Abstract
Prayer is an integral part of the believer's communion with God. It reflects different dimensions and functions in the faith-relationship between God and man. Worship, praise, thanksgiving, intercession, petition, confession and trust are only a few to be mentioned. A neglected aspected of the prayer experience is the lament. Prayer is, in this sense, an exposure of the self and the circumstances of the petitioner before God. The purpose of this article is to illuminate the theological meaning of the lament as prayer for the individual and the faith community. Prayer is also understood within the broader scope of different expressive human deeds. It is a process which mediates perspective and essential change in the life of the believer and faith community. In a final application it is argued that the lament-prayer can contribute to change and renewal in a transitional and disturbed South African church and society.
Highlights
Prayer is an integral part of the believer's communion with God
Om hierdie perspektief van ontbloting voor God nader vanuit die Psalmboek toe te lig, is dit verder nodig om by enkele perspektiewe rondom gebed in die Psalms aan te sluit
Beteken dus nie net om sekere dinge van God te vra nie, maar om op verskeie maniere uitdrukking te gee aan jou mens-wees of omstandighede waarin jy jouself binne die kragveld van God se teenwoordigheid bevind (Deist 1978:13-63)
Summary
Prayer is an integral part of the believer's communion with God. It reflects different dimensions and functions in the faith-relationship between God and man. A neglected aspected of the prayer experience is the lament. Prayer is, in this sense, an exposure of the self and the circumstances of the petitioner before God. The purpose of this article is to illuminate the theological meaning of the lament as prayer for the individual and the faith community. Prayer is understood within the broader scope of different expressive human deeds. It is a process which mediates perspective and essential change in the life ofthe believer and faith community. In a final application it is argued that the lament-prayer can contribute to change and renewal in a transitional and disturbed South African church and society
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