Read Lamentations 2:1-22
While the first lament was of a sorrowing widow, Jerusalem, the second poem comes from the perspective of God’s anger and the devastation it can wield. The author was consumed with sadness and fear. What was going to happen? Writing these words in his own anguish would help people never forget. Do you think that was the author’s intent in the moment?
Lamentations is a book to read in Hebrew, if you can, because some of these poems are acrostic. That means each of the 22 verses starts with a letter from the Hebrew alphabet. One thought as to why the author wrote the laments like that was to facilitate memorization. We, as well as the original audience, should never forget what God’s anger can do. Lamentations helps us remember.
I thought of the present day when answering the question, “where were you on September 11th? Well, for Americans, especially, that date has a bittersweet significance. But when faced with remembering where you were on that day, or any other memorable day like Pearl Harbor, Challenger explosion, or even an earthquake or natural disaster in your area, we all have a memory.
One line in this second poem of lament speaks about Jerusalem when it says, “her law has ceased to exist.” That was a powerful image. What law was actually ruling at the time of Jerusalem’s fall? Certainly, God’s laws were not being followed by many, thus the anger we see he unleashed. We also know that God’s laws did not fall with Jerusalem!
God’s anger has resulted in some pretty ugly scenes as this poem depicts. Sometimes it’s hard to read verses like this and remember these things happened to real people. These were people who had turned their back on God and did their own thing. God’s precious children had deserted him, and that made God angry. A broken-hearted God allowing such horror to happen to his loved ones. The Bible says, “In the day of the Lord’s anger, no one has escaped or survived.”
After reading about God’s anger, we should want to live lives that please him. What does that look like for you? Do you strive to please God in all things and at all times? Many people today struggle with the tendency toward selfishness. Others talk about hurt feelings and never being heard. Most of us need a tweak of truth (or more) in our lives.
When we stay close to God, we have a special peace about life that those who are far from God don’t have. The author of Lamentations, and other reformers after him, believed and have taught such history so we can remember how God moved among us. Those are big events, and God was as present then as he is today. God’s presence is exactly what we need.
Let’s pray. Lord, forgive me when my attention is not fully on you. I know those are times I struggle with weakness and uncertainty. Help me to stay focused on you and invite you into each conversation, decision, and event in my day. I love it when you stir in my heart and move me to action. Help me to pay better attention to be listening for your voice. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
