Letters of Lament – Reading #2
(Disclaimer: If you are looking for a typical sermon series this is not it. Worship can take on many forms. This series is a reading through the Book of Lamentations.)
INTRODUCTION: There are times when we all lament – or need to lament. There are times when we have walked down the wrong path – and have found at the end of it – a dead end. At the end of the road we cry out, “What have I done? How could I have been so foolish? How could I have been so stupid? How could I have NOT listened to my Father and followed His advice?” As you reach the dead end – you look back and reflect of what you have done to get you to that lifeless spot. You cry out in your desperation – you cry out in your foolishness – you cry out in your sorrow. The book of Lamentations is a book of crying out. The young bride has turned from the love of her husband and now she cries out – she feels the groom’s anger.
12 "Is it nothing to all you who pass this way? Look and see if there is any pain like my pain Which was severely dealt out to me, Which the LORD inflicted on the day of His fierce anger." Lamentations 1:12 (NASV)
Don’t you care – are you not even concerned that I am in such pain? Can you not see my agony – can you not see the torment that ripples my brow? My husband is angry with me. He has pasted out His wrath and placed it in my lap. Today is the day of anger. Today I have been afflicted by His rage. Oh, how He must love me – to become so angry with what I have done. If He did not care – He would just leave me alone.
13 "From on high He sent fire into my bones, And it prevailed over them. He has spread a net for my feet; He has turned me back; He has made me desolate, Faint all day long." Lamentations 1:13 (NASV)
I hurt so bad – now even my bones ache. He stands back and watches – but He knows what I am going through. How could I have been so stupid? He has put a noose around feet – I can go not further. He has caught my attention. He has turned me toward Him. I am desolate – I am drained of my strength.
14 "The yoke of my transgressions is bound; By His hand they are knit together. They have come upon my neck; He has made my strength fail. The Lord has given me into the hands Of those against whom I am not able to stand." Lamentations 1:14 (NASV)
I have been placed in the stocks. A collar is around my neck. My sins choke me. My hands are bound together. I am empty of strength – I have no energy at all. My husband has given me over to my enemies. How can I stand? How can I survive?
15 "The Lord has rejected all my strong men In my midst; He has called an appointed time against me To crush my young men; The Lord has trodden as in a wine press The virgin daughter of Judah." Lamentations 1:15 (NASV)
My best defenses are gone – those things I thought I could count on are wiped out. They were like soldiers – strong and brave – yet now they are crushed – they are defeated. My husband has stomped them – like one would stomps grapes in a wine press – my strength and resources have been drained out of me.
16 "For these things I weep; My eyes run down with water; Because far from me is a comforter, One who restores my soul. My children are desolate Because the enemy has prevailed." Lamentations 1:16 (NASV)
My eyes have become a fountain. I could wash myself in the water of my tears. I weep in the sorrow of my sin. I weep in the sorrow of my destruction. My husband is far from me – my true Love is not here to give me comfort. He – only He can restore my soul. He leads me to green pastures and still waters – yet I can not find Him. My children – “Joy” and “Gladness” have turned to weeping and sorrow – my enemy has prevailed. My enemy has succeeded. My sin has found me out.
17 "Zion stretches out her hands; There is no one to comfort her; The LORD has commanded concerning Jacob That the ones round about him should be his adversaries; Jerusalem has become an unclean thing among them." Lamentations 1:17 (NASV)
All of me yearns for You. My heart and soul stretches out their hands to hold of You. Yet I can not reach You. I find no comfort at all. My friends have turned their back on me. They spit in my face. They have become my enemies. I am unclean – I am undone – because of the sin in my life.
18 "The LORD is righteous; For I have rebelled against His command; Hear now, all peoples, And behold my pain; My virgins and my young men Have gone into captivity." Lamentations 1:18 (NASV)
My Husband has always been right – He is just – His advise has always been wise – and I have refused to listen to Him. I had gone down dark allies – and dead end roads. Down paths I should not have trod – but I refused to listen to His voice. I have refused to hear His counsel. Behold all of you – how I stand in pain. Let my life be a warning to you. Be careful – watch out – you would think that what you are about to do in innocent – you can justify your own actions – but you will become slaves to your own sin. You will put a collar around your own necks. You will hang on the gallows of your own foolishness. Listen to Him who loves you.
19 "I called to my lovers, but they deceived me; My priests and my elders perished in the city While they sought food to restore their strength themselves." Lamentations 1:19 (NASV)
I called out to my false lovers – but they turned their backs on me. They got what they wanted and now they are gone. They lied to me – they said they would love me forever – but where are they now? Who can find them? Liars! They gave me false hope. Yet in my sorrow – they have left me. They are only looking out for their own needs. They are only looking out for themselves.
20 "See, O LORD, for I am in distress; My spirit is greatly troubled; My heart is overturned within me, For I have been very rebellious. In the street the sword slays; In the house it is like death." Lamentations 1:20 (NASV)
See O True Lover – I am in distress. How my heart longs for You. My spirit and my soul churns like a boiling caldron. There is a tornado roaring through my mind. I am troubled – I am undone! How could I have been so stupid – how could I have foolish – how could I have been so rebellious. No matter where I turn now – all is see is death. Dead ends – dark allies. There is no laughter – there is no joy. The path that I have chosen – has brought me here.
21 "They have heard that I groan; There is no one to comfort me; All my enemies have heard of my calamity; They are glad that You have done it. Oh, that You would bring the day which You have proclaimed, That they may become like me." Lamentations 1:21 (NASV)
I grown so loud that all can hear me. There is no one who can give me comfort. There is no one to wrap their arms around me and hold me. My false friends have all heard of my troubles. They wag their heads – they talk behind my back. They laugh and giggle about what has happened to me. I have become the gossip of the community – because of what I have done. Oh Husband – I long for your returning. I long for Your coming. Then You will restore me – and You will show my enemies the foolishness of their ways. You will reveal to them the true path – and they will realize that they have walked down dark allies and dead end roads – and they will suffer in their souls as I have.
22 "Let all their wickedness come before You; And deal with them as You have dealt with me For all my transgressions; For my groans are many and my heart is faint." Lamentations 1:22 (NASV)
Let my life be a witness to all – dead end roads only lead to destruction. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. All will come before You. Every knee will bow and every tongue will confess – that Jesus Christ is Lord. The wages of sin – is death. Dead end roads only lead to destruction. BUT the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus – our Lord. Pull me out of the pit – rescue me from this dead end road. Set my feet on solid ground. For my groans are many. You, yes You – are the only One who can turn my weeping to laughter. Rescue me – please.
