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August 25th

The bible reading today is in Lamentations 1-3.

These poems, these songs of sorrow, are attributed to Jeremiah by most. Written during Jerusalem’s fall to the armies of Babylon.

We read descriptive words like pain, darkness, broken bones, desolations, arrows...words used in the psalms and in Job’s testimony describing sorrow, suffering, and the horrors of dying and death in warfare. Israelis in Babylonian captivity would listen to the singers and resonate with the pictures of suffering painted in the song.

Let us listen...“I am the man who has seen affliction under the rod of God’s wrath; and I say, “My endurance has perished...my glory is gone...so has my hope from the Lord.””

‭‭Lamentations‬ ‭3:1, 18‬ ‭

The Judeans had never seen their great walls penetrated. “These are the “walls of God”, they would say, ”we are safe.”

And as soon as they trusted in the thickness of the walls, which they gloried in, instead of God for their salvation from Babylon’s armies, God showed them that their trust was misplaced. And the writer says, “I am the man who has seen and felt affliction. “ Later verses will help us understand that God was at work.

God had a gracious and merciful purpose in the war, to bring His wayward people back to Himself. And further verses prove that to be true.

Some theologians believe that the song in chapter 3 could belong to a portion of the Judean congregation that were under the affliction and conviction of sin. I can see that.

“I am the man...that is afflicted by sin...”...” the only man” that is feeling the weight of my sin upon my soul.

John Bunyon describes Christian as being very much comforted upon hearing someone quoting scripture while he walked through the Valley of the Shadow of Death. For then Christian realized that there were others in the same place of trouble and struggle as he was...”I'm not the only one.”

“he has driven and brought me into darkness without any light;”

‭‭Lamentations‬ ‭3:2‬ ‭ESV‬‬

God has put this sinner in a place of thick darkness, where there is no light. The conviction of sin pressing upon him was bad enough. But now the darkness proves that there is no help here except God and Him alone. Religion doesn't comfort. O but for a little light...so it wouldn't be so scary.

“He has walled me about so that I cannot escape; he has made my chains heavy;”

‭‭Lamentations‬ ‭3:7‬ ‭ESV‬‬

I have felt this often, friends. Pressed down with guilt. Looking for any ray of light to console me in the dark night of my soul. Walled about, no escaping the conviction of my sin, and a heaviness of heart that I cant seem to lift or get out from under.

O Lord is there any help for a man afflicted by sin? “But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."

“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “ “therefore I will hope in him.”

‭‭Lamentations‬ ‭3:21-24‬ ‭

And where is that hope of forgiveness, a second chance to know His joy and light and hope...?

Jesus, the same one who died on the cross to pay my sin debt, 2000 years ago, ever lives to make intercession for me, including bringing a heavy conviction upon me so I won't stay comfortable in my careless sinning. Praise His Name!

Have a great day