Lamentations 3:1-26
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In the book of Lamentations Jeremiah laments the destruction of Jerusalem and of the Temple in 586 BC. That was a bad year for Israel. Many are predicting that 2009 will be a bad year in the UK. We may find ourselves wanting to lament in a similar way to Jeremiah, but the prophet’s great hope is in the faithfulness of God.
· Affliction. Lamentations 3:1. Some people are depressive personalities – Jeremiah probably was. See Jeremiah 20:14-18. He felt afflicted. We may have that type of temperament. Also the prophet was afflicted by the terrible circumstances of the destruction of Jerusalem. We may have faced shattering circumstances. Sometimes we have to live in the apparent contradiction of affliction and yet what we also know about the mercies of God. See verses 22 and 23. In times of affliction lean very hard on what you know about God.
· Age. The NIV translates verse 4 as, ‘He has made my skin and flesh grow old.’ There comes a time when even if we were to live the longest life we know that there are fewer years to come than those that have passed. Again see verses 22 and 23. Or maybe you think that you are now too old to be married. Then the important thing is to develop your relationship with Christ. Make sure that the Lord is your portion. Verse 24.
· Unanswered Prayer. Verse 8. The OT often encourages us to ‘wait on the Lord.’ Verse 25. This is equivalent to the NT telling us to persevere. Waiting on the Lord isn’t hanging around but actively living in the promises of God.
· Life’s Disappointments. Verse 9. We may feel life hasn’t turned out the way we’d hoped that our way has been blocked and we’ve gone down a crooked path. Most of us have known great blessings and big disappointments. But where do you choose to live? You can lament your disappointments or with the prophet remember your blessings and declare God’s great faithfulness. Verse 23.
· A Pierced heart. The NIV translates verse 13 as ‘He pierced my heart’ which conveys the sense of emotions and feelings rather better than the reference to kidneys in the ESV! Some of us live with real pain in our lives. Mary, as the mother of Jesus was warned that her heart would be pierced. See Luke 2:34-35. We often stress that Jesus is the Son of God, but after the flesh he had a mother who watched him cruelly put to death. Mary’s heart was pierced more than any of ours. Read verse 22 and rejoice that you know the gospel.
· Financial setback. Verse 17. The NIV speaks of financial loss here. That will be true for many probably in 2009. Again it is so important that in times of financial setback our portion is the Lord. See verse 24.
· Issues that play on the mind. Verse 19-20. Jeremiah remembers ‘the wormwood and the gall’! This is an expression of bitterness. Memories can taste bitter and especially in the night issues can play on our minds and seem very bitter indeed. Yet it is actually the taste of bitterness that provokes these wonderful verses in this chapter that we keep referring to. Read again Verses 19-23. Notice how he calls the mercies and faithfulness of God to mind. To keep our spiritual health we have to fight and deliberately call things to mind.
In 2009 let us remember the Lord’s great faithfulness. Many in the world may be in despair but we can live with real hope.
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