3 | 9 | 15 Lamentations, Chapter 1

To learn more about the author, context, message/purpose, structure, and contribution of Lamentations to the Bible, read my post: Lamentations: Poetic Prayer of Grief, Pain, & Suffering.

I think we tend to forget how beautiful the language of the Bible is, along with how we often experience the same woes and struggles, the same grief and suffering, and pain as those in Biblical times. 

As the poetic and figurative language pulled me deeper into the first chapter of Lamentations, I became more focused and attuned with the lessons, the messages of hope that lies beneath the surface. For one, it is comforting to realize my own suffering and grief isn't isolated. Pain is tricky; in our deepest moments of despair, when we need others most, it tricks us into believing we are alone and essentially, without hope. 

Lamentations' poetry soothes in that it mirrors our despair, giving us hope, reminding us we never suffer alone.

This is my first deep reading of Lamentations, and I wasn't wholly prepared for how it differed from other books I've read in the Bible and have come to love. Perhaps I wasn't fully prepared for the outpouring of grief and suffering, but initially, I found it difficult to find quotable inspiration in the text. Line after line spoke of suffering, pain, grief--why would I want to memorize and repeat such verses back to myself, I wondered. As I dug deeper into the poem and decided to view it as such, a poem outpouring grief, I begun to shift my thoughts about the text and saw how it could minister to me/us when we feel lonely, unseen, unheard, mocked and ridiculed, and trampled in spirit. How often do we love the popular songs that capture our pain and make us feel less alone? Lamentations could be the same salve to our hurting spirits.

I'd like to share some of the verses that spoke to me this morning. 

"For the Lord has made her suffer because of her many transgressions."

Yeah, that arrow hits center of heart and mind. How many times have I chosen to disobey and then felt incredulous when I suffer the consequences. Us mothers witness it often when our children misbehave and then resist the consequences. Overindulge in candy and sweets, you get a stomachache. Don't do your schoolwork, you get poor grades. Tell a lie, you get punishment. And for us adults? Run a red light or sneak into the carpool lane, and you may get a ticket. 

We often fail to see how our actions, our transgressions lead us to suffer. We like to bend and mold the rules to our comfort, our wishes, yet look at the consequences with disbelief. (Let me say, I am so guilty of this.)

Instead of beating myself up about my actions, I have decided to find the good. When I sin, I suffer; therefore, with time I'll desire to sin less. And most importantly, God uses my sins to bring me closer to Him. In my suffering I need Him more, greater opportunity to ask for mercy and forgiveness and to strive to follow His commands, and sin less.

"The adversaries looked at her, laughing over her downfall." -Lm 1:7 

Mocked, ridiculed, judged, laughed at. Been there, received all of that. I don't know anyone who has never experienced any of these, yet when we feel them we often feel isolated, shameful, embarrassed, and deeply alone. We retreat within ourselves and if we are not careful, depression, self-deprecation, and a host of other debilitating feelings can settle within us. Never believe, for one second, you are the first to lie on the margins of life. In fact, I bet the very ones who ridicule and mock you are doing it because they have received the same pain. How else would they know how? 

You will be mocked, laughed at, ridiculed at your lowest point. Know that those who laugh at you, fail to comfort you, are not your true friends. Those people are the negative adversaries, the enemies of your heart God is editing from your life. The blessing is being shown who you need to let go of in your process of growth in God. Don't mourn for those who do not love you.

"Is there any pain like mine?" -Lm 1:12

We are never alone. Ever. Truly take that in, allow it to settle and grow roots in your heart. You are never alone. Living includes suffering, pain, sorrow, grief, along with joy, peace, love, and strength. Our lows and highs are the margins, the boundaries of life God gives us to bring us closer to Him. All of it. The good along with the bad. 

Knowing this, be aware that you never know what pain and grief another person is experiencing or carrying with them. Treat each person with compassion, kindness, love; you may be the first and/or only person to minister love to their lives. And we know, God is love.

"I weep because of these things; my eyes flow with tears...because the enemy has prevailed." -Lm 1:16

We love to make it about us. I can go on and on, telling you about my persecutions, my pain, my grief, the times I've felt mocked and ridiculed. It isn't about me. My sorrow should not be for my own pain and sorrow, my life is fleeting in God's grand scheme. My sorrow should be for those who prevail against Him. (Let me correct that, believe they prevail against Him. Evil never prevails.) 

If I fail, if my transgressions allows the adversary to laugh and mock God, that is the greatest sorrow. That is the bigger loss. Not my human feelings that are fleeting, temperamental and hormonal. Again, it is not about me, but about the light I shine back to God. If I stop shining His light, that is the greater loss. And there is also grief in witnessing another sin against God.

"The Lord is just, for I have rebelled against His command. Listen, all you people; look at my pain." -Lm 1:18

It is easy to curse the consequence of our sin on something else. To displace blame. To believe we didn't lie good enough, speed past the police fast enough, or hide our sin better from God. It doesn't happen that way. God is just. He is not human, like us. Emotional, fearful, hormonal, temperamental and getting in His feelings. Not at all. He is just and always merciful. He gives us choices and when we sin against Him, we suffer the consequences.

Our sins create our heartaches, so our heartaches are a great way to seek and dig out the sin in our lives. Where you ache, where you do not experience God in your life, those are the areas to examine and see if you have caused your own pain and suffering. Sometimes, of course, we suffer not on account of our sin, but the greater point is realizing that all of our suffering (whether we created it or were given it) is an opportunity to better know God. Our suffering brings us to Him.

Our transgressions, suffering and pain are also opportunities for us to minister, fellowship, and provide light to others. They teach us forgiveness, compassion, love, and kindness. Don't be ashamed of your shortcomings, the crosses you carry; instead, use your weaknesses to uplift God and shine a light on how He strengthens you.

"Bring on the day You have announced, so that they may become like me." -Lm 1:21

Stop. Hold on. This is where I struggled in today's reading. How can I pray for others to suffer? How can I wish harm, pain, grief on others, even if they are the same others who mocked me? Am I not equally wrong if I wish ill-will on my fellow sisters and brothers? I just professed I hate no one, now I'm suppose to hate? Hold on, here.

And then I dug deeper, deeper into Scripture and found my answer. Again, I was making it about me. I'm such a good woman who hates no one, and prays for my enemies. Go, Me! No, not the way.

We are to love what God loves, and hate what God hates. We are not to pray for those who truly wish evil and death to us and to our God. Period. That is not our fight, it is God's and we need to give it over to Him. The key is knowing the difference. 

"You have heard that it was said, Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father in heaven." -Mt 5:43-45

We know the Christian command to love and pray for our enemies, but first we need to understand who are enemies are and are not. (This is where having a great study Bible that teaches and expands on the scripture helps a lot.) According to my Bible, there are two enemies:

"First, there are those who simply bear ill will toward us. These we must love, commending them to God in prayer. Second, some enemies do more than bear ill will toward us. They maliciously rage against us and our God, threatening our very lives. If they persist in this despite our sincere efforts to make peace, we are justified in turning them over to God for His sentencing and judgement." (HCSB Study Bible, pg. 1339)

There is a difference. First, we must do our best to be peacemakers, but if there is no peace, we must pray for God's will and judgement to intercede. Not ours. Not revenge. Not getting even or making a point. But praying that God is constantly uplifted