I am using the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Today, I am reading and commenting on Lamentations 3-5.

There is much more to this passage than I am able to put into words.  However, early in it the prophet makes a point which I want to focus on.  Assuming the prophet is Jeremiah, as tradition claims for this Book, we can see a parallel between what is written at the beginning of Chapter 3 and his life.  He saw the destruction of Jerusalem coming and prophesied calling the people to change their ways to avoid it.  But they did not listen and the destruction came.  Then, even after the destruction and the suffering he experienced leading up to it, he was forced to join those who fled to Egypt.  Yet, for all of this, he remembered that God’s love is faithful and endures forever.  He put his hope in God and was not disappointed.

The prophet reminds us that the Lord is good to those who depend on Him.  Therefore, we should submit to His discipline from an early age.  Let us patiently wait for the Lord’s salvation and quietly accept His demands. 

I am using the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Today, I am reading and commenting on Lamentations 1-2.

Here the prophet, generally thought to be Jeremiah, laments the destruction of Jerusalem.  The prophet writes of how beautiful Jerusalem had been and how it has been devastated.  However, he warns everyone that Jerusalem’s devastation resulted from the sins of her people.  They had given no thought to the consequences of their action and lived for the moment; sinning without fear of what would happen later.  They listened to prophets who told them what they wanted to hear rather than those who spoke God’s word.  The people thought that because the Temple was there that God would never allow the city to fall.  They turned from God to make friends with other nations (Note: this does not necessarily mean that it was wrong for them to make friends with those nations.  The wrong was in turning from God to do so).  However, when God brought home the consequences of their sins, none of those nations were willing, or able, to come to their aid.  In all of this Jerusalem, and the Kingdom of Judah, are object lessons for all nations and peoples.  If you turn from God and sin against Him when His judgement comes none will stand by you to offer you aid.