Read Lamentations 4:1-22
Some of the verses of this lament were very hard to read. I won’t quote those horrific scenes, but they will haunt me when I think of the punishment God’s people endured for their sinfulness. When we read passages like this, we often want to run immediately to the New Testament and fill up on some grace. Instead, take a moment to reflect on what God is saying to you today.
This lament is written from the viewpoint of the misery affecting the citizens of Zion. We see the fate of several different classes of people mentioned. Escaping this reality was not an option, even for the rich and powerful. These terrible things were punishment and a direct result of the people’s sinfulness.
We’ve all had hard times in our life (not always because of our own sinfulness). Whether we were starving for food or wondering how we were going to pay the bills, adversity will inflict God’s people. You may be going through something right now that is zapping your energy and joy. Rather than wallow in your weakness, praise God in this storm of your life. Don’t let the evil one win!
Psalm 28:7 is one of the memory verses I’m teaching the girls at the orphanage to remind them of a great promise. It fits beautifully here and says: “The LORD is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy.” That’s a promise we can rely on every day, not just when facing a rough patch.
Burst out in songs of thanksgiving when the going gets tough. You’ll be amazed at how quickly your mood shifts and the darkness flees. The problem may still be looming, but your attitude will change, making it easier for you to handle. We always have plenty to be thankful for. Just think of the cross and the empty tomb.
Our punishment for sin looks a lot different than the laments of this book. That’s because Jesus came and sacrificed himself on our behalf. While we can rest in that truth, it is still good for us to lament with the people seeing this destruction firsthand. None of us should want to endure such things on account of our faithless behavior. People who don’t have Jesus’ protection should be shaking in their boots when they read something like this.
The author ends on a positive note revealing hope. “O beautiful Jerusalem, your punishment will end.” The prophet Jeremiah had prophesied that the captivity of God’s people would end in seventy years. (Jeremiah 25:12) The prophet Ezekiel, while in captivity in Babylon, had prophesied about the restoration of the temple we see take place in the Book of Ezra.
We always have hope in the Lord. Nobody can take that away from us. We can rely on the promises of God we find in his word. In a time when you don’t know what sources you can trust, we can lean into our heavenly Father who most certainly is worthy of our trust and adoration.
That’s all God wanted then, and that’s all he wants now. Proverbs 3:5-6 is a favorite of mine. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.” Meditate on this verse, and you’ll uncover God’s promise rather than his punishment.
Let’s pray: Lord, I had a hard time reading this passage today with all the graphic details of the horrors your people, my people, endured. An agony, much like you would have felt having been ignored and rebelled against. Forgive me for the periods in my life when I have strayed or rebelled. I am saddened by those times myself, and my heart repents. Draw me closer to you. I long for the peace only you can give to fill my heart. Thank you for your great sacrifice and what that means for me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
