Psalm 44 and the Function of Lament and Protest

Abstract

Approaching the text with a psychological lens along with historical-critical tools, this essay examines the role of lament and protest in the worship of ancient Israel. Given the nature of the book of Psalms as a worship hymnal, the text reveals praise, thanksgiving and petition alongside with lament and protest. Considering both the cognitive and non-cognitive aspects in humanity’s reaching out to God, Psalm 44 exemplifies the function of lament/protest in the context of cognitive behavioural practice and emotive needs on the part of the lamenter/protester. Engaging the text from a culture-context-situatedness perspective, I shall further explicate the effect of this Psalm on its readers.