Posted: 8/15/07
BaptistWay Bible Series for August 26
God’s steadfast love
• Lamentations 3:1-9, 19-41
Hardin-Simmons University, Abilene
As discussed in last week’s lesson, Lamentations is a book that records the sorrow of an entire nation after the Babylonians destroyed Jerusalem and the temple in 587 B.C. From the mourning over the loss of a great city, to the frustration with suffering while enemies prospered, to weeping over the sight of a starving child, the author of Lamentations successfully captured the true despair of the Jewish people.
God punishes his own (Lamentations 3:1-9)
The destruction of Jerusalem was brought on by the disobedience of the Jews. The people were sent prophets who gave them several chances to repent, but they continued in their transgression, and God had no choice but to punish them.
In the first part of chapter 3, the author continues in his description of God’s punishment. Notice the distance the author feels between himself and God. He never even uses the actual word for God, but continually refers to God as “he.” This distance is further explained in verse 8, when the author says God ignores his prayers.
The author even seems to be relating his experience to death. For the Hebrews the abode of the dead was a place in the underworld named Sheol. A key feature of Sheol was darkness, which the author mentions both in verse 2 and 6. Likewise, the author also mentions in verse 4 that God has caused his flesh to waste away and his bones to be broken. The worst part, though, is that there appears to be no way out, because in verse 9, the author explains that God has walled him in.
Perhaps we also feel distant from God. Maybe you were wishing for a new lease on life, and instead you got a bad report from your doctor. Or maybe you have been trying to provide for your family, and you were laid off at work. In times like those, we might be able to understand what it feels like to have no way out. But there is good news; the story is not over.
Hope is near (Lamentations 3:21-25)
In verse 21, the author suddenly changes course. It is as if he took a break from writing to weep over his suffering. And during that break, he was reminded that the prophets who foresaw the destruction of Jerusalem also foresaw a restoration of the faithful. Maybe those words caused the author to claim, “I have hope.”
In verse 22, the distance that dominated the first part of the chapter disappears as the author calls God by his name, Yahweh. He claims God’s compassions never fail, and in verse 23, he says to God, “Great is your faithfulness.” Even amidst his suffering, the author is whole-heartedly trusting in God’s love because as verse 33 says, God does not punish willingly. God did what had to be done, and now a time for restoration is on the horizon.
We can cling to such a realization when we feel walled into a prison of despair. No matter how bleak the situation, God still loves us. No matter how deep and dark the hole, hope remains. But how do we take hold of such a hope?
A return to the Lord (Lamentations 3:26-41)
In verse 26, the author recommends something rather unpopular in our world. He says it is good to wait quietly for God to act. Modern humanity is horrible at waiting, especially quietly. The author of Lamentations obviously was content to wait on the Lord, but it was probably more than 100 years later before Nehemiah began rebuilding the walls of the city. His hopes, however, were answered. Real faith lasts even beyond death.
In order to receive restoration, one also must be willing to become a slave to God. Verses 27-30 portray the image of bearing the yoke of slavery. The author explains the faithful must bear such a yoke with silence and humility, symbolized by burying their faces in the dust. We must become as slaves of the Lord before we will be restored.
This call to humble service is summarized in verse 40. The author claims the faithful should examine their ways and return to the Lord. Eventually the faithful would return to the Lord, and some progress towards rebuilding Jeru-salem would be made.
In our setting, many people seem to have left the Lord, even those within the church. As a result, people are suffering through times of faithlessness and distance from God. Let us examine our ways first, making sure we have returned to the Lord. Then, let us be a voice calling out to all who will listen: “Return to the Lord. There may yet be hope.”
Discussion question
• What are some ways God has shown his love for you in spite of your sin?
• How does God offer forgiveness and restoration when we return to him?
• Can you think of someone you know who obviously feels distant from the Lord?
• What have you learned from our study of Lamentations that you can/will share with them?
Corey Cornutt is a master of divinity student at Hardin-Simmons University’s Logsdon Seminary in Abilene.
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