Kingdom Divided Lesson 27 – Lamentations

 

Lamentations is believed to be written by Jeremiah.  He was grieving about the destruction of Jerusalem.  He is often called ‘the weeping prophet’.  He lived through the desolation.  He realized that the total destruction happened to Jerusalem and the temple because of the judgment of a righteous God.  He understood that the Babylonians were God’s tool for bringing judgment on Jerusalem.  Knowing that God is merciful he appealed for mercy in prayer. 

Each chapter of Lamentations highlights different pronouns.

Chapter 1 – She and her (the ruined city of Jerusalem as a widow who lost everything)

Chapter 2 – He (the justified judgment brought by God)

Chapter 3 – I, me, and my (Jeremiah’s personal grief and hope)

Chapter 4 – They and their (the people’s loss under the Babylonian siege)

Chapter 5 – We and us (the prayer on behalf of the people)

There are expressions of lament throughout the Bible.  Examples are in Job 3:3-26; Psalm 10; Matthew 23:37-39.  The word lamentation means ‘funeral song’.  It’s an expression of grief or sorrow or weeping.  As we live this life on earth we feel loss, pain, and death.  God doesn’t guarantee a smooth path in this life.  He doesn’t exempt us from this world’s grief, but He does provide the strength to persevere through our hurtful moments.

In Lamentations 3:31-39 we learn that God doesn’t leave sinners forever.  They bring Him grief, but He will show compassion and unfailing love when they repent.  All calamities and all good things come from the Most High. 

Jeremiah pleaded with the people and he pleads to us and with God in Lamentations 3:40-66.  He said to examine your ways and test them.  Admit that you have sinned and rebelled.  Turn away from sin and turn back to the Lord.

God knows and understands your pain and He hears your hurting cries.  He has purposes beyond your pain.  You don’t tell Him anything He doesn’t already know, so why should you pray?  Talking to Him about your problems brings you closer to Him.  He wants to hear from you and to connect with your spirit and your soul.  He treasures you and knows beyond what you’re praying for.  He knows your soul really wants is Him.  Praying reminds us of our weaknesses, needs and sin as we ask Him for help.  Prayer brings us into fellowship with Him.  The Bible says to persist in prayer and to pray about everything (Phil. 4:6).  “Pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” - 1 Thess. 5:17.

Even in terrible judgment, God is a God of hope (Lamentations 3:24-25).  No matter how far we’ve gone from Him, we have the hope that we can return to Him and find Him compassionate and forgiving (1 John 1:9).  He is a loving and faithful God (Lamentations 3:23).  God is the God of many chances – He is also the God of the last chance!

Jeremiah 4:1-10 tells how the people were traumatized by the city’s destruction.  The people were once as valuable as fine gold.  But now the best and brightest were taken and only the poorest and least able were left behind.  They were regarded as cheap clay pots.  Those who ate delicacies were now desolate in the streets.  Their princes were brighter than snow and like sapphires in their appearance.  Now their appearance was blacker than soot.  Their agony was worse than what fell upon Sodom.  Their hunger was so bad that the compassionate women cooked their own children.

Lamentations 4 can be summarized by saying that things are not good in Jerusalem.  The temple was in total ruins, tragedy had degraded the people, people were dying of thirst and no food, and those who died were better off.

Phrases from Lamentations 4:11-22 of God ‘s response to the sins of the people:  “The Lord has given full vent to his wrath; He has poured out his fierce anger.  He kindled a fire in Zion that consumed her foundations…. The Lord himself has scattered them; he no longer watches over them.  The priests are shown no honor, the elders no favor…. The Lord’s anointed, our very life breath, was caught in their traps…. he will punish your sin and expose your wickedness.”

When we consider God’s judgment, we may be troubled especially if we are not a follower of Jesus.  You should be very troubled if you are not saved, because you will experience the full hand of His judgment.  Knowing this as Christians should help us because it keeps us accountable and can prevent us from sinning.  Remember, God is always just and fair.

Lamentations 5 is a prayer for God’s mercy.  Jeremiah remembered the people’s suffering and their weariness.  He believed that the relationship between God and Judah still existed.   He looked forward to the future possibility for forgiveness, not the past.  In Jeremiah 5:19-21 he recognized God’s sovereignty and asked that God restore them to Himself.

He ends the book without positive hope for the future.  He feared that God had utterly rejected them and His anger would remain forever.  But we know from other Scriptures that God had not and did not utterly reject His people and His anger did not last forever.

