John tells us that the spirit of antichrist is coming and has come into the world. Our archenemy, Satan, is the chief antichrist in Scripture; for he deceives the nations with his lies in direct opposition of God and God’s truth of Scripture. We are told to beware of the diabolical seeds sown by the devil, which appear as expressions of light, but are odious lies of treachery and defeat for those who succumb to them. We will learn more about why we must beware.

Most people you come in contact with today would tell you that they know God exists, and if they had any Christian roots, they would tell you that they love God too. However, if you pressed further about what they know of God and how they demonstrate love for God, your conversation might come to a respectful end. In order for us to know and love God we must know, love, and obey Christ as revealed in His Word. This is a proven truth we all must heed.

When a person is clueless about an actual world-wide event affecting people around the world, we might conclude that person is ignorant or living in the dark. One world-wide incident today is a COVID pandemic. This viral pandemic has impacted global commerce, commodities, energy, and employment, and medicine at an inconceivable rate, causing the minds of people to spin into confusion and division, nearly collapsing social structures of nations. John in his first inspired letter gives God’s light of truth, the antidote to dispel the darkness of false teachers, which has caused believers to be confused and divided over their relationship with God in Jesus Christ.

Lamentations has offered multitextured prayers and petitions to the Lord who holds all things in His hand. Here at the end of the book a pattern of destruction which is broken by a final plea to the Lord for restoration. Individually, fallen, sinful people desperately need to be restored to the Lord. Christ has completed that restoration and allows His people to come before the Father with exceeding jo

When does the suffering end? Because of the fall of Adam into sin, we will know sin, suffering, and death until the Lord comes back or calls us home. Even with the knowledge that we will worship the Lord without sin, suffering, and death at some future time, God’s people often are desperate to avoid hurts and to be removed from pain as soon as possible. Often this leads to an unrealistic expectation of the world and to ungodly demands upon God.

What good does it do me to know that God’s compassion never fails, if He does not hear my prayers? At this point, the Lamenter has affirmed God’s great love and mercy but still languishes amidst suffering. Like the Lamenter, we need to look to the Lord who gives all good things. Though we may not understand all of His purposes at this time, we continue to look to Him and trust that He will work all things together for good in our lives.

God is sovereign. Hallelujah! That blessed fact does not make the reality of suffering and failure easy. In fact, in the midst of troubles, life often seems to be flipped upside down. It may even feel as though there is no way forward. Apart from the Lord, there is not. Thanks be to God that He has poured out His wrath upon His Son and poured out His Spirit upon us.

The Lamenter is not done. Lamentations contain another circuit of destruction and woe. God’s people are still left with death and darkness because of their sin. If left to their own devices, there is no hope and no way forward. While Christians have the assurance from God’s Spirit of the efficacy of Christ’s atoning work, perfect peace in this life is not fully realized. Lamentations helps us see the way in which the costly mercy of God is freely given to His people at the cost of His Son.

No Fear: In a Dangerous World. Assuming the Presidency at the depth of the Great Depression, Franklin D. Roosevelt promised hope and in his inaugural address in 1933 declared, “the only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” Do you ever feel afraid? This morning we find an answer to all our fears, in the LORD is our shepherd.

From A to Z, God’s wrath has been poured out upon Jerusalem and the nation is lost. The Lamenter gives voice to the suffering of the sinful people as they seek out the righteous God. While Christians today do not experience the loss of a national identity in the same way as the Israelites, our lives are often full of loss from death, sin, and unmet expectations. Lamentations serves as a powerful help by bringing our redemption to bear in the course of suffering.