Lamentations keeps coming up. What is it? Honestly, until today, I never read that book of the bible. The word lamentation or derivative of it keeps presenting itself to me. It is where I landed today.
The word lamentation simply means sorrow or grief. Lamentations in the bible is a book in the old testament written by an unknown author. Although, tradition assigns Jeremiah as the author of this book.
In summary, the book of Lamentations are words of the people of faith of Jerusalem put into songs of sorrow after their city was conquered by the Babylonians. The people want to know how God could allow their city to be devastated. Uttering suffering over a broken fallen world is part of the biblical story. Expressing our sorrow today over the state of our world is completely biblical.
A Brief recent personal story
A perfect storm was brewing. For me, the time change, and lighting changes, affect my body and I must step with care. This is my bipolar reality. The history of impact on my mood during this time period of the year, consistently repeats itself somewhere close to the week before daylight savings time. Then I have to go through the process again on a lesser level after the time change. Sure enough, I saw history. With the strategies I have learned to cope, I made it through. So, I thought. Current events and the realization that although I am generally healed and free, evil is lurking to take it from me. The song goes like this:
Although I have Jesus
Verse 1
I am not perfect.
I sometimes fail.
Evil is lurking.
Sometimes it will prevail.
Verse 2
I fall into death.
I fall in its trap.
I step in the door.
And fall down on the floor.
Verse 3
Although I have done the work.
Although I have been healed.
Although I have been freed.
I forget His seed.
Chorus
Although I have Jesus, Yes, I do.
I love Him dearly; He walks with me in stride.
Although I have Jesus, He is on my side.
Although I have Jesus, He justifies!
Outro
I have Jesus!
Yes, I Do!
I have Jesus, He Justifies!
Written by: Phil Messinger
The enemy has prevailed.
Lamentations 1:22 NIV
22 “Let all their wickedness come before you;
deal with them
as you have dealt with me
because of all my sins.
My groans are many
and my heart is faint.”
Does this feel familiar? Do we sometimes drown in our sorrow? Do we sometimes fall? There isn’t much Hope offered in the book of Lamentations. It is quite a brief showing of Hope in chapter 3.
We have continued Hope.
Lamentations 3:22-24 NIV
22 Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
23 They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
24 I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion;
therefore I will wait for him.”
However, Hope is alive! After all, without Hope what do we have?
Today I am recovering from my own personal struggles with the state of the spiritual health of people. I am confused that people with apparent great faith and conviction for their Jesus are as blind as a bat! They cannot see the forest through the trees! They have point A-I all connected and then it all drops out from there. Where is the J?
This is what I have learned in my review of the situation; The group has become more important than their Jesus.
This is where I hold Hope. I hold Hope for those who want to sea and think they do but in reality, they are in their second spiritual childhood developmental phase. I Hope they make it to the next step!
I have Jesus!
Yes, I Do!
I have Jesus, He Justifies!