Lamentations 3:19-23
(19) Remember my affliction and my wanderings, the wormwood and the gall!
(20) My soul continually remembers it and is bowed down within me.
(21) But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope:
(22) The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end;
(23) they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
No study of Lamentations would be complete without treating this passage. Verse 23 would make for a great hymn, wouldn't it?
This passage reminds me of where I've been, where I am, and where I'm going. I remember being stuck in the muck and mire of habitual sin. I remember how I had to go when pornography beckoned. I remember how I would eat out of boredom rather than hunger. I remember what it was like to get winded after climbing a flight of stairs. Those were bitter times indeed.
I certainly am not perfect with my eyes, mouth, or legs. However, I am not where I was. I know that even when I do stumble the Lord is there faithfully showing me mercy. Every morning is a fresh chance to live for His glory. This is amazing to me when I consider how badly I mess up sometimes. Yet He is there and He is faithful.
2 Timothy 2:11-13
(11) The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with him, we will also live with him;
(12) if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us;
(13) if we are faithless, he remains faithful-- for he cannot deny himself.
Praise the Lord!
Showing posts with label lamentations. Show all posts
Showing posts with label lamentations. Show all posts
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
God is Love?
Lamentations 2:2
(2) The Lord has swallowed up without mercy all the habitations of Jacob; in his wrath he has broken down the strongholds of the daughter of Judah; he has brought down to the ground in dishonor the kingdom and its rulers.
I continue discussing the nature of God with some folks at an online message board. The leader of that board insists that his view of God is correct. He sees God as love, but not necessarily as personal. He also sees all religions as basically the same. Of course, these things aren't true, though there are elements of truth to his belief. I am trying to give a biblical view of who God is. Hopefully someone will listen there.
This verse really turns the whole "God is love" concept on its ear, doesn't it? Yes, there are two verses that describe God this way in 1 John, but to see Him simply as love at the exclusion of His other traits is a big mistake. Here we see that God is just. In fact, we see that He "has swallowed up without mercy." That doesn't sound like the God we know, right?
We must remember that God is holy. He is also just. His holiness and justice demand satisfaction for sin. That is what Christ accomplished on the cross. He did not show mercy to His Son, but let Him bear the curse of the Father's wrath. What a Savior!
And, lest we think that the Old Testament God is somehow different than the New Testament God (which of course is ridiculous since God doesn't change), there is this verse:
Lamentations 2:19
(19) "Arise, cry out in the night, at the beginning of the night watches! Pour out your heart like water before the presence of the Lord! Lift your hands to him for the lives of your children, who faint for hunger at the head of every street."
This is a call to repent and prayerfully seek God's mercy. That was all that they could do in the face of His judgment. That's all we can do too. The good news for us is that on this side of the cross we are certain that there is grace.
(2) The Lord has swallowed up without mercy all the habitations of Jacob; in his wrath he has broken down the strongholds of the daughter of Judah; he has brought down to the ground in dishonor the kingdom and its rulers.
I continue discussing the nature of God with some folks at an online message board. The leader of that board insists that his view of God is correct. He sees God as love, but not necessarily as personal. He also sees all religions as basically the same. Of course, these things aren't true, though there are elements of truth to his belief. I am trying to give a biblical view of who God is. Hopefully someone will listen there.
This verse really turns the whole "God is love" concept on its ear, doesn't it? Yes, there are two verses that describe God this way in 1 John, but to see Him simply as love at the exclusion of His other traits is a big mistake. Here we see that God is just. In fact, we see that He "has swallowed up without mercy." That doesn't sound like the God we know, right?
We must remember that God is holy. He is also just. His holiness and justice demand satisfaction for sin. That is what Christ accomplished on the cross. He did not show mercy to His Son, but let Him bear the curse of the Father's wrath. What a Savior!
And, lest we think that the Old Testament God is somehow different than the New Testament God (which of course is ridiculous since God doesn't change), there is this verse:
Lamentations 2:19
(19) "Arise, cry out in the night, at the beginning of the night watches! Pour out your heart like water before the presence of the Lord! Lift your hands to him for the lives of your children, who faint for hunger at the head of every street."
This is a call to repent and prayerfully seek God's mercy. That was all that they could do in the face of His judgment. That's all we can do too. The good news for us is that on this side of the cross we are certain that there is grace.
Monday, August 17, 2009
Prayer for Repentance
Lamentations 1:18
(18) "The LORD is in the right, for I have rebelled against his word; but hear, all you peoples, and see my suffering; my young women and my young men have gone into captivity.
Metaphorically speaking, Jerusalem realized her folly. She understood that she had rebelled against the Lord and His Word. She did not plead for an end to suffering, but asked that her suffering be used as an example to others. She wanted to use it to glorify God. In other words, she got it right after she had got it wrong for so long.
