We’re starting one of the most feared, but important, books of the bible in Lamentations. For some context of the entire book, watch this video below:
Lamentations reveals a specific, catastrophic moment in Jewish history. The first couple of verses reveal Jerusalem’s fall. Verse 1 contrasts from verse 2 where the once great and prominent status of Jerusalem becomes a slave, widowed and deserted in mourning. As indicated in the name of this book, the rest of this chapter is an invitation to how they mourn and grieve over the season God has them in. Three specific words stick out about this chapter regarding the Jews grieving and how we should grieve as God’s people.
- Remember (v.7): We must remember the days of old with the Lord and how He is sovereign and still good. Remember the precious things of the Lord in salvation and past victories.
- Empathy (v. 16): It was not just Jeremiah doing the weeping, but the collected state of Jerusalem. We must weep with and for those who are going through such suffering and hardships. This should not be experienced alone but in community. Even today, there are hardships and injustice that the church should have more empathy for.
- Justice (v. 18, 22): Jeremiah recognized that the Lord was in the right and he asks the righteous lord to deal with the evildoing before him. He doesn’t take himself or God’s people out of that request. Maybe God will deal with such evil with wrath, maybe grace and mercy. But justice is deserved and accomplished in both and in mourning, we must remember we have a just God.
By: Erik Koliser — West Campus Pastor