used in the broader sense of an expression of sorrow, grief, or disappointment. Lament psalms tell of a person’s or community’s lamenting in their distress as they turn to God for help. This kind of complaint is not like the grumbling and complaining of Israel in the wilderness. There they complained against God while speaking to each other with bad attitudes. In the laments the psalmists complain of their situation. And though freely expressing their disappointment with God, they are turning to