Our Daily Scripture – 10/16/24 (Wednesday)

SCRIPTURE: LAMENTATION

INTRODUCTION:

Lamentation means “funeral songs”.  This book was written by Jeremiah grieving about the destruction of Jerusalem in 586 B.C.  The destruction of Jerusalem and the temple was the judgment of a righteous God.  Jeremiah witnessed this tragic event with a broken heart.  He saw the temple destroyed, the people slain and the prisoners taken off to captivity in Babylon.  Jeremiah’s tears were tears of empathy and sympathy.  His deep emotion was broken by his care for the people, his love for the nation and his devotion to God.  The theme of Lamentation comprises:  the Destruction of Jerusalem, God’s mercy, Consequences of Sins and Hope.

JEREMIAH MOURNS FOR JERUSALEM (vs. 1-122)

DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM:

  1.  Once a great nation full of people, who was queen among the provinces has now become a slave. (v. 41)
  2.  Her friends betrayed her and became her enemies. (vv. 2)
  3.  She has gone into exile with affliction, harsh labor and nor resting place. (v. 3)
  4.  Her gateways are desolate, her priests groan, her maidens grieve, and she is in bitter anguish. (v. 4)
  5.  Her foes have become her master, her enemies are at ease.  Her children have gone into exile, captive before the foe. (v. 5)
  6.  All the splendor has departed.  Her princes are like deer that find no pasture fleeing before the pursuer. (v. 6)
  7.  Her people fell into enemy’s hands with no one to help her.  Her enemies laughed at her destruction. (v. 7)
  8.  No one can comfort her affliction for the enemy has triumphed. (vv. 9)
  9.  The enemy laid hands on all her treasures.  Pagan nations enter her sanctuary. 9v. 10)
  10.  People groan because of hunger.  They barter their treasures for good to keep themselves alive. (v. 11)
  11.  Their sins bonded their hands together into a yoke.  The Lord has sapped her strength. (v. 14)
  12.  The Lord has rejected all her warriors and he has summoned an army against her to crush her young men. (v. 15)
  13.  Her eyes overflows with tears and no one comes to comfort her or restore her spirit. (v. 16)
  14.  Her neighbors had become her foes. (v. 17)
  15.  She is suffering because her young men and maidens have gone into exile. (v. 18)
  16.  Her allies had betrayed her.  Her priests and elders perished in the city. (v. 19)
  17.  She is in great distressed with torment withing and disturbance in her heart. (v. 20)
  18.  No one come to comfort my groaning.  My enemies rejoice at my distress. (v. 21)

THOUGHTS:

Jerusalem was a popular province before.  Now, she had become a lonely widow who was a slave.  All her splendor and glory were gone.  Remembering the memories made her pain greater.  Because she refused to submit to the Lord, she had to wear the yoke of the enemy.  No one came to comfort her.  Former friends who praised her rejected and despised her.  Be careful.  The people who encourage you in your sins will discourage you in your suffering.