Written by: Jeremiah
Jeremiah was written to predict the destruction of Jerusalem and Lamentations was written to look back on Jerusalem's destruction.
Lamentations=book of tears
read lamentations to learn what it means to grieve with God
poetry, meant to reflect ancient Jewish funeral songs
Blueprints:
- Jeremiah mourns for Jerusalem
- God’s anger at sin
- Hope in the midst of affliction
- God’s anger is satisfied
- Jeremiah pleads for restoration
The past few months we have been hearing about this coming doom for God’s people who have turned away.
Now it has finally happened
Jeremiah expresses his deep hurt in Lamentations
15 He has filled me with bitterness
and given me a bitter cup of sorrow to drink.
16 He has made me chew on gravel.
He has rolled me in the dust.
17 Peace has been stripped away,
and I have forgotten what prosperity is.
18 I cry out, “My splendor is gone!
Everything I had hoped for from the Lord is lost!”
19 The thought of my suffering and homelessness
20 I will never forget this awful time,
as I grieve over my loss.
21 Yet I still dare to hope
when I remember this:
His mercies never cease.
23 Great is his faithfulness;
his mercies begin afresh each morning.
24 I say to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance;
therefore, I will hope in him!”
25 The Lord is good to those who depend on him,
to those who search for him.
26 So it is good to wait quietly
for salvation from the Lord.
27 And it is good for people to submit at an early age
to the yoke of his discipline:
28 Let them sit alone in silence
beneath the Lord’s demands.
29 Let them lie face down in the dust,
for there may be hope at last.
30 Let them turn the other cheek to those who strike them
and accept the insults of their enemies.
31 For no one is abandoned
by the Lord forever.
32 Though he brings grief, he also shows compassion
because of the greatness of his unfailing love.
33 For he does not enjoy hurting people
or causing them sorrow.
These are really encouraging words to me
31 For no one is abandoned by the Lord forever. 32 Though he brings grief, he also shows compassion because of the greatness of his unfailing love. 33 For he does not enjoy hurting people or causing them sorrow.
God does not enjoy when we are suffering
When you feel depressed lost lonely, you need to choose. Acknowledge feelings BUT
The suffering that Jeremiah is experiencing here ultimately mean the end of idolatry for the Israelites
remember all they were doing against God (injustice to poor, idolatry, cheating)
Growth only happens in change
sometimes that change doesn’t always look good to us
What new thing is God doing in your life?
Where is Jesus?
Jesus is the bridge that closed the gap between us and God
Because of his sacrifice we are able to communicate directly to God and talk to him about how we feel about things we are experiencing
Here’s my challenge for you: begin to acknowledge the new things God is doing in your life, wether they are currently happened or if it is something you can now reflect upon as God
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