There are many lessons in Lamentations:

It helps us learn to cry out to God when we are hurting.  When we do that, we find a sense of peace in a world full of suffering.

It also reminds us that it is impossible for God’s people to sink so far into sin that they should lose hope in His mercy and forgiveness. 

It gives us comfort when experiencing extreme times of sorrow and grief and suffering as we reflect on the character of God. 

It helps us understand the working of God’s heavy hand of discipline because of sin.

It helps us appreciate His abundant lovingkindness, compassion and faithfulness – no matter how bleak our circumstances might look.

It helps us confront how seriously God takes sin and the consequences of His anger.

It reminds us of God’s Sovereignty over all nations and His future promises.

Principles:   

Actions have consequences and sin needs correction.

Even in terrible judgment, God is a God of hope.

Key verses in Lamentations:

Lamentations 3:22-23 – “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.”

Lamentations 3:24 – “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.”

Lamentations  3:25 – “The Lord is good to those whose hope is in Him, to the one who seeks him.’

Lamentations 5:19-20 – “You, O Lord, reign forever; your throne endures from generation to generation.  Why do you always forget us?  Why do you forsake us so long?  Restore us to yourself, O Lord, that we may return; renew our days as of old unless you have utterly rejected us and are angry with us beyond measure.”

This week’s attribute of God is He is Accessible.  He was accessible from the beginning with Adam and Eve.  He made covenants with the patriarchs and promised a relationship with them.  He made Himself near to people in the tabernacle and then through Jesus.  Now He is available to us through the Holy Spirit and through prayer.

Next time we will continue our study of Kingdom Divided in the book of Habakkuk.  Hope to see you here. – I encourage you to trust in Jesus.

__________________________________________

 

If you have enjoyed my post and have found if helpful, please leave a comment or share this post with the buttons below.

Kingdom Divided Lesson 26 – Jeremiah 2-33; 46-52

 

Note:  For clarity the Kings of Israel are coded in Orange and Kings of Judah are coded in Blue.

Jeremiah 2 - 29 – Judah’s Sins Exposed

Jeremiah repeated the warnings and sins the people of Judah had committed.  He named specific sins against God.

Jer. 2:23-25; 3:13 – They loved foreign gods.

Jer. 5:13, 30-31; 23:10-11 – God’s Word in not in the false prophets, they prophesy lies, priests rule by their own authority, land is full of adulterers, the prophets follow evil and use their power unjustly.

Jer. 5:26-28; 7:5-11 – People are wicked men, full of deceit, their evil deeds have no limit, they don’t defend the rights of the poor, they trust in deceptive worthless words, they steal and murder, commit adultery and perjury, burn incense to Baal and follow other gods, God’s house had become a den of robbers.

Why should you acknowledge and repent from specific sins?  If we are saved, God has already forgiven our sins.  So you don’t have to ask to be saved again.  You are forgiven and sealed by the blood of Christ.  But as we live in this sinful world, we experience lustful thoughts, greed, envy, anger and these things have a power that disrupt our capacity to enjoy what we know is eternally true.  Repentance keeps us humble, drives the devil away from us, frees us from the torment of sin, and leads us to fullness of life with Jesus.  It reawakens our sense of peace with and to what Christ has done for us. Eternity doesn’t start when we get to heaven.  It starts right now with having fullness of life with God and repentance allows us to have that.

Jeremiah’s attitude toward his countrymen’s sins was painful for him.  He said there was agony in his heart and he could not keep silent.  He was crushed and mourned for the people.  He asked, “Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there?” – Jer. 8:22.  Gilead was the land near the Jordan river which was known for its healing balsams.  He saw the hurt of his people and saw there was no medicine or physician to help them.  He had no peace.  He wept day and night for them.  He wanted to just run away to get away from all the evil.  (Jer. 4:19-21; 8:21-9:2)

At times I think we all feel the way Jeremiah felt.  There is so much sin and evil in our world that we don’t think we can stand it anymore.  We are saddened by the killing of the unborn, the school shootings, and the blatant sins all around us.  It’s considered normal behavior by the world’s standards.  People sin openly and are unashamed.  People are selfish, self-righteous, and prideful.  We mourn for our world just like Jeremiah did.

What are some right and wrong ways Christians can communicate the truth about sin?  People sometimes try to minimize sin.  They say ‘it’s no big deal’ and dismiss the ‘little’ sins.  But these ‘little’ sins can lead to larger sins.  In God’s eyes all sin is the same.  They also try to legitimize sin.  It’s tempting to do something bad because you believe that something good will come of it.  Doing wrong for the right reason is still sin.  They often rationalize sin by giving reasons or excuses.  They shift the blame onto someone else.  They even confess sin, but only partially.

