Lamentations 3

The prophet’s lament is balanced by one of Scripture’s greatest promises … “Great is Thy faithfulness!”

As we read chapter 3 we wonder is living for God is worth it. Then, the Lord breaks in upon our pain with insight into His eternally merciful nature. His compassions NEVER FAIL. They are new every morning.

In the dark hour of the soul, it is 3 o’clock in the morning!

Lamentations 1, 2

Keen insight is given in this book about intercessory prayer for your children. The prophet instructs:

“Let your tears flow like a river
    day and night;
give yourself no relief,
    your eyes no rest. Arise, cry out in the night,
    as the watches of the night begin;
pour out your heart like water
    in the presence of the Lord.
Lift up your hands to him
    for the lives of your children.” [Lam. 2:18b, 19a]

God hears and honors sincere, heartfelt prayer for others. When our hearts are broken at what breaks His heart, we are making eternal progress.

Jeremiah 53

The last chapter in the book of Jeremiah describes the devastation Babylon inflicted upon Jerusalem. Wholesale execution of leaders and priests and their descendants was a gory and ruthless gesture by the conquerors, all prophesied accurately by Jeremiah.

People are content to glide along happily in their sin and rejection of God until His judgements “wake” them up. Sadly, they choose to disregard His principles until they discover the devastation their rebellion has produced.

Thank God for Jesus. He called out to the devastated and offered redemption when He said, “Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” [Matt. 11:28]

Jeremiah 51

God has given to man a free will. He supplies everything needed for life, and then watches what we do with it. Some of us cut down the middle path of life, holding a “Live and let live” mantra. Others take and take and take … at the expense of everyone else. Others choose a life of integrity and good will. God must judge our lives and dole out appropriate rewards and punishments according to our lifestyle to perpetuate His principles. Hence, Babylon accrued an impossible due bill of punishment for her many sins. She was destroyed, never to regain life and identity.

Gratefully, God’s grace provided the ultimate antidote for men’s sins – the Blood of Jesus. Through Christ’s sacrifice, the murdered can receive forgiveness. Often, the penalties of sin must be endured ie. prisoners serve out their sentence, but for eternity they qualify for God’s best … Heaven.

Jeremiah 49, 50

The invincible city and its army fell because of its sin and debauchery. When their army would conquer a foe, they employed the most horrific and unspeakable techniques of torture upon their enemies. Their arrogance irritated God so much that He caused their enemies to eventually conquer them. They were NEVER to regain their strength and were to remain a desolate, wasted city.

Nations that blatantly revile the Lord have written their own death warrant. Those that honor Him and employ His principles of life (Judeo-Christian laws and values) will mercifully receive His blessing.

Its never wrong to pray for your nation, that it will turn to God and honor Him.

Jeremiah 45-48

Through Jeremiah, God addressed the different people groups of the region. It’s as if He had a particular will and destiny for each as well as punishment for their sins.

God doesn’t need Ancestry.com or 23andMe.com to recognize what bloodline we are from. He takes note of from whom you come. Without the cleansing blood of Jesus, you can still suffer for the sins of your forefathers ie. Hatfields and McCoys. God remembers inherited sin … UNLESS it’s covered and cleansed by the blood of Christ.

Conversely, God’s bountiful blessings can transmit through families whereby children and grandchildren inherit Godly favor that testifies to His great power.

“I’m so glad I’m a part of the Family of God …” 😄🎵

Jeremiah 44

When Jeremiah attempted to deliver God’s message to the Jews living in Egypt, they defiantly declared, “We will not listen.” If effect, they were shutting their ears to hear anything other than what they wanted to hear. This is called “selective hearing.” On occasion I am guilty of this condition.

Seriously, becoming a disciple of Christ requires a commitment to hear His Voice, read His Word, and obey His Spirit. Having a hearing ear is critical to function for Christ in this life.

Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. [Pr. 8:34]

Jer. 40-43

Left-behind inhabitants of Jerusalem asked Jeremiah to seek God’s answer on what they should do after the destruction of their city. God’s message was for them to stay put and they would survive. Prideful Azariah and Hoshaiah rejected Jeremiah’s message as false and convinced the people to disobey by leaving for Egypt. This was their doom.

Quite often Christians KNOW what God’s will is but choose rather to buffet their carnal appetites and disobey. God is merciful, but CANNOT bless disobedience. False, self-serving leaders who lead God’s people astray will pay a price. I’ve seen it happen, sadly.

Jer. 38, 39

Zedekiah had his sons slaughtered and his eyes put out because he refused to obey God’s instructions to him through Jeremiah. How sad.

Painful things await those who refuse to listen to God. The way of a transgressor is hard. [Hos. 14:9]

Our lives can enjoy God’s blessings and His prosperity if we choose to obey His Word.

Jeremiah 37

Jeremiah was tucked away in a prison and later a cistern where he was rescued by a Cushite. God at all times knew where he was.

Joseph likewise was confined in Egypt until Pharaoh called on him for his dream-interpretation ability. God knew where he was and called upon him at the appointed time.

In 1970 I was about to graduate from infantry training in the Army. Half of my company went to Vietnam for combat. Half of us were assigned to the Canal Zone. Guess where I ended up? Yup!. God knew where I was and arranged for me to head to Panama. He knew where I was … and where He wanted me to go next.

God knows where you are. Your future is in His hands. He has a will for your life. Keep trusting. Be faithful where you are. Your orders from heaven may be coming SOON.