The Book Of Lamentations – Part 48 – Restoration And Rejection – How Do They Interact? Lamentations 5:20-22 Series

THE BOOK OF LAMENTATIONS – PART 48 – RESTORATION AND REJECTION – HOW DO THEY INTERACT? Lamentations 5:20-22

In this message we end the series in Lamentations and it has been very revealing to see so much material in this neglected bible book. There have been lessons all the way through. How would you sum up this book if asked to do so in just one sentence? Maybe it would be something like this:-

“God’s standard is never abolished, and what He says are the consequences of sin, will surely come to pass, often with devastating results for the sinner, but God is compassionate and faithful, forgiving the repentant sinner.”

Here is verse 20 we covered last time - {{Lamentations 5:20 “Why do You forget us forever? Why do You forsake us so long?”}}. Jeremiah, in a contemplative mood, reasons his position before a God of righteousness and justice. The dire situation for these survivors suggested the possibility that God had either forgotten His earthly people, or had abandoned them. One great verse that can apply here is this one – {{2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance”}}

In the case of Judah, all the great promises of national restoration were to happen but in God’s timing. Isaiah and Jeremiah set these out so plainly, and in Isaiah’s case that was 2 700 years ago but students of biblical prophecy can see foundations starting to come together in world events, just like the stage being prepared for a great concert. We are not at the concert, but observe the stage being set out into place in the preparations.

I will repeat this one thing from last time regarding the prophet’s question in verse 20 - Jeremiah did not doubt God and knew beyond question that all those promised blessings for Israel that he penned under inspiration, would come to pass but he speaks the frustration of the people who were giving, or had given up hope.

[1]. MORE ON VERSE 21

Verses 21 and 22 are linked but I have divided so that we can examine carefully. We began that last time, so it is advantageous to look back at PART 47.

Looking again at the verse we are considering - {{Lamentations 5:21 Restore us to You, O LORD, that we may be restored. RENEW OUR DAYS AS OF OLD,”}}

Restoration is always renewal, but with the past foundation unaltered. We have looked at the path of restoration but the verse ends in renewal AS IT WAS! That is what restoration is. It is being restored to a personal relationship to the “days of old”. For Israel/Judah, they had a time when they walked with the LORD in obedience, upholding all his statutes and maintaining the correct sacrificial system.

Jeremiah’s prayer here is for that restoration and then the renewal will be joyous. Things had degenerated so badly that the “left over” animals were presented for sacrifice. What a disgrace to offer to the LORD what was diseased and sick – {{Malachi 1:7-8 “You are presenting defiled food upon My altar. But you say, ‘How have we defiled You?’ In that you say, ‘The table of the LORD is to be despised.’ “But when you present the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? And when you present the lame and sick, is it not evil? Why not offer it to your governor? Would he be pleased with you or would he receive you kindly?” says the LORD of hosts.}}

Restoration in a Christian’s life is equally a joyous matter. It follows all 4 steps outlined earlier in PART 47. We fall into sin and disgrace because of many reasons but it is necessary to RETURN to the Lord. I want to take this verse from Isaiah but alter its application – {{Isaiah 55:7 “Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts and let him return to the LORD, and HE WILL HAVE COMPASSION ON HIM, AND TO OUR GOD, FOR HE WILL ABUNDANTLY PARDON.”}}

This is what I would say to the Christian caught up in sin – “Forsake your way and your unrighteousness, and return to your Saviour (in repentance) for the Lord will have compassion on you and will abundantly pardon.” God is all about restoration.

When the 70 years of captivity ended some of the captives returned to Jerusalem under Ezra and Jerubabbel and later, Nehemiah. These were restored to God but it was not long before they went their own way again.

There is coming a time when Israel will be restored never again to depart from their LORD Messiah. These will be the great days of restoration for the Nation when the LORD is in their midst. All the Old Testament prophets speak of that time and there is so much in Isaiah and Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Hosea, Joel and Zechariah. All those prophecies are for Israel and NOT the Church. Israel, the earthly people, are always separate from the heavenly people the Church.