The Psalms of Lament as Covenantal Memory

A Liturgy of the Genealogy of Faith in the Context of War Refugees in Asia

Abstract

Post-exilic Lament Psalms reflect the experience of the people of Israel who lost their land and their center of worship, while expressing profound grief over a crisis of collective identity caused by alienation and suffering. Although they do not contain literal genealogies, the Lament Psalms function as covenantal memory that implicitly affirms the importance of a genealogy of faith—namely, a spiritual connection with covenantal ancestors—as the foundation for the formation and preservation of communal identity in diaspora contexts. This paper explores the Lament Psalms as liturgical texts that strengthen communities experiencing displacement and persecution, particularly by relating them to the contemporary context of immigrant communities affected by war and humanitarian refugees in Asia. The paper highlights how the Lament Psalms can serve as a source of hope and genealogical identity for diaspora communities facing trauma, dislocation, and the search for meaning in foreign lands. Thus, the Lament Psalms are not merely a historical reflection of ancient Israel, but remain relevant as a spiritual resource and a source of identity for refugees and immigrants affected by conflict in the modern world.