Bible Project: Lamentations overview: https://bibleproject.com/explore/video/lamentations/?utm_source=web_social_share&medium=shared_video
Prayer: Father, grant me understanding of a book about a grieving nation filled with grieving people. Help me understand how to grieve and how to comfort. Amen.
Reading: Lamentations 1 key: vs. 20-22 “Look, Adonai, for I am in distress! My stomach churns, my heart pounds within me, for I have been very rebellious. Outside, the sword bereaves, in the house it is like death. They have heard me groaning. There is no one to comfort me. All my enemies heard of my distress, They rejoice that You have done it. May You bring about the day that You proclaimed, so they may become like me! Let all their evil come before You. Deal with them as you dealt with me, because of all my transgressions. For my groans are many and my heart is faint!” TLV
Attention: As the Bible Project video says, the timing of the writing of Lamentations is after the judgement of God upon Israel at the hands of the Babylonians. Many people were carried away into exile. The Temple which was the heart of Israel and the center for worship of Adonai had been demolished and destroyed. Many of the military were killed, leaving widows to fend for themselves. Grief permeated the entire city, region.
The last few verses is my focus. If we bring these verses to a personal level, the writer is confessing their heart to Adonai. The writer acknowledges his grief as he represents the corporate grief of Jerusalem and that he has been “rebellious.” It was rebellion which brought judgement from God. It is rebellion which brings God’s judgment on us individually. I have experienced God’s judgement for my rebellion, so I identify with the grieving writer. Judgement brings pain and suffering, turmoil, and grief. Judgement brings correction. Some of us repent and confess our rebellion. Some of us choose to get hard hearted and double-down on our sinful ways.
The plea of the writer is that the enemies of Israel would feel the pain of God’s judgement too. The writer is referring to the prophetic cry of a coming day of judgement upon Israel’s enemies. That day came when the Assyrians, Babylonians, were humbled by the Chaldean army. Those who were God’s instruments of judgement, were later judged themselves.
How we choose to respond is the difference. Do we repent and submit to God? The writer repents and acknowledges his rebelliousness. He gets it. Judgement is meant for correction, not for the joy of punishment.
May we have a heart like the writer of Lamentations.
Action: I choose to acknowledge God’s corrective action in my life and repent.
Yield: I choose to submit to the Highest Authority in Adonai.
Engage: I choose to engage with the Holy Spirit in being transformed.
Relationship: I choose to live in intimate, holy relationship with Adonai.
Prayer: Father, I reach out to You. I have grieved in past years when I faced my rebelliousness towards You. Thank You for the grace, mercy, forgiveness you have extended to this prodigal. Amen.
Memory Verse: Lamentations 3:21-23 “This I recall to my heart— therefore I have hope: Because of the mercies of Adonai we will not be consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning! Great is Your faithfulness. TLV
Music Video: Audrey Assad—New Every Morning https://youtu.be/Grz3Hxw9GWU?si=gbE9JBqZRXIA-AGP
Remember, “Abide in Yeshua, today!”