about their ability to protect Americans from terrorism the central issue of the 2006 elections. Reflect theologically on the relative wisdom of this focus for the nation.

The classical expression in the Bible for dealing with overwhelming tragedy is the Old Testament book of Lamentations. The book of only five short chapters tells of the destruction of Jerusalem.

The text makes it clear that not only has a horrible destruction been visited upon the city, said Harvey G. Cox, of Harvard Divinity School, but the people are also distraught because their regular channels for imploring God for mercy have been destroyed. Dead bodies lie in the streets, there is no food to eat and missing are the temples, altars and priests.

“They have a double dose of tragedy to deal with and much of it is given to this lamentation,” said Cox, Hollis Professor of Divinity and an ordained American Baptist clergyman.

Modern-day mourners, such as those who grieved after the shootings at Virginia Tech, may suffer similarly.

“I think that happens with a lot of people,” said Cox. “They feel that in the midst of a tragedy their regular means of expressing grief in prayer or in some other way has also been undermined.” There is a feeling that everything has been taken away.

But the final verses of Lamentations are an expression of hope and faith, he noted.
“It’s not an easy resolution,” said Cox. “It is a ‘despite-all-this-we-will-continue’ attitude. It’s a very relevant text for this moment.”

Harvey Cox is currently writing on Lamentations. His most recent book is When Jesus Came to Harvard: Making Moral Decisions Today.