20. Complaints
Complaints Moses’complaint, when a still harder service is imposed upon Israel by Pharaoh:Exodus 5:22-23
Lord, wherefore hast Thou dealt ill with this people? Why is it that Thou hast sent me? For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in Thy name, he hath dealt ill with this people: neither hast Thou delivered Thy people at all.
Moses complaint,when the people,weary of the manna,long for flesh:Numbers 11:11-15
Wherefore hast Thou dealt ill with Thy servant? and wherefore have I not found favor in Thy sight, that Thou layest the burden of all this people upon me? Have I conceived all this people, have I brought them forth, that Thou shouldest say unto me, “Carry them in thy bosom as a nursing-father carrieth the sucking child,” unto the land which Thou sparest unto their fathers? Whence should I have flesh to give unto all this people? for they weep unto me, saying, “Give us flesh, that we may eat.” I am not able to bear all this people alone, because it is too heavy for me. And if Thou deal thus with me, kill me, I pray Thee, out of hand, if I have found favor in Thy sight, and let me not see my wretchedness.
Prayer of Moses and Aaron at the rebellion of Korah:Numbers 16:22[1]
O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and wilt Thou be wroth with all the congregation?
[1] This passage, though its documentary source is late, may not inappropriately be placed here.
Joshua’s prayer after the defeat of Israel at Ai:Joshua 7:7-9
Alas, O Lord Jehovah, wherefore hast Thou at all brought this people over the Jordan, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to cause us to perish? Would that we had been content and stayed beyond the Jordan! Oh, Lord, what shall I say, after that Israel hath turned their backs before their enemies? For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land will hear of it, and will compass us round, and cut off our name from the earth; and what wilt Thou do for Thy great name?
Samson,at Ramath-lehi, after the slaughter of the Philistines:Judges 15:18
Thou hast given this great deliverance by the hand of Thy servant; and now shall I die for thirst, and fall into the hand of the uncircumcised?
Elijah’s prayer, after the death of the widow’s son:1 Kings 17:20 O Jehovah, my God, hast Thou also brought evil upon the widow, whose guest I am, by slaying her son?
Job’s lament over the injustice of his lot:Job 10:2-21 Do not condemn me.
Show me why Thou contendest with me. Is it good unto Thee that Thou shouldest oppress, That Thou shouldest despise the work of Thy hands?
Hast Thou eyes of flesh? Or seest Thou as man seeth? Are Thy days as the days of man? Or Thy years as man’s days? For Thou inquirest after mine iniquity, And searchest after my sin, Though Thou knowest that I am not guilty, And that there is no falseness in my hand.
Thy hands have framed me and fashioned me, And now wilt Thou turn and destroy me?
Remember, I beseech Thee, that Thou hast fashioned me as clay, And wilt Thou bring me into dust again?
Hast Thou not poured me out as milk, And curdled me like cheese?
Thou hast clothed me with skin and flesh, And knit me together with bones and sinews.
Thou hast granted me life and loving kindness, And Thy visitation hath preserved my spirit.
Yet this is what Thou didst hide in Thy heart, Now I know that this was Thy purpose.[1] If I sinned, then Thou wouldest mark me, And wouldest not acquit me of mine iniquity.
If I were wicked, woe unto me; And were I righteous, yet must I not lift up mine head.
I am filled with shame, and drunk with sorrow. And if my head be lifted up, Thou dost hunt me as a lion. And again Thou shewest Thyself marvelous against me.
Thou renewest Thy witnesses against me. And dost increase Thine indignation upon me. An ever-changing host (of foes) is with me.
Why then didst Thou bring me forth out of the womb?
I should have given up the ghost, and no eye had seen me.
I should have been as though I had not been.
I should have been carried from the womb to the grave. Are not the days of my life few?
Leave me alone, that I may brighten a little, Before I go whence I shall not return, Even to the land of darkness and of the deep shadow.
[1] That is, to torment and destroy him.
Job’s lament over the pathos of his fate:Job 13:24toJob 14:6 Why dost Thou hide Thy face, And hold me for Thine enemy?
Wilt Thou harass a driven leaf? And wilt Thou pursue the dry stubble? For Thou writest bitter things against me, And makest me to inherit the iniquities of my youth.
Thou puttest my feet in the stocks, And markest all my paths.
Thou drawest a line around the soles of my feet.
Man that is born of a woman, Is of few days, and full of trouble.
He cometh forth like a flower, and withereth.
He fleeth also as a shadow, and abideth not. And dost Thou open Thine eyes upon such a one, And bringest me into judgment with Thee? Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one.
Seeing his days are determined, And the number of his months is with Thee, Look away from him that he may have peace, That he may enjoy, as a hireling, his day.
Jeremiah’s lament:Jeremiah 15:15-18
O Jehovah, Thou knowest. Remember me and visit me, and avenge me of my persecutors. Take me not away in Thy long-suffering, know that for Thy sake I have suffered reproach.
Thy words were found, and I did eat them, and Thy words were unto me a joy and the rejoicing of my heart; for I am called by Thy name, O Jehovah, God of hosts.
I sat not in the assembly of them that make merry, nor did I rejoice. I sat alone because of Thy hand upon me, for Thou hast filled me with (Thine own) indignation.
Why is my pain perpetual, and my wound incurable, refusing to be healed? Hast Thou indeed become unto me as a deceitful brook, and as waters that fail?
Jeremiah’s lament,as he thinks of his ill success:Jeremiah 20:7
O Jehovah, Thou hast beguiled me, and I was beguiled. Thou art stronger than I, and hast prevailed. I am become a laughingstock all the day; every one mocketh me.
Prayer from the siege of Jerusalem:Lamentations 2:20-21 See, O Jehovah, and behold To whom Thou hast done thus. Shall the women eat their fruit, The children that they fondled? Shall priest and prophet be slain In the sanctuary of the Lord? On the ground in the streets there lie Youths and old men. My virgins and my young men Are fallen by the sword.
Thou hast slain them in the day of Thine anger, Thou hast slaughtered without pity.
Prayer of sorrowful Jerusalem:Lamentations 3:42-47 We have transgressed and rebelled, Thou hast not pardoned.
Thou hast wrapped Thyself in anger, and pursued us, Thou hast slain without pity.
Thou hast wrapped Thyself in a cloud, So that prayer passed not through.
Thou hast made us an offscouring and refuse In the midst of the peoples.
All our enemies have opened Their mouth wide against us.
Fear and the pit are come upon us, Devastation and destruction.
Another lament:Habakkuk 1:12-13
Art Thou not from everlasting, O Jehovah my God, my Holy One? O Thou that art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and that canst not look upon iniquity, wherefore dost Thou look (silently) on, while traitors deal treacherously, and holdest Thy peace, when the wicked swalloweth up the man that is more righteous than he?
Habakkuk’s lament:Habakkuk 1:2
O Jehovah, how long shall I cry, and Thou wilt not hear?—cry unto Thee of wrong, and Thou wilt not save? and why dost Thou cause me to look upon wrong?