Lamentations 2:11-13, 18-19; 3:19-23, 40-42, 46-57
The Lamentations were written by someone, probably Jeremiah, who observed the devastation of Jerusalem following the Babylonian invasion in 586 BC. Jerusalem was literally leveled. The temple was destroyed. Anybody who was anybody was carried off into exile. Everybody else was either killed or left amidst poverty and ruins.
Parts of the Lamentations almost could have been written by someone observing the devastation of New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina.
The Hebrew title of the Book of Lamentations is ‘ekah, which means “how.” Most of the books of the Old Testament are titled according to the first word of the book. In the Book of Lamentations, “how”—an exclamation of dismay—is the first word of the first chapter, “How deserted lies the city…” (1:1), and the first word of the second chapter, “How the Lord has covered the Daughter of Zion with the cloud of his anger… (2:1), and the first word of the fourth chapter, “How the gold has lost its luster…” (4:1).
The word “how” was also the first word on many of our tongues as we saw news accounts of New Orleans, but our dismay frequently is expressed in the form of questions: How could God have let this happen? How can we speak to God of what has happened? How can we respond to the need before us?
First how question: How could God have let this happen?
It’s an appropriate question. After all, our God is the maker of heaven and earth. He is sovereign. He is in charge. Nothing happens without his knowledge. Nothing happens without his consent. If he did not make it happen, he allowed it to happen.
It can be tempting in a situation like this either to blame God or to defend God. I will seek to do neither. I don’t have the answer to how God could have let this happen, but there are several possibilities.
1—We live in a fallen creation. Because of that, humans are prone to sin. Because of that, animals face brutal competition for survival. Because of that, the earth itself convulses with natural processes that bring life and bring destruction.
The Bible proclaims that God is the one who opens his hand to satisfy every living thing and witnesses to his power and willingness to intervene in natural processes for his purposes. But God created this world in freedom, and he honors that freedom even in our brokenness. He promises to uphold those who fall and lift up those who are bowed down (Psalm 145:14). He doesn’t promise that there will be no hazards to make us fall or burdens to bow us down.
2—Sin has consequences, even as water flows downhill. Water doesn’t think about going down hill; it doesn’t need to be encouraged; it just does it. It’s the same way with sin. Sin doesn’t think about it; it doesn’t have to be encouraged; it just has consequences.
What human arrogance led us to build a major city below sea level in a hurricane prone region?
What human neglect led us to ignore engineers’ warnings that the earthen levees that protected New Orleans from being reclaimed by the Gulf of Mexico were inadequate and bound to fail eventually?
What human injustice led to the poorest of us living in the most vulnerable areas and being least equipped to flee when the storm came?
Sin has consequences, and frequently those consequences fall hardest on the innocent.
3—Reasons 1 and 2 are sufficient. There need be no further explanation. However, every time there is a major natural disaster, or even man-made disaster, somebody out there proclaims that it is God’s judgment. … Well, this is a possibility.
The Israelites understood that the destruction of Jerusalem in 586 BC came at the hands of powerful earthly enemies. They also understood that their enemies were tools in the hands of the sovereign God of Israel, and the destruction of Jerusalem was a direct consequence of their rebellion against God.
Still, it may be that the devastation of Hurricane Katrina has nothing whatsoever to do with God’s judgment. The brokenness of creation and human sin are more than sufficient explanations, and God is more interested in turning us away from sin and healing our brokenness than punishing us. Lord knows, our sins have a way of punishing us enough all by themselves.
Nevertheless…if, just if, God’s judgment is involved, be assured that you and I stand with our fellow citizens in New Orleans under the same judgment. If he is seeking to humble us, be assured that that it is indeed we who need to be humbled; it is not something we can pass off on others simply because we live a little farther north than the path of the hurricane. God does not send destruction on cities because of the personal sins of a few people, but he has been known to humble nations because of their rebellion as a people.
