November 13, 2006 - Lamentations 1-2 and Hebrews 10:1-18
The book of Lamentations is well named, because it expresses mourning over the sad state of Jerusalem and the people of God. The Lord uses Jerusalem to represent His people, and He says that Jerusalem is like a widow. (1:1) The sadness of a widow is that her intimate friend, her husband, is gone. God was Judah's husband, but He had withdrawn from her because of her spiritual adultery in following idols. A widow's grief is sometimes lessened by the presence of her children, but in this case the children are in captivity. (1:5) Therefore, there is only silence for Jerusalem as she grieves. This is a stark picture of the destructive power of sin. It brings separation from God and from other people. That is why God has to punish sin and to call us back to Himself.
Hebrews 10:1-18 stands in contrast to the sadness of Lamentations. We should have great hope and joy in the death of Christ, which once for all dealt with our sins to forgive them. His death gives us remission of sins, but it also sanctifies us. That means we are set apart for the Lord. We have a right relationship. We are married to Him, and He wants us to grow in that love relationship each day. He has done His part to make that happen, and now He is waiting to see if we will respond to Him. We are the bride. If we respond in loving submission to Him, we can live in the security of His presence all through life. What a contrast to the effects of sin. We are not separated but joined to Him. I pray that we will not do anything to break that intimate love relationship. I pray that we will walk with Him each day.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Lamentations 3-5 and Hebrews 10:19-39.
Hebrews 10:1-18 stands in contrast to the sadness of Lamentations. We should have great hope and joy in the death of Christ, which once for all dealt with our sins to forgive them. His death gives us remission of sins, but it also sanctifies us. That means we are set apart for the Lord. We have a right relationship. We are married to Him, and He wants us to grow in that love relationship each day. He has done His part to make that happen, and now He is waiting to see if we will respond to Him. We are the bride. If we respond in loving submission to Him, we can live in the security of His presence all through life. What a contrast to the effects of sin. We are not separated but joined to Him. I pray that we will not do anything to break that intimate love relationship. I pray that we will walk with Him each day.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Lamentations 3-5 and Hebrews 10:19-39.