Rely on the Lord’s Love
Lamentations 1:1?5:22
In 1966, I traveled to an area outside of Munich, Germany. The name of the place was Dachau. It was a concentration camp used by Germany in World War II. Prisoners were brought here under the guise that work would make them free. Instead, horrors of inconceivable proportions took place here. There are 32 concrete slabs there. These are not monuments of hard work, but are monuments of disgrace.
Now picture the allied troops who would find what was left here as the war ended. I can’t imagine. That same feeling probably is in the heart of Jeremiah as he sees Jerusalem after its destruction. It’s in this spirit that we have the book of Lamentations. Jeremiah wept over the destruction of the city and the temple, but really over the consequences of sin and rebellion against God.
Chuck Swindoll (in his little study guide on Lamentations) sees five voices and messages in this book:
The voice of the city. The message: Sins pleasures are often shared, but its consequences must be endured al
The voice of the Lord. The message: The Lord plays no favorites; all who sin suffer its consequences.
The voice of the prophet. The message: We will never become fully clean with our life until we take full responsibility for how we live our life.
The voice of the possessions the people held to. The message: Sin’s consequences often bring the exact opposite of the very things we once held so dear and enjoyed so much.
The voice of the captives. The message: There is no misery greater than the misery that follows open disobedience.
Swindoll sums it up pretty well. In the middle of all the suffering, we find God being faithful to His people even in their sin. We suffer the consequence, but restoration comes when there is full confession. The father of the prodigal ran to meet him. God is running to us, offering forgiveness and restoration.
When will full confession begin with you? With your church? With South Carolina? With our nation?
Remember, God is looking down that road we left on. He watches constantly to see if we have come to our senses and we are on the road back home.
Remember, He is running to us – not to get us back, but to welcome us back. His mercies are new every morning.
Barker– Lessons by Ron Barker, evangelism and prayer strategist for the evangelization and missions team of the South Carolina Baptist Convention. Barker also taught evangelism at Southwestern Seminary.