Lamentations
Lament means....to feel or express sorrow, remorse,
Lamentations was written by Jeremiah...it catches his heart for the city of Jerusalem and the country of Judah.
He morns and weeps for the people and that's what this book is all about....lament....but more than one...is called lamentations
So, we are going to look at some of these today and do a jet tour through this little book
I think chapter 1 and verse 18 says a lot about how the sorrow Jeremiah felt.
The LORD is righteous; for I have rebelled against his commandment: hear, I pray you, all people, and behold my sorrow:
Even though the county realizes that God is judging them for their sin....they still say God is just in His judgment and righteous in His decisions.
Why..because we need to rely on God's love for us...faith and trust that God allows things in our life to make us spiritually a better person....the seed for the fruit is planted and learning Gods way for our life it begins to grow.
What is the our fruit?
Ga 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Ga 5:23 Meekness, temperance:
I know I keep stressing this from time to time but, God is working on one or all of those when trials come our way.
Lamentations 3:19-20 (KJV)
19 Remembering mine affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall.
20 My soul hath them still in remembrance, and is humbled in me.
Praying that God will give peace and understanding to us when things happen is the most important thing we can do
We may never have the understanding but, only God can give peace to live with it and make us a better person to help others that maybe go through the same thing
But, the pain of Gods people was like eating a bitter plant or getting bit by a poisonous snake but, yet not die.
Because of the LORD‘s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail.
Judah was down, but not out. God was punishing Judah for her sin, but did not reject her as His covenant people.
It seemed hopeless to Gods people and to Jeremiah...remember Jeremiah was the spokes person for God and he still loved Judea...so he was weeping over it...you might remember when Jesus stood upon the hill and looked over Jerusalem and weep because He saw the destruction of it again in the future.
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Lamentations 3:21-26 (KJV)
21 This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.
22 It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.
23 They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
24 The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.
25 The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.
26 It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.
If I were to give a title to these last three chapters of Lamentations, it would be, “When Tomorrows Become Yesterdays.”
Jeremiah is now looking back upon the past. He had predicted the judgment that came upon Jerusalem, and Jeremiah sits in the rubble and ruin of Jerusalem weeping as he writes this sorrow or lamentation.....he is really depressed..
These verses are the only bright spot in all of the five lamentations.
“It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.
They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.”
In spite of the severe judgment of God—
—Jeremiah can see the hand of God’s mercy.
They would have been consumed had it not been for the mercy of God.
If they had received what they deserved ... they would have been destroyed—they would have disappeared from the earth.
Was Judah’s deliverance due to something in them?
No, it was all due to the faithfulness of God.
He had promised Abraham that He would make a nation come from him—and this was the nation.
He had promised Moses that He would put them into the land. He had promised Joshua that He would establish them there.
He promised David that there would come One in his line to reign on the throne forever.
The prophets all said that God would not utterly destroy this people but that He would judge them for their sin.
God is faithful. He has judged them, but He will not utterly destroy them.
A faithful remnant has always remained, and ultimately they will become a great nation again.
********************Recognize the Lord purpose
Lamentations 3:27-33 (KJV)
27 It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth.
28 He sitteth alone and keepeth silence, because he hath borne it upon him.
29 He putteth his mouth in the dust; if so be there may be hope.
30 He giveth his cheek to him that smiteth him: he is filled full with reproach.
31 For the Lord will not cast off for ever:
32 But though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies.
33 For he doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men.
When we have hardships growing up ...we will can face them better when we are older.
While we are here on this earth we are going to have hardships....we are going to go through trials...sickness...loss of love ones....betrayal of love ones...but never betrayed by or Lord.
It builds our character...fertilizes our fruit of the spirit ...it makes us prepared for things God has in store for us.
When we are suffering with a sickness, loss, or injury, we usually focus solely on our own suffering.
In the midst of a trial it is very difficult to focus on what good God might bring about as a result.....but He does
God only knows why we go through some things that doesnt make any since to us but, in the end
Ro 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Ps 119:67 Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word.
Ps 119:68 Thou art good, and doest good; teach me thy statutes.
Ps 119:71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.
Ps 119:72 The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver.
Ps 119:75 I know, O LORD, that thy judgments are right, and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me.
God is faithful in His love for us...faithful in doing the best for us in the long run.
We cant set and beat people up when troubles come their way..
There have been many times I run out of comforting words to say but, we can always be 2 arms and 2 ears to those hurting and a help in understanding it when neither of us understand why.
Lamentations 3:37-39 (KJV)
37 Who is he that saith, and it cometh to pass, when the Lord commandeth it not?
38 Out of the mouth of the most High proceedeth not evil and good?
39 Wherefore doth a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins?
It was designed to force the people to return to the Lord.
God had a just basis for judgment...why should we question..but, we do
Love in Christ Jesus, Ronnie Miller
www.themillersbiblestudy.com
