Jeremiah Mourns

LAMENTATIONS  (written by Jeremiah)   CHAPTER 1

After the fall of Jerusalem, the streets were silent, once a queen of nations, she was now a slave. Judah had been led away into captivity and enslaved. The roads to Jerusalem were in mourning, the city gates silent, her priests groan, her young women cry. Her oppressorshave become her masters. Her children have been captured and taken to distant lands.

All the beauty of Jerusalem is gone. She fell to her enemy and no one helped her. She defiled herself with immorality and with no thought of  the punishment that would follow. Now she lies in the gutter. The enemy plundered her completely and foreigners violated her sacred Temple.  Her people groan as they search for bread.

She tells everyone who passes to look and see if there is any suffering like hers, which the Lord brought on the day of his fierce anger. He sent the fire from heaven that burns her bones. He made her desolate and racked with sickness. He wove her sins into ropes to hitch her to a yoke of captivity. He sapped her strength and gave her to her enemies.

The Lord treated her mighty men with contempt and crushed the young warriors. For all of these things, Jerusalem weeps and no one comforts her. And the Lord is right, she says. For she rebelled against him. Her allies betrayed her, her priests and leaders starved to death. She cried out to the Lord to see her anguish, she says to look at the evil deeds of her enemies and asks the Lord to punish them for all her sins.

BIBLE NOTES SHOW: Each year this book was read aloud to remind all the Jews that their great city fell becuse of their stubborn sinfulness.

HOW DOES THIS CHAPTER RELATE TO US TODAY? When we sin, sometimes it gives us a feeling of liberty; freedom to do what we desire. But soon we become captive to sin and bound by its yoke. OnlyGod can give us freedom from sin.

I find it hard to believe the concept that God can turn away from people. But in the case of Jerusalem, he had to do just that, because the people had turned away from him and were judging themselves. If only they had relied on their faith, what a totally different world it would have been for them. In our days, we have the same choices: judge ourselves or rely on God. I pray we all make the same right choice. He remains our strength and our salvation!

Yours in Christ,
Mary


Prayer Requests are needed for:

HEALTH:

Pray for my grandson, new baby Gunar who was born with kidney problems.

Pray for Gabe.

Pray for Gary and Steve my insurance men who have prostate cancer.

Pray for Arlene’s nephew David and for my neighbor Al who is nearing the end of his life.

Pray for Carolyn’s brother Ronald who has cancer and who recently underwent major surgery.

Pray for our friend Michelle who was diagnosed with a form of MS.

Pray for Robert Sargent who is quite ill with lung cancer.

Pray for Gary Summers, my friend from church, who has cancer.

Pray too for Charly’s husband Robert who has been undergoing chemo. Pray also for Charly who longs to be 100 percent again and walk without an aid.

Pray for James’s sister Cynthia whose chemo has lost its effect as the cancer grows powerful.

SPIRITUAL UPLIFTING: Gail, Mary

RESTORATION OF FAITH: Al, John

LOVE AND SUPPORT: Claire, Hunter, Brian

SUPPORT: Pray for our country’s leaders and our military people who die each day for our freedom. Pray for our farmers and those who raise livestock during this terrible drought. Pray for us consumers who will face higher grocery prices and the poor who won’t be able to adjust what little budget they have.