August 26 - Lamentations 1,2
As I look at the big picture of the book of Lamentations, I see the compassion of God. The Holy Spirit inspired one whole book of mourning over what the people of God had to go through because of their sin. God really does care for us, even when He is having to punish us. I hope you know the compassion of God in a personal way, today.
Then, on a specific note I was taken back by verse nine in chapter one. It tells us that Israel did not consider her destiny. Destiny points to God's purpose for someone or even for a country. It reminds us that God had planned a great future for Israel, but they rejected His purpose for their own. Therefore, her collapse was awesome. She fell farther than most countries, because she was destined to rise so high. This is so true of Christians who fall into sin and God's punishment. It is so tragic, since God had such great plans for them. They left His plans for their own, and it caused them so much pain instead of the happiness they were seeking.
The other image that sticks in my mind this morning is that of Jeremiah, the weeping prophet, crying for the children of Jerusalem, who are caught in the wrath of God because of their parent's sin. (1:16; 2:19) It is so sad to read the description of children dying in the streets for lack of food and water. Why were they dying? Their parents had chosen to sin against God, and their sin had consequences for their children. It is the same way today. I wish all of the parents in the USA could understand this tragic reality. They are either leading their children right and laying a good foundation for them by their own lives, or they are leading them astray, and they are laying a faulty foundation for their lives. We must consider the results of our actions and how they effect others as well as ourselves.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Lamentations 3-5.
Then, on a specific note I was taken back by verse nine in chapter one. It tells us that Israel did not consider her destiny. Destiny points to God's purpose for someone or even for a country. It reminds us that God had planned a great future for Israel, but they rejected His purpose for their own. Therefore, her collapse was awesome. She fell farther than most countries, because she was destined to rise so high. This is so true of Christians who fall into sin and God's punishment. It is so tragic, since God had such great plans for them. They left His plans for their own, and it caused them so much pain instead of the happiness they were seeking.
The other image that sticks in my mind this morning is that of Jeremiah, the weeping prophet, crying for the children of Jerusalem, who are caught in the wrath of God because of their parent's sin. (1:16; 2:19) It is so sad to read the description of children dying in the streets for lack of food and water. Why were they dying? Their parents had chosen to sin against God, and their sin had consequences for their children. It is the same way today. I wish all of the parents in the USA could understand this tragic reality. They are either leading their children right and laying a good foundation for them by their own lives, or they are leading them astray, and they are laying a faulty foundation for their lives. We must consider the results of our actions and how they effect others as well as ourselves.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Lamentations 3-5.