I think this is a much-needed reminder in Evangelicalism today. We need to remember that repentance is not just punching our tickets to heaven. It is a matter of realizing the folly of our sin against the Word of God. It is a matter of not just being sorry, but actually turning away from it.
I rejoice for the fact that I will have a chance to share my testimony at the fall convocation this semester at school. The reason is because I am quite certain that there will be men in attendance who struggle with sexual sin. Also, I won't have to look too far to find men who struggle with gluttony. My prayer is that my example can help others to turn from their sin and to the Lord. All I can do is put it out there. It is up to the Lord to make the seeds grow.
(18) "The LORD is in the right, for I have rebelled against his word; but hear, all you peoples, and see my suffering; my young women and my young men have gone into captivity.
Metaphorically speaking, Jerusalem realized her folly. She understood that she had rebelled against the Lord and His Word. She did not plead for an end to suffering, but asked that her suffering be used as an example to others. She wanted to use it to glorify God. In other words, she got it right after she had got it wrong for so long.
I think this is a much-needed reminder in Evangelicalism today. We need to remember that repentance is not just punching our tickets to heaven. It is a matter of realizing the folly of our sin against the Word of God. It is a matter of not just being sorry, but actually turning away from it.
I rejoice for the fact that I will have a chance to share my testimony at the fall convocation this semester at school. The reason is because I am quite certain that there will be men in attendance who struggle with sexual sin. Also, I won't have to look too far to find men who struggle with gluttony. My prayer is that my example can help others to turn from their sin and to the Lord. All I can do is put it out there. It is up to the Lord to make the seeds grow.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Choose Your Friends Well
Lamentations 1:2
(2) She weeps bitterly in the night, with tears on her cheeks; among all her lovers she has none to comfort her; all her friends have dealt treacherously with her; they have become her enemies.
I've finished Jeremiah and now it's time for Lamentations. It seems silly to finish Jeremiah and not read this one too. I find it fascinating from a literary perspective because of all the acrostics in it. It almost seems like God was showing off when He inspired this book.
This verse picks up where Jeremiah left off. Jerusalem was devastated. She had a lot of allies through her whoredom, but they have all abandoned her. She is left alone and broken.
While I am not a fan of "Jesus is my BFF" theology, I would commend Him to you here. People will fail us. Even folks who appear to be solid will fail us. Jerusalem made poor choices with her allies and paid the price. But even if we make good choices we are going to be disappointed from time to time.
Don't rely on people to see you through life. Rely on Jesus. I really think that He is who Solomon had in mind when he wrote:
Proverbs 18:24
(24) A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
(2) She weeps bitterly in the night, with tears on her cheeks; among all her lovers she has none to comfort her; all her friends have dealt treacherously with her; they have become her enemies.
I've finished Jeremiah and now it's time for Lamentations. It seems silly to finish Jeremiah and not read this one too. I find it fascinating from a literary perspective because of all the acrostics in it. It almost seems like God was showing off when He inspired this book.
This verse picks up where Jeremiah left off. Jerusalem was devastated. She had a lot of allies through her whoredom, but they have all abandoned her. She is left alone and broken.
While I am not a fan of "Jesus is my BFF" theology, I would commend Him to you here. People will fail us. Even folks who appear to be solid will fail us. Jerusalem made poor choices with her allies and paid the price. But even if we make good choices we are going to be disappointed from time to time.
Don't rely on people to see you through life. Rely on Jesus. I really think that He is who Solomon had in mind when he wrote:
Proverbs 18:24
(24) A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
Friday, April 24, 2009
The Source of Destruction
Lamentations 2:17
(17) The LORD has done what he purposed; he has carried out his word, which he commanded long ago; he has thrown down without pity; he has made the enemy rejoice over you and exalted the might of your foes.
One thing that the book of Lamentations teaches me is that I need to take God's promises very seriously. There is no way that the kings and people of Judah would have behaved as they did if they really believed God. It would be insane to rail against God if you really believe that He is who His Word claims that He is. Yet that is just what they did with their idolatry. Consequently, Jerusalem was sacked.
It is tempting to draw parallels from the situation in Jerusalem to the United States and 9/11. I don't think that is appropriate. However, I do think that the lesson to be learned here is that we need to take God seriously. He doesn't make idle threats nor does He bluff. How then shall we live?
(17) The LORD has done what he purposed; he has carried out his word, which he commanded long ago; he has thrown down without pity; he has made the enemy rejoice over you and exalted the might of your foes.
One thing that the book of Lamentations teaches me is that I need to take God's promises very seriously. There is no way that the kings and people of Judah would have behaved as they did if they really believed God. It would be insane to rail against God if you really believe that He is who His Word claims that He is. Yet that is just what they did with their idolatry. Consequently, Jerusalem was sacked.
It is tempting to draw parallels from the situation in Jerusalem to the United States and 9/11. I don't think that is appropriate. However, I do think that the lesson to be learned here is that we need to take God seriously. He doesn't make idle threats nor does He bluff. How then shall we live?
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