We learn some truths about God in Jeremiah 18:1-11.  God is in control; He has the power; He has a plan; He is patient.  Our lives are in His hands.  He is the Creator and can do what He wishes with the people just like a potter with his vessel.  He can mold us with the intent to cause us to desire Him.  He will judge evil, but if there is repentance He will relent.  He wants everyone to turn from their evil ways and reform their ways and actions.

Principle:  Believers still need to acknowledge daily sin to awaken our sense of peace with and to what God has done for us.

Jeremiah 4-29; 46-51 – Specifics of the Coming Judgment

In Jeremiah 4:6; 13:18-20; 20:4-6; 25:8-14 Jeremiah gave facts about the coming judgment on Judah.  God will bring terrible destruction and disaster from the north.  He foretold of the people being taken captive.  They will be carried into exile.  God will hand over to their enemies all the wealth of the city – all its products, all its valuables and all the treasures of the kings of Judah.

Jeremiah 6:1-7; 11:22; 12:12-13 describe the suffering that would accompany God’s judgment.  The people will flee for their lives.  Their young men will die by the sword.  Their sons and daughters by famine.  No one will be safe.  They will sow wheat but reap thorns.

Jeremiah 46-51 tells the surrounding nations would also face Babylonian attack.  God’s judgment would fall on all people and nations not just Judah.  His judgment would also fall on the Philistines, Moab, Ammon, Edom, Damascus, Kedar and Hazor, and Elam.  God used Babylon to carry out His judgment, but they would also face His judgment.  The people of Judah were given some comfort knowing that God would also destroy Babylon (Jer. 51:34-35).

Jeremiah proclaimed hope and restoration for God’s people.  “‘For I know the plans I have for you’, declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future’”. – Jer. 29:11.  “The days are coming when I will bring my people Israel and Judah back from captivity and restore them to the land I gave their forefathers to possess.” – Jer. 30:3.  He told them to not fear because He will save them out of exile and they will have peace and security again and no one will make them afraid. (Jer. 30 – 33)  Only God can make new what sin has broken.

Israel broke her covenant with God, but in God’s mercy and grace He promised a new covenant.  The first covenant contained commands and prohibitions.  God said the time is coming when He will make a new covenant with them.  If they obeyed and remained true, He will be their God and they will be His people.  They will be forgiven of their wickedness and He will remember their sins no more. (Jer. 31:31-37)

Christians today experience the reality of God’s new covenant promise.  2 Cor. 3:3-6; Heb 7:18-22; 8:8-13; 10:15-17 – His new covenant is written of the Spirit and on our hearts.  Jesus is our new covenant.  His laws are written in our hearts and written on our minds.  Jesus sealed the new covenant with His blood on the cross, bringing salvation to all who put their faith in Him.

God encouraged the people by instructing Jeremiah to purchase a field in Jeremiah 32.  He did as God commanded.  He trusted God for the future in the midst of difficult times.  This was a sign of hope and future restoration.  The people would go into exile, but God would someday bring the nation back to their land.  God had not abandoned Judah, but instead promised to remain among them and provide them salvation and eventually free them.  They will be redeemed and will eventually return home.

Do you always do what God’s wants you to do?

What is keeping you from following God’s instructions?

How are you looking to God for the future?

Principle:  Only God can make new what sin has broken.

Jeremiah 52 – Fall of Jerusalem

The Babylonians attacked Jerusalem.  The invading army ravaged and burned the city.  They set fire to the temple and stole the temple treasures.  They set fire to the royal palace and all the houses of Jerusalem.  They broke down all the walls around Jerusalem.  They carried the people into exile, but left behind the poorest people to work the vineyards and fields.  Jerusalem’s fall was brutal and bloody. 

King Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon and was taken prisoner.  His sons were slaughtered in front of him.  He was blinded, bound with bronze shackles, and put in prison in Babylon until his death.

Jeremiah’s prediction came to pass which proves God is the one true God and He is in control.  It proves He knows the future.  What He says will happen, will happen.

Jeremiah 52 ends with Jehoiachin, king of Judah being released after 37 years in prison.  He was released by the king Evil-Merodach, Nebuchadnezzar’s son who had become king after his father died.  We aren’t sure why he was released.  But what a picture of grace.  He was given a seat at the kings table.  He was given new clothes and was not identified as a prisoner but a prince.  God moved the heart of the king of Babylon to show grace to Jehoiachin.  He lived in the palace and didn’t go back to prison.  As a Christian you were saved by His marvelous grace.  God wants you to live in the palace with His people and eat at His table.  He has freed you from the prison of sin.

