The resources God has given us to live a thriving life are His Word, Spirit, and People.
Read God’s Word:
Lamentations 1:1 – 3:36
Act 2: God’s Covenant People
Scene 8: Exile: God Disciplines His People
Background Information: Lamentations 1:1 – 3:36
A lament is a passionate expression of grief. We do not grieve like those without hope, but we do grieve deeply. Lamentations is God’s word to us that gives dignity to suffering. God brought the judgment, but he does not delight in our suffering. Lamentations consist of five poems describing the worst possible catastrophe. Five hundred years of history, God’s covenant promises, the Davidic kingdom, the mighty Temple, all seem to have vanished into the smoke of war and exile. Children who had been playing in their neighborhoods were now crying and dying in hunger. There are no words to express the grief, but it must be expressed. We have not been given a five-point answer to suffering. Instead, we have five poems that give emotional expression to unspeakable sadness. Lamentations is not the Bible’s final word on suffering, but it is a part of God’s word on it. A firm faith in God does not deny what we feel, but it does help us to ultimately believe what is real. The suffering was the result of God’s righteous judgment on Judah’s sin, and therefore, hope remains. God’s judgment is because he is holy; his mercy is because he is love. God will make a way to show his mercy even as he has shown his holiness.
‘Because of the Lord’s faithful love we do not perish, for his mercies never end. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness!”
Lamentations 3:22-23
Lamentations is written in the form of human words of lament to God, and it is given to us as God’s word to humans. It is good to process emotions and to voice confusion and grief. Jesus modeled this for us. He lamented on the cross, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” He lamented in the Garden, “I am deeply grieved to the point of death.” Jesus modeled lament, but he modeled lament founded on a firm faith. He surrendered in his suffering to his Father’s will. In the garden, he also prayed, “Not my will but yours be done.” On the cross ,he prayed, “Into your hands I commit my spirit.”Does sorrow grip your soul today? Does lament fill your mouth? God does not stand at a distance, unconcerned. His mercies are new each and every morning. Your suffering may be great; his faithfulness is greater. You don’t have to feel this is true; it’s okay if you don’t, but it is true.
Pray:
Praise God for…
Thank God for…
Confess your sins to God
Pray for God to provide Joey and Lia a good medical doctor in South Asia who could provide prenatal check-ups for Lia during her pregnancy.
Ask God for… (what else concerns you?)
Reflect:
Write down one passage of scripture that stood out to you today.
Write down why this passage stood out to you.
Engage Community:
Text or call someone now and tell them…
– What you are praying for.
– What stood out from God’s word today.