This possibility provides no ammunition for pointing fingers. Instead, it requires us to look within and come before God with broken and contrite spirits. Of course, the awesome forces of nature are enough to humble us, as is the reality of our own sinfulness.
The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made. (Psalm 145:8-9)
4—Recall this account from the Gospel of John: As Jesus went along, he saw a blind man from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.” (John 9:1-3)
The question “why did this happen?” arises readily in the human heart. If only we knew why, then life would not be so uncertain and we might have reason to hope that what has happened to another will not happen to us.
There’s another question, though—one that does not give us certainty, but can give us hope—not “why did this happen?” but “how is God going to reveal himself in what has happened, how will God be glorified in what has happened?”
Second how question: How can we speak to God of what has happened?
The Book of Lamentations provides a model of faithful response to God in the midst of immense tragedy, destruction, and loss.
Lamentations is a passionate, emotion-filled cry to God about tragedy. It’s worth noting, though, that the Book of Lamentations is also a carefully composed document, put together with intricate thought and thorough preparation. The first, second, fourth and fifth chapters each contain 22 verses, the same as the number of letters in the Hebrew alphabet. The first four laments are alphabetic acrostics—each verse begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. This is thoughtful poetry indeed.
There are three components to the Lamentations that inform us concerning a faithful response to God in the midst of the immense tragedy, destruction, and loss caused by Hurricane Katrina.
1—Lament: an outward, emotive, cry of grief and despair.
In the Book of Lamentations, a heartfelt cry is lifted up to God. There is no attempt to minimize the tragedy of what has happened. There is no attempt to disguise the sorrow and the pain the author feels at seeing the city devastated, the people dying, mothers desperate to feed their babies and despair everywhere. There is no attempt to put on a happy face. There is no attempt to defend God.
“Streams of tears flow from my eyes because my people are destroyed.” (Lamentations 3:48)
2—Contrition: an inward self-examination resulting in humility.
Regardless of why this tragedy happened, a faithful response involves awareness of how small we really are in the scheme of things.
We human beings so quickly become enamored of our own successes. We in the west in particular are so proud of our technology that can shape the world around us according to our desires. When it’s cold, we make heat. When it’s hot, we make cold. When rivers bend, we straighten them. When oceans rise, we build levees. Hurricane Katrina has reminded us that our power is limited. We are not in control.
Hurricane Katrina has also reminded us that we are by nature sinful. How quickly one of our own cities has fallen victim to looting and violence. Those prone to criminal behavior have jumped into the opportunity that chaos has provided. But it doesn’t stop there. Those who would never normally consider taking anything that does not belong to them are resorting to destruction of property and theft. Those who would never normally act violently in anger are shooting at each other and at police. Those who would never normally cause another pain are resorting to pushing aside those who get in their way. Are you and I any different from the people in New Orleans? Different in the details maybe, but are we really any less vulnerable to the devastating effects of fear?
“Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord” (Lamentations 3:40)
3—hope
How many of you knew that the great hymn “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” finds its inspiration in the Book of Lamentations?
In the midst of tragedy, the compassion and mercy of God are most needed. In the midst of tragedy, we are most ready to receive the compassion and mercy of God.
In the midst of tragedy, God indeed reveals his faithfulness.
In the midst of tragedy, God’s people cling to this hope.
“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3:22-23)
The third how question: How can we respond to the need before us?
One way that we can respond to the need before us is to give financially. Presbyterian Disaster Assistance teams are already at work in the region. $500,000 from One Great Hour of Sharing have already been allocated. $10 million more is needed. The session of Calvary has authorized a special offering next week. All of the proceeds of the noisy offering, plus more from the Pastor’s Discretionary Fund, will be sent to Presbyterian Disaster Assistance for Hurricane Katrina relief.
Another way is to pray.
We know that God uses our prayers to make a difference in the world.
Let’s take some time now to intercede for the victims of Hurricane Katrina, to pray for resources for recovery, and to pray for the strength and protection of those who bringing assistance to the region.
