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Lamentations

Lamentations. Lessons from Suffering Part 1 Lam 1:1-2:22. Introduction. Lamentations is a series of acrostics making up one book An acrostic is a form of poetry where each line begins with the next letter of the alphabet Chapters 1, 2, and 4 each go once through the Hebrew alphabet

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Lamentations

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  1. Lamentations Lessons from Suffering Part 1 Lam 1:1-2:22

  2. Introduction • Lamentations is a series of acrostics making up one book • An acrostic is a form of poetry where each line begins with the next letter of the alphabet • Chapters 1, 2, and 4 each go once through the Hebrew alphabet • Chapter 3 has each letter repeated for three lines • A,A,A,B,B,B,C,C,C, … • Chapter 5, a prayer, is not an acrostic • The importance of the style is that it points to chapter 3 as the climax • Accordingly, we’ll find more and the most important lessons there

  3. Background • Written by the prophet Jeremiah • After the fall of Jerusalem in 586 BC • Previously, Jeremiah had spent 40+ years trying to get Judah to repent • During which he had been threatened, imprisoned, and left to die • During which we are not told of any conversions • There may have been a few individual changes (some of which are implied in the book of Jeremiah) • But the nation did not change its course • Jerusalem has been destroyed

  4. Caution • Lamentations is about suffering resulting from sin • Not all suffering is because of personal sin (e.g., Job, Christ) • Some of the other reasons for suffering taught in the Bible include: • Suffering because of another’s sin • Suffering for righteousness • Suffering to improve • But sometimes suffering is because of sin, and Lamentations teaches lessons about that kind of suffering

  5. The horror of suffering • Lam 1:1-11 • From the viewpoint of the city / nation • Loss of children, comfort, friends, freedom, splendor, and pleasant things • Reason: “The Lord has afflicted her” (v5) because “Jerusalem has sinned gravely” (v8) • Lam 1:12-17 • God was angry • Almost like a child whining that he deserved punishment, but NOT that much • Lesson: Sometimes when we are in sin and suffering, we complain and get angry at God • Even if we admit we sinned, we think God ‘overreacted’

  6. The righteousness of suffering • But then a change, and Jerusalem admits the fault is her own • Lam 1:18-20 • The Lord is righteous, therefore, the punishment is obviously right • She then says, ‘Okay, lesson learned. I’m sorry. I need comfort.’ • Lesson: When we finally admit that we deserve the punishment we have received, then we may think the punishment should end • ‘I said I was sorry’, and expect that should end the suffering

  7. The righteousness of suffering • The tone changes again (Lam 1:21-22) • She now points to the sins of others, and asks why they aren’t suffering • ‘Misery loves company’ • If God is righteous, He should make the other sinners suffer • Job struggled with this same thought: why not all evildoers suffer immediately • Lesson: We should not try to justify ourselves by looking for those who are worse (Prov 3:11-12) • God may let you suffer because He wants you back • The evil will be judged and punished in the end (2Cor 5:10)

  8. The evil of sin • Chapter 2:1-19 moves the viewpoint from the people’s view to God’s view • Lam 2:1-3 • God is angry at the sinfulness of Judah • They hadn’t realized how He had been protecting them from suffering • Now He removes His protective hand (v3) • They are getting what they brought upon themselves • Would have gotten it before, but for God’s protection • Lesson: Our punishment may simply be the withdrawal of His blessings

  9. The enemy of sin • We know from Judah (and Israel’s) history that withdrawing His blessings didn’t change them • And so they became God’s enemy (Lam 2:4-6) • There is a war going on, and you must be on one side or the other (2Cor 10:3-6) • God wants you back, but by sin you are joining Satan’s army • You have become God’s enemy, unless you return to Him • Lesson: We should seriously think about what it means to fight against God • Rev 19:11-21; 20:10-14

  10. Sorrow or repentance • But we saw in Lam 1:18-20, that the people were sorry for their sins • Doesn’t that mean they were on God’s side? • Lam 2:7-10 • God hears them making “a noise in the house of the Lord” (v7) • He sees their sackcloth, and throwing dust on their heads, and bowing to the ground (v10) • But He doesn’t see them following the Law (v9) • They were sorry because they were punished, but that doesn’t mean they’d repented • Lesson: We need to see the difference between sorrow and repentance (2Cor 7:8-11) • Judas had sorrow (Mt 27:3-5) • Peter had sorrow (Mt 26:74-75), but it produced repentance as Jesus had foretold (Lk 22:31-32)

  11. God’s view • Is God happy punishing the wicked? • Lam 2:11-16 • God is saddened by the sin, the necessity of punishment • He wishes that people’s sins did not have consequences that affect the innocent • But there is no way for Him to comfort sinners who refuse to repent • His people’s sin (and consequent suffering) causes other sinners to scorn God’s blessings • They think it proves their way is better • Lesson: Our sins hurt ourselves, our children, the church, and even the chances of the lost to be saved – and that saddens God

  12. God’s view • Then why doesn’t God not punish sinners? • Lam 2:17 • To do so would not be just • He has said that sin has consequences, and so it must, does, and will • Lesson: We can’t escape the consequences of sin by simply appealing to God’s goodness and love • Some say, ‘God is too loving, too good to send anyone to hell’ • God says, (Rom 11:22)

  13. Repentance • Jeremiah then proposes what it will take for Judah to return to God (Lam 2:18-22) • Hearts that cry out to the Lord (v18a) • Not just outward displays and ‘noise’ • Unceasing, day and night, repentance (v18b-19a) • Not saying, I’m sorry and waiting a few minutes, and returning to sin • Placing your life, your future, in the hands of God (v19b) • Then God will know that enough has been done • Lesson: Repentance is a total change, not a half-hearted attempt to escape suffering

  14. Conclusion • Suffering can teach us many lessons • Judah’s sufferings because of her sins can teach us: • Not to be angry with God for suffering caused by our sin • Repentance isn’t just saying, “Sorry” • Sin makes us the enemy of God • All sin affects ourselves, our families, the work of the church, and the salvation of others • Though God may wish to save us, He will not force us to repent • And justice demands that sin be punished • But God will notice our repentance if it is sincere and complete, no matter the sin or the suffering

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