Lamentations: Day 4
Jeremiah in this chapter describes the suffering of the people of Judah in agonizing detail. The gold in the temple has been defiled by the Babylonians (see also Jeremiah 52:17-19). The “sons of Zion” are now considered as worthless as clay. The people of Jerusalem have resorted to grisly acts of cannibalism as a result of the terrible famine during the 2-year siege of their city (Jeremiah 52:4-7).
These events are horrific. We continue to see the consequences of Judah’s disobedience. It seems there are two sides to sin. The one side is before we sin, when we are tempted by the allure of what sin pretends to offer. The other side, initially hidden, offers the consequence. As the prodigal son learned, a lifestyle of sin leads to emptiness, loneliness and pain. Sin also ultimately leads to death (Romans 6:23). Lamentations reminds us, in a major way, of this inevitable and ugly side of sin.
Fortunately, we see a glimpse of hope at the end of the chapter. God’s punishment will end (22). Praise God for his love and mercy. He alone is able to take away our punishment and restore us to a healthy relationship with Him. Apart from Jesus we are unable to abstain from sin or avoid its consequences.
Key Verse:
“Your punishment will end, Daughter Zion; he will not prolong your exile.” ~ Lamentations 4:22(a)
Questions to ponder:
- Are you in sin now? How can you escape this lifestyle?
- Are you suffering as a result of bad decisions, maybe ungodly decisions? How can you claim God’s love and mercy to experience restoration?
