Lament for America

(from Psalm 10)

 

Where are you Lord, in all of this mess?

Why are the oppressed the ones dying of this?

When are you going to show yourself?

To defend your name and rescue the oppressed?

 

Us ignorant arrogant trample the weak

It’s the kind of thing that you don’t tolerate

But for 400 years we’ve schemed for power

As ruthless with violence as with deceit

 

There’s no room for God in the American dream

Our confidence lies in our prosperity

When will we see these American idols

For what they are—they rip us away from you

 

Prosperity is an illusion of invincibility

We boast of ambition, and think we don’t need you

Our demands feed the greed of arrogant oppressors,

And our ego for sharing our hand-me-down castaways

 

We curse and blame the other side, cycling the lies

Sneer at the enemy, spewing contempt

And think you’re on our side, or that you don’t see

Just because we’re on top of this precarious heap

 

We scoff at those below, pat ourselves on the back

But the lives of the oppressed are what make up our heap

We clamber on top of them for a better view

Oh Lord, when will we look down to see what you see?

 

We’ve killed them in so many horrendous ways

And crushed them with lies about who they are

Why do you give mortals such power to abuse?

The blood on our hands, Lord, it cries out to you

 

Arise, oh Lord, lift your strong arm for all to see

Break the arm of these awful lies from your enemy

That link your Name to this greed and oppression

When it breaks your heart more than we can imagine

 

You know what you’re doing,

That’s the only thing I know

Healing never comes without much pain involved

So unearth it all, Lord, let the tears fall

 

This earthly power is an illusion of smoke

It will all fall away and we’ll stand naked before you

You hear every cry of the beaten down

Listen to every desire of their heart

 

Your justice is coming, but I think it might surprise us

You didn’t make us to be the saviors

Only your strong arm could do that

By giving your very life, in every possible way

 

But you hear every cry of the beaten down

You don’t just hear, but you listen

You encourage and defend

And this is where we can join you as your children

 

So that we mere mortals may terrify no more