Finding Lost Words
Author: Dr Geoff Harper, Dr Kit Barker
Format: Soft cover
The brokenness of this world inevitably invades our lives. But how do you maintain faith when overwhelmed by grief? When prayer goes unanswered? When all you have are questions, not answers? What do you say to God when you know he is in control but the suffering continues unabated? Is there any alternative to remaining speechless in the midst of pain and heartbreak?
This book is about finding words to use when life is hard. These words are not new. They are modes of expression that the church has drawn on in times of grief throughout most of its history. Yet, the church in the West has largely abandoned these words – the psalms of lament. The result is that believers often struggle to know what to do or say when faced with distress, anxiety, and loss. Whether you are in Christian leadership, training for ministry, or simply struggling to reconcile experience with biblical convictions, ‘Finding Lost Words’ will help you consider how these ancient words can become your own.
Editors:
G. Geoffrey Harper and Kit Barker
Other Contributors:
Rachel Ciano, David Cohen, Peter Davis, Nick Freestone, Malcolm Gill, Ian Maddock, Kirk Patston, Andrew Shead, Andrew Sloane, Rob Smith, Alan Thompson, Don West, Sharon Wood and Dan Wu.
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About the book:
Table of contents:
INTRODUCTION:
“Weeping May Endure for a Night”: The Need to Find Lost Words – G. Geoffrey Harper and Kit Barker
PART I: The History of Lament
1. Lament Psalms in the Church: A History of Recent Neglect – Rachel Ciano
2. A Song Once Known: The Use of Psalm by Calvin, Henry, Wesley, and Simeon – Ian J. Maddock
3. “Consolation for the Despairing”: C.H. Spurgeon’s Endorsement of Lament Psalms in Public Worship – Alan J. Thompson
PART II: The Theology of Lament
4. Lament as Divine Discourse: God’s Voice in Our Cry – Kit Barker
5. “Why O Lord?” Lament as a Window to the Human Experience of Distress – David J. Cohen
6. Lament and the Sovereignty of God: Theological Reflections on Psalm 88 – G.Geoffrey Harper
7.Finding Our Words in His: Christology and Lament – Kit Barker
8. The Shape and Function of New Testament Lament – Donald West
9. Man of Sorrows, What a Name! The Place of Lament in the New Testament – David K. Burge
PART III: The Exegesis of Lament
10. The Role of Lament in the Shape of the Psalter – Dan Wu
11. Silence of the Lambs: A Lost Cry of Lament in Psalm 8 – G.Geoffrey Harper
12. Weeping with the Afflicted: The Self-Involving Language of the Laments – Andrew Sloane
13. Baking the Bread of Tears: A Recipe for Translating Psalm 80 – Andrew G. Shead
PART IV: The Practice of Lament
14. Preaching Lament – Peter J. Davis
15. Singing Lament – Robert S. Smith
16. Praying Lament – Malcolm Gill
17. Lament and Pastoral Care – Kirk R. Patston
PART V: The Demonstration of Lament
18. “A Strengthening Song for the Sad Soul”: A Sermon on Psalm 13 – Malcolm J. Gill
19. “My Only Friend – Darkness” : A Sermon on Psalm 88 – G. Geoffrey Harper
20. “How Could We Sing”: A Sermon on Psalm 137 – Kit Barker
21“You Are the God Who Saves Me”: Singing Psalm 88 – Nick Freestone (with reflections from Kit Barker and G. Geoffrey Harper)
22. If Jesus Wept, You Can Too – Sharon Wood
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