Jeremiah’s final words regarding King Jehoiachin was not an incidental detail but rather a hopeful sign that David’s throne had not been forgotten.  It showed God’s grace and a foreshadow of God’s blessing and restoration of His people to come. 

Jeremiah’s clearest message was calling the people to turn away from their wicked ways and their dependence on idols and false gods and return to their loyalty to God.  His message is for us today.  If we don’t repent, God will judge our wicked ways and our worship of idols and false gods.  He warns us to return our loyalty to God before it’s too late.  The judgment that is coming for us will be much greater than that of Judah.

Is your name written in glory?

Are you sure you are saved?

If not, what is keeping you from surrendering to God?

Jeremiah witnessed the destruction of Jerusalem.  Our next study will be on Lamentations.  It focuses on Jeremiah’s personal expressions of deep anguish and lament over what he experienced. 

Principle:  God saves by His marvelous grace by freeing believers from the prison of sin.

This week’s attribute of God is His Everlasting Love.  God’s loves you with an everlasting, all-powerful love.  His love is unconditional, unlimited, and extends to all people.  It’s a love that goes far beyond what is considered humanly possible.  His love is incomprehensible, immeasurable, unconditional, and unchanging.  He demonstrated His love by sacrificing His Son in order for our sins to be forgiven.

Next time we will continue our study of Kingdom Divided in the book of Lamentations.  Hope to see you here. – I encourage you to trust in Jesus.

__________________________________________

 

If you have enjoyed my post and have found if helpful, please leave a comment or share this post with the buttons below.

Kingdom Divided Lesson 25 - Jeremiah 1

 

Note:  For clarity the Kings of Israel are coded in Orange and Kings of Judah are coded in Blue.

Jeremiah is one of the well-known prophets in the Bible.  He was the son of Hilkiah, one of the priests in the territory of Benjamin.  He spent the first twenty years of his ministry under Judah’s last good king, Josiah.  The rest of his ministry was under Josiah’s sons, Jehoiakim and Zedekiah who opposed Jeremiah. 

The Lord called Jeremiah to be His prophet even before he was born.  “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” – Jer. 1:5. 

This verse applies to all humans.  The second part applies specifically to the prophet Jeremiah.  God reveals that when He creates a person, He has a plan for them right from the womb.  He is sovereign over our makeup and wiring, our personality, our gifts, our talents, and all our physical attributes.  He plans us according to His purposes and for us to glorify Himself by our lives.

Jeremiah was like Moses and didn’t believe he had the experience or the character.  He believed he was too young to be a prophet.  Jeremiah said, “I do not know how to speak; I am only a child” – Jer. 1:6.  The Lord denied Jeremiah was too young.  He told him to not be afraid and He would give him His authority to be His prophet.  The Lord would protect him.  “Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you.” – Jer. 1:8  The Lord touched his mouth and gave him the words to speak. 

Jeremiah’s protest was true.  He was just a youth, but God didn’t want to hear it.  God calls the right people whether they are young or old.  David was a youth who served his father in the shepherd’s field, killed a lion and bear, killed Goliath, and served King Saul.  God filled John the Baptist with the Holy Spirit in the womb (Luke 1:15).  Timothy was a young man when he worked with Paul (1 Tim. 4:12).

We can be like Jeremiah in thinking we don’t know how to speak to others about Jesus.  We think we’re too young in our faith or we’re afraid we may not know what to say.  I am not a Jeremiah.  Neither are you.  But God has put you in this time, at this place, with your past, for a purpose and for a reason.  Our excuses do not move God.  God is bigger than Jeremiah and He’s bigger than you and me.  He can use your life.  So let Him.

In Jeremiah 1:10-19 God described Jeremiah’s mission that he was to give to Judah and the nations.  He used two visions.  First, Jeremiah saw an almond tree.  It has the first flowers awaking the start of spring.  Jeremiah’s message would awaken the fulfillment of God’s promised judgment.  Second, he saw a boiling pot tilting toward him from the north symbolizing the coming invasion from Babylon.

Jeremiah shared God’s message with the people of Judah.  We see this in many chapters as he described the seriousness of Judah’s coming judgment. 

