Read Lamentations 5:1-22
Our final lament appears to be from the viewpoint of the people who were not taken. Those left behind watched as their beloved city changed before their eyes. Living in that crumbled reality, they mourned the loss of a happy, content life.
Gone were the parties and fancy clothes. Now the people faced violence and famine with their enemies in power. God had allowed all of this to happen. The people felt forgotten, finally realizing that they were paying the penalty for sin, their own and their ancestors.
This is a telling statement. “Joy has left our hearts; our dancing has turned to mourning.” When God is absent from our lives, so is the joy. The fleeting happiness the world provides can never take the place of the joy the Lord gives. The Bible is full of examples showing us that only in God is there fullness of joy.
Can we have joy amidst our struggles? James 1:2-3 would suggest so. It says, “Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.” I don’t know about you, but there are times when I feel like my endurance has grown enough!
We may not have experienced anything as atrocious as what is being described in these laments, but we can still mourn with the mourners. We can also learn what angers God from observing their mistakes. Can you identify with feeling at times like God has forgotten you?
The author of this final lament may question up to the end where God is, but hasn’t lost hope that God is there. He recognizes the power of God is everlasting. He cries out to God, “Restore us, O LORD, and bring us back to you again! Give us back the joys we once had!” That is exactly the prayer God was hoping to hear. God loves to hear from us when we seek his help and rescue.
We, too, may need some assurance that God hasn’t forgotten us. Even when we don’t see God, he is there. Trust him. Here’s a great verse to reflect on from 1 Peter 1:8. “You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy.” How do you describe the joy you feel for no apparent reason? The reason is Jesus and what he has done for us.
Let Paul’s short prayer for us in Romans 15:13 wash over you. It fits beautifully. “I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.” God has not forgotten you. He sent the Holy Spirit.
Let’s pray. Father God, the laments of your people have been hard to read. While it’s easy to see that the people needed your discipline for their actions, it’s still difficult to imagine. You do allow some horrific things in this world for us to learn from. But through it all, when we stay true to you, your joy still creeps in, and for that I am beyond grateful. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
