Rachel's Cry: Prayer of Lament and Rebirth of Hope

by Kathleen D. Billman, Daniel L. Migliore (Contributor)

""Modern theology needs the rediscovery of the category of consolation. This book is rich of consolations because it takes the cry of lament seriously."" --Jurgen Moltmann ""A timely, accessible, and valuable book. The recovery of the biblical traditions of loss and hurt is intrinsically worth doing, more worth doing in an increasingly disestablished society."" --Walter Brueggemann, Columbia Theological Seminary, Emeritus ""This cross-disciplinary collaboration is . . . poignant and compelling testimony to the personal and communal power of lament and its importance to the practice of ministry. This book is the one that I have been waiting for."" --Christie Cozad Neuger, Brite Divinity School ""Few books in the literature of lament have drawn together so much material from the biblical, theological, and pastoral spheres as Rachel's Cry."" --Patrick D. Miller, Princeton Theological Seminary ""Honesty with God is the doorway to authentic hope and faith. . . . This is one of the most liberating books I have read in a long time."" --James Newton Poling, Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary ""This is the first book to bring scattered discussions together into one coherent whole . . . with deep Christian insight and conviction, with vivid examples, and with learning which is as gracefully communicated as it is broad and deep in its substance. I will be keeping it near at hand, so as to return to it often."" --Nicholas Wolterstorff, Yale University ""Rachel's Cry is not only a timely book, it is an urgently needed resource for people who long for a way to live with irrational suffering. Unless we recover the prayer of lament, we are in danger of being trapped in powerlessness, cynicism, and despair."" --Herbert Anderson, Catholic Theological Union, Emeritus ""I found it difficult to put this book down. Rachel's Cry convincingly argues that an authentic and empowering spirituality requires the language of lament and protest alongside praise and thanksgiving."" --Nancy J. Ramsay, Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary Kathleen M. Billman is dean of academic affairs and professor of pastoral theology and counseling at Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago. Daniel L. Migliore is Charles Hodge Professor of Systematic Theology at Princeton Theological Seminary.

Genres: Theology, Spirituality

184 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1999

Reviews

[Christa Cordova]

Every once in a while, a book comes along that I have a really hard time finishing. Not because I don't like it, but because I do. I really really do. The knowledge that a finish line is in sight becomes more than a little depressing.

This is one of those books.

I read it as an assignment for a seminary class, but picked as much up from it personally as I did academically. The book ties together Biblical, theological and pastoral perspectives into a really practical guide to the Christian practice of lament.

I don't come from a background where lament is valued or generally even an option. During my own hard times, or during times of struggle for friends and family, I have a really hard time finding permission or words to express my feelings. Turns out, the vocabulary I can't seem to find on my own has been right at my fingertips all along. In the Bible.

I'm incredibly thankful for this book and highly recommend it to anyone going through a hard time, pastorally responsible for others during hard times, or just interested in Christian faith/discipleship in general.

[Alyssa Foll]

This was a spectacular overview on the biblical idea of lament. Written by co-authors Billman and Migliore, who are pastoral theologians and systematic theologians respectively, this book excels in exploring the multi-faceted experience and practice of lament.
I appreciated how the book traces the idea of lament from Scripture to theological tradition to pastoral care and pastoral theology. Billman and Migliore successfully highlighted where lament has been acknowledged and practiced and where it has been overlooked or under-utilized.
In a world that seems to have gone mad with grief, this book could not be more timely.

[Dani Lee]

Lament is not very popular in theology, and yet, especially in times like this, to call out to God "how long?" is cathartic.
This is an excellent presentation on the merits of incorporating lament in church worship.

[Mark Hill]

Important read