Read the passage HERE.
Following the tragic story within the book of Jeremiah, consisting of the destruction and fall of Jerusalem, as well as the entire nations of Judah and Israel, Jeremiah (who is traditionally considered the author of this book) writes five (5) poems "lamenting" the tragedy that's befallen his beloved people, city, and nation. That's why it's called the book of "Lamentations." These are five poems describing the horrible aftermath of Babylonia's attack on Jerusalem and all the nations around Israel. It's war-torn, shattered, and deserted.
Each chapter is a little different in terms of the poem's content but they all basically point to the "The Deep Anguish That's Felt" by Jeremiah and the few people left within the deserted and war-torn lands of Judah.
Listen to how Jeremiah describes it in 1:4-5 - "The roads to Jerusalem are in mourning for crowds no longer come to celebrate the festivals. The city gates are silent, her priests groan, her young women are crying—how bitter is her fate! Her oppressors have become her masters, and her enemies prosper, for the Lord has punished Jerusalem for her many sins. Her children have been captured and taken away to distant lands.
And again in 1:8 - "Jerusalem has sinned greatly, so she has been tossed away like a filthy rag. All who once honored her now despise her, for they have seen her stripped naked and humiliated. All she can do is groan and hide her face."
Jeremiah is often called "the weeping prophet." His whole adult life was called by God to be a prophet to the nation of Judah and to preach to a people who would hate him. Sadly, his messages (although straight from God) were not only hated and abhorred by the people of who heard them, but he was often attacked, flogged, and imprisoned for lovingly warning them of God's impending doom.
Image for a moment, if you will, being called to be the pastor of a church where they literally hated your preaching, wouldn't pay you, and often threatened you with death. As a pastor, you might think, "Well, I'll just get up and leave and go to another church who values my calling, life, and ministry."
But, Jeremiah was stuck. This was his people and nation. And, besides, God came to him and specifically told him that he was uniquely appointed for that very task. Wow..and what a tough task it was! Stupefied by the people's unwillingness to repent from sin, Jeremiah often wept over the corruptness of his own people, especially their so-called spiritual leaders who were actually worse than the people!
Listen to how painful Jeremiah's words are as he looks over the land, "I have cried until the tears no longer come; my heart is broken. My spirit is poured out in agony as I see the desperate plight of my people. Little children and tiny babies are fainting and dying in the streets. They cry out to their mothers, “We need food and drink!” Their lives ebb away in the streets like the life of a warrior wounded in battle. They gasp for life as they collapse in their mothers’ arms. What can I say about you? Who has ever seen such sorrow? O daughter of Jerusalem, to what can I compare your anguish? O virgin daughter of Zion, how can I comfort you? For your wound is as deep as the sea. Who can heal you?" - 2:11-13
In the last part of chapter 2 and into chapter 3, Jeremiah shares his own personal, emotional struggle with God's judgment on his people. In fact, chapter 3:1-19 contain verses that share the frustration and heart of Jeremiah. Jeremiah laments several things:
1) How emotionally and physically distressed he is over God's wrath against Judah! - 3:1-6
2) How mentally and emotionally broken he is over his calling! - 3:7-15
3) How financially ruined he is over it all - 3:16-18
However, after verse 18, Jeremiah gets ahold of his senses. He remembers that God is a God of mercy and love. He remembers that God, in the end, is the God of hope and that He promises a return to Jerusalem and a future day when a prince (Jesus Christ) will rule over the nations from Jerusalem!
I love what he says in 3:31 - "For the Lord does not abandon anyone forever. Though he brings grief he also show compassion according to the greatness of his unfailing love. For he does not enjoy hurting people or causing them sorrow."
He also asks a great question! In 3:37 - "Can anything happen without the Lord's permission? Is it not the Most High who helps one and harms another? Then why should we, mere humans, complain when we are punished for our sins?"
Jeremiah is right! Usually people try to blame others or circumstances for the problems that arise stemming from a sinful activity or a sinful life. But, it is "us" who are to blame! We do it to ourselves!
In Chapter 4, the poem hits hard on the economic fallout from the Babylonian attack. People who once ate at the king's table are now begging for food. Formerly wealthy people have resorted to eating their own children just to stay alive! Former slaves have become the leaders of many clans. The leaders have all lost their positions and any respect they might have had prior to the attack. Everyone is in the same condition. The playing field has been leveled - everyone is without money, food, shelter, and security. It's every man for himself.
The last chapter (chapter 5) is really a poem of prayer - pleading God for restoration. Within the prayer, Jeremiah reflects on how things have so dramatically changed and how the people are paying a huge price for their sin.
Listen to how Jeremiah describes it in 5:9-14 - "We hunt for food at the risk of our lives, for violence rules the countryside. The famine has blackened our skin as though baked in an oven. Our enemies rape the women in Jerusalem[s] and the young girls in all the towns of Judah. Our princes are being hanged by their thumbs, and our elders are treated with contempt."
In spite of the disaster he wakes up to every day, Jeremiah's still places his hope in God! In the end, Jeremiah cries out to God praising Him for who He is and that He would quickly restore Israel to days of its former glory.
Within the Missouri Capitol building wrapped around the ceiling of the rotunda for all the senators and house members to see everyday are the words of King Solomon, "Righteousness exalts a nations, but sin is a reproach to any people." If only our leaders would look up, read the words, meditate on that fact, and serve our country in righteousness, then will see God move in our country in ways we can only dream of.
No comments:
Post a Comment