Jer. 2:5-6; 3:19-20 – They strayed far from God; they followed worthless idols and became worthless themselves; they didn’t ask where is the Lord who brought them out of Egypt; they turned away and didn’t call Him, father; they had been unfaithful.

Jer. 4:6; 6:1 – God will bring disaster from the north, even terrible destruction; disaster looms out of the north and they should flee.

Jer. 10:17-18 – They should gather their belongings and leave because God will bring distress so they will be captured.

Jer. 25:8-14 – Because they have not listened to the Lord’s words, the people of the north and King Nebuchadnezzar and destroy them, banish their joy and gladness and they will serve the king of Babylon for seventy years.

Jeremiah was very saddened by this.  He felt agony in his heart.  He cried day and night.  He was deeply burdened for the people, but he knew the Lord must punish the people.  He prayed for the people and appealed for mercy.  He knew they must be corrected.  (Jer. 4:19-21; 9:1; 10:23-25; 15:16-18)

How are you burdened by those who are lost?

What are you doing about it?

These verses show Jeremiah’s personal experiences as a faithful servant of God:

Jeremiah 16:1-4 – He was commanded not marry or have children.

Jeremiah 20:1-2 – Because of his prophesying, he was beaten.

Jeremiah 26:7-11 – The priests and all the people wanted to kill him.

Jeremiah 37:1-2, 16 – He was put in a vaulted cell in a dungeon.

Jeremiah  38:6 – He was put into a cistern that had no water and he sank into the mud.

We can reconcile Jeremiah’s personal suffering with his faithfulness and God’s provision.  He knew that since God called him, God would always protect and provide for him.  He refused to stop speaking God’s true message.

In Jeremiah 38:7-13 we learn when Jeremiah was in the cistern, Ebed-Melech the Cushite along with some other men took pity him and pulled him out.  This is encouraging that a stranger had more compassion than anyone else to save him.  This reminds us of the Parable of the Good Samaritan we read about in Luke 10:25-37.   Also we see God’s faithfulness as He continued to provide for Jeremiah.

In Jeremiah 18:7-8; 21:8-9 he called the wayward people to repent as he warned of pending judgment.  These verses display God’s heart.  He said if they repent, God will change His mind.  God is setting before the people a way of life and a way of death.  They must choose.

Jeremiah 29:1-23 – Jeremiah wrote a letter to the exiles in Judah.  They were to build houses, plant gardens, marry and have children, increase in number, and seek peace and prosperity.  They were to pray to the Lord.  They were to not be deceived by those prophesying in the Lord’s name.  Then when the 70 years is completed, they will be brought out of exile.  “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” – Jer. 29:22

With all the idols, lies, and evil in the world today, people need true hope.  Hope reduces feelings of helplessness and stress – and we know there is a lot of stress in the world today.  When we have hope, we have peace, confidence, and happiness. True hope is anchored in God, His Word and His promises.  “Do any of the worthless idols of the nations bring rain?  Do the skies themselves send down showers?”  No, it is you, O Lord our God.  Therefore our hope is in you, for you are the one who does all this.” – Jer. 14:22 

Principles: 

God knows everything about you.

You are never too young to be used by God.

God promises to protect and deliver us.

True hope is anchored in God, His Word and His promises.

A time is coming when true Christians will be in a position similar to Jeremiah and be hated by people.  We see a lot of that now.  You might experience persecution, but you can draw strength from God’s protection and knowledge that you are doing the right thing.  You may feel as if God doesn’t know who you are, but He does.  You may feel as if you are not useful to God, but you are.  You may feel as if the whole world is against you, but God is for you.

Is God calling you to be a Jeremiah to someone?

What is He asking you to do for Him?

Do you agonize over those who are lost?

How is God leading you to reach out to those who need Jesus?

What is holding you back?

What comfort are you willing to give up to obey God?

Do you struggle to find hope in this evil world?

How will you allow God’s truth and hope to fill you today?

Key verses:

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” – Jer. 1:5 

“Do not be afraid of the, for I am with you and will rescue you.” – Jer. 1:8

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” – Jer. 29:22

This week’s attribute of God is He is Faithful.  He will do what He has promised.  He loves us and has had a plan for us even before we were born.  We know He is faithful because He sent His son to the cross to keep His promise.  We can trust Him to keep all His promises.

Next time we will continue our study of Kingdom Divided by continuing in the book of Jeremiah.  Hope to see you here. – I encourage you to trust in Jesus.

________________________________________________

 

If you have enjoyed my post and have found if helpful, please leave a comment or share this post with the buttons below.