The next book in our series, Lamentations is not what you may call a “happy” biblical book. It is in fact a series of mourning poems and although written thousands of years ago, they can still speak to us today in the midst of our heartaches and struggles.
Tradition says Jeremiah wrote Lamentations, and it was written immediately following the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians in 586 BC. We must not miss how devastating this would have been to witness. If you can remember witnessing the worst national tragedy in your life, it would have felt similar and yet also far worse because back during the time of Lamentations, if your city fell, it would have been seen that either your god was angry at you or your god lost to another more powerful god. Israel saw the fall of Jerusalem as a sign of the former reason: God’s displeasure and anger at their sin. This had come after He had sent warning after warning through prophet after prophet warning His people to turn away from wrongdoing and follow Him. God had taken his commitment to be loyal to Israel as seriously as a husband commits to a bride, and yet Israel had not upheld her end of the marriage vows, so He had viewed their loyalty to other idols in terms of committing adultery against Him. Not only was Jerusalem the city destroyed, which was seen as impossible, but all of the parts of society that God’s people had been trusting in were gone. The Temple, the place that symbolized God’s presence among His people was gone. The religious rituals were gone. The king and the military and the wealth, their freedom and independence, all gone. During this time, the people were not doubt asking, “Is God Himself gone too?” The book of Lamentations answers that question at its center, “Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” (Lam. 3:22-23) In the midst of his tears and struggling to comprehend, the author clings to this one secure truth: even though we are unfaithful, God is not. His love tempers his wrath, and his compassion always accompanies his judgments.
The reason this book can still speak to us today is because of its raw relevance. We too have those moments where we realize what we had formerly stood on for security shifts like the ever-moving sand. It is moments like those when we are forced to soberly look in disbelief at those parts of our lives we trusted in that are no longer there. The job we loved is no longer there, the family member we idolized we realize is another human like us, the culture or society does not seem to be embracing the values we esteem, and we too feel like our “Jerusalems” are crumbling underneath us. Yet “the LORD’s great love” is consistently the reason we are not consumed completely, and it is that great love that took on flesh and dwelt among us, Jesus Christ.
The message of Lamentations 3:22-23 is worded a bit differently but carries the same thrust, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son so that whosoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life”. Because of God’s love for us in Jesus Christ, we are not abandoned and given over to the natural consequences of our sins, namely death. However, although our eternal future with Jesus is secure, that does not mean we will not have trouble and struggle in this world. Yet the Gospel does not simply offer us eternal life after death, but a completely transformed life here and now that leads on into eternity. The Holy Spirit indwells us in this new transformed life and is able to give us God’s peace to trust Him even when our worlds turn upside-down. It is God’s very presence through the Holy Spirit that comforts us, stabilizes us, keeps our eyes forward always looking to Christ. This world is cruel and unfair, broken by sin, but God is not either of these, for He is sinless. Our world may fall to pieces but God will give us peace. It is this peace that we display in our lives in the midst of hardship that often attracts unbelievers to the gospel. We communicate through our lives that there is Someone who will never fail us and who will never fail them either, and He is inviting them to trust in Him too, because His love is available to all who would accept it. Remember this familiar hymn lyric: Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father. There is no shadow of turning with Thee. Thou changest not, Thy compassions they fail not. As Thou hast been Thou forever will be.” In a world of constant change, remember God never does, and His love for you never will either.
Your Brother,
Craig