We have reached the halfway point in our journey through the book of Lamentations. The images have been quite graphic to say the least. We have vividly seen the consequences of continued disobedience put on display. By now you have probably begun to discover the central theme of the book through Jeremiah’s words. “The effects of disobedience are great, but the compassion and love of the Lord is far greater.” Despite the tragic nature of the consequences brought on by Judah’s disobedience, the situation is not without hope. The hope is seen in the fact that God stays with His people regardless of how disobedient they become. Despite feeling like he had fallen into a deep dark hole, Jeremiah discovered this truth to be quite evident. When Jeremiah finally reached the point where he was able to look up from his circumstance he saw that God’s mercy and compassion are unfailing. Regardless of how deep the hole we have dug for ourselves, God is still there, and He still loves us. As we examine that last half of the third chapter of Lamentations, we will discover Jeremiah reaffirming the great truths he has learned. Let’s open our minds and hearts to the timeless truths and hope contained within Jeremiah’s words.
I. Gaining some important perspective about Jeremiah’s ministry.
A. Jeremiah persevered in a forty year ministry devoted to warning the nation of Judah that judgment would come unless they turned back to God.
1. One has to wonder how long anyone can endure a seemingly fruitless ministry.
2. Day after day Jeremiah poured out his heart trying to get Judah to turn back to God but his pleas seemingly fell upon deaf ears.
3. Warning after warning went unheeded resulting in the consequence of God allowing the full force of the Babylonian army to descend upon Judah.
4. The piles of rubble left behind serve as a graphic reminder of the devastation continued disobedience can bring about.
B. As Jeremiah looks over the grizzly scene his heart breaks and he expresses his grief and sorrow over Judah’s fate.
1. Though he could not forget the sufferings which he had experienced, Jeremiah still found reason to hope in God.
2. Suffering such as Jeremiah and Judah are experiencing is not eternal. What is eternal is the Lord’s love, His compassions, His faithfulness
3. Contained within these truths Jeremiah found strength and hope that would enable him to endure the suffering and deep sorrow he was experiencing.
II. Three truths to live by when the days are dark.
A. God is infinitely just.
1. God does not get His kicks by inflicting people with suffering and pain.
2. God does not hand out undeserved punishments, when He does punish, you will find love and compassion following close behind.
3. The Lord is aware of suffering and injustice, although some might charge otherwise. Nothing that takes place, good or evil, escapes God’s notice.
4. God’s goal is to give us what’s best for us, whether we want it or not. He loves us too much to do anything less.
B. God is sovereign if He says something will happen you can count on it.
1. God sends both calamities and good things, in consideration of His self-proclaimed character and in reaction to the good and bad deeds of people.
2. God is being true to his divine character when he punishes sin.
3. Jeremiah is honest enough with himself to realize that his present suffering is deserved punishment, not a mistake. Therefore, he should not complain of unjust treatment.
4. God is ultimately in control of whatever goes on in the universe and He has designed both prosperity and adversity to be for our ultimate benefit.
C. God is holy; He is set apart from His creation.
1. God is our sustainer, redeemer and judge. He is holy and we are not. We are deserving of His wrath.
2. God does not force men to choose the path of disobedience with its resultant punishment. No one can then complain when he is punished for his sin.
3. Jeremiah encouraged the people to confess their sin and rebellion, which would make them more accepting of their current punishment.
4. These verses should not be read as bitter accusations against God but as contrite recognition that the people’s sins had brought God’s punishment. God had hidden himself from them like one hiding in a cloud and who refused to hear their prayers.
III. God is merciful but He will not tolerate continued disobedience.
A. The nation of Judah learned the hard way that God does not tolerate disobedience especially when it comes from His children.
1. The people instead of gaining their joy from living in obedience to God they decided to do it their way seeking to gain joy by pursuing the pleasures of the world.
2. The way of blessing is found in self examination, and turning back to the Lord. Unconfessed sin is not pardoned.
3. All their enemies mocked while God’s people experienced fear, danger, and destruction. The devastation of his people caused the prophet to weep without interruption
B. The poet revealed himself as an eyewitness to Jerusalem’s downfall and as a person of deep sensitivity.
1. As we have discovered misery, rejection and loneliness are the results of disobedience and Jeremiah experienced each and every one.
2. Jeremiah was determined to continue this flow of tears until God looked down and took note of his distraught prophet.
3. Although Jeremiah was overwhelmed by the pain and suffering he was not to blame for the destruction that came upon Judah.
IV. Jeremiah sought God seeking the help and comfort that only He could give.
A. The requests that Jeremiah brought before the Lord.
1. From deep within this dark hole Jeremiah pleads with the Lord to come to the assistance of His people.
2. Though Jeremiah prayed in the first person singular, he had assumed the role of an intercessor. The me was really us.
3. The Lord had seen all the wrong done to his people—the vengeful acts and taunting words of Judah’s enemies. Jeremiah called upon God to judge those who had committed wrongs against the Jews, to repay these enemies for the deeds they had done.
4. He asked that these adversaries experience “blindness of heart,” intellectual confusion. He wanted the curse of God to rest upon them. He asked God to destroy them from off the face of the earth. This was not a desire for personal vengeance, but a plea for justice.
B. God’s answer to the prayers of Jeremiah.
1. God had heard Jeremiah’s desperate plea from the midst of that dark hole. He reassures Jeremiah with the words, “Do not be afraid.”
2. God had redeemed the life of his prophet. Therefore, Jeremiah had confidence that God would listen to his present appeal for help.
3. From a historical perspective we have no doubt that God heard and answered Jeremiah’s prayer.
4. The Babylonian empire would progressively deteriorate until Cyrus the Persian would conquer them in 539 BC.
V. Three principles that we need to apply to our own lives from this text.
A. When we find ourselves in a “deep dark hole”, we need to examine our lives and return to God.
1. God will not answer our prayers as long as we persist in disobedience.
2. Once we acknowledge our disobedience and turn back to Him, He will restore us.
3. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9—NIV)
B. When cross paths with others who are in a “deep dark hole” we should seek to comfort them.
1. When we are down we quickly discover that we need to know that someone cares about us.
2. A listening ear and a compassionate embrace can go a long way toward easing the burden of someone’s pain.
3. One thing God desires us to learn from our own pain is how to use what we have learned to help others.
C. Regardless of what we are suffering, a good understanding of God’s character and desire for our lives will help ease the pain and give us hope.
1. Until we understand God’s character and how He deals with us we are unprepared for the storms that will most certainly strike our lives.
2. The better we know God and the deeper our relationship with Him is, the better we are prepared to stand in the face of whatever comes our way.
3. That is the exact reason that we should take every opportunity to get to know God more fully.
One of the most powerful prayers in the midst of suffering I have read was uncovered from the horrors of Ravensbruck concentration camp. Ravensbruck was a concentration camp built in 1939 for women. Over 90,000 women and children perished in Ravensbruck, murdered by the Nazis. Corrie Ten Boom, who wrote The Hiding Place, was imprisoned there too. The prayer, found in the clothing of a dead child, says:
O Lord, remember not only the men and woman of good will, but also those of ill will. But do not remember all of the suffering they have inflicted upon us: Instead remember the fruits we have borne because of this suffering, our fellowship, our loyalty to one another, our humility, our courage, our generosity, the greatness of heart that has grown from this trouble. When our persecutors come to be judged by you, let all of these fruits that we have borne be their forgiveness.
