Old School Jesus in Lamentations

Greetings Fairy Followers,

How apt are you to follow warnings?

Warning: Texting late into the night could negatively affect your grades.
Warning: Eating the last piece of chocolate cake could result in your pants fitting tighter.
Warning: Turning left here could result in a flat tire.

While those are all applicable, they aren't very scary. They aren't immediate. They aren't "important."

I can't help thinking that the Israelites were from the same school of thought when the prophets came along and said, "Watch yourself. If you fall away, God will punish you."

Just like the ethereal fear that one random bad grade could lead to a history of poor grades, then poor college performance, then a job history that leaves you working at McDonald's for life instead of managing a financial institution, Israel chose to leave tomorrow's problems for tomorrow instead of heading them off.

God did not have pity on them and their city was crushed, their walls were broken down and the people were either killed or displaced. This book was written as a lament of how far the nation had turned from God and of the great lengths God used to bring judgment and mercy upon his people.

The key section of scripture in in chapter 3:21-26.
21 Yet this I call to mind
and therefore I have hope:
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."
25 The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him,
to the one who seeks him;
26 it is good to wait quietly
for the salvation of the LORD.

As we read Lamentations, we are reminded that God is all powerful and will use any means necessary to remind us of who He is. And in the midst of all the destruction and death, the writer of Lamentations holds out hope for those that will seek God.

Is the Lord your portion? Are you trusting solely in Christ or in other things?

Praise God that his mercies are new every morning.

Blessings, The B.D.F.