Julian's Lament, Paul's Psalm

Psalm 80:4-7

O LORD God of hosts,
how long will you be angry with your people’s prayers?

You have fed them with the bread of tears,
and given them tears to drink in full measure.

You make us the scorn of our neighbors;
our enemies laugh among themselves.

Do not remember against us the iniquities of our ancestors;
Restore us, O God of hosts;
let your face shine, that we may be saved.

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Hey Jude, don't make it bad
Take a sad song and make it better
Remember to let her into your heart
Then you can start to make it better

"Hey Jude" by John Lennon and Paul McCartney recorded by The Beatles

"Hey Jude" was written principally by Paul McCartney for John Lennon's eldest son Julian. Lennon's divorce with his first wife was filed and John had begun his relationship with Yoko Ono. Any child of divorce will say watching a parent date is difficult. Watching it as the son of a Beatle amps the difficulty exponentially.

Paul gives Julian license to be sad. Paul gives him license to feel. Paul gives Julian license to accept his situation and his feelings. Paul gives Julian license to begin to make it better.

The Psalms of Lament are a special set in the Psalter. Israel is miserable because the Lord is angry. When the Lord is angry there ain't anybody who's happy. They know they are the object of the Lord's anger and because of that they will be the subject of their neighbor's scorn. This can't be an easy time to be a member of the nation.

But they know one more thing, they know the source of their salvation. They know that only the Lord can restore them to favor. They pray the Lord not remember the deeds of their ancestors. They pray the light of the continence, the face of the Lord shine. Only by the Lord is restoration possible.

God knows when we are hurt. God knows when we are angry. Here's the Good News, God is a big boy. God can handle our pain and disappointment even when we direct it against the one who does not deserve it, God's own self. When we finish a season of lament, God is ready for us to seek restoration. God's work of restoration is already done for us in the work on the cross.

This is how we take our sad songs and make them better. We let the Lord into our hearts and then we can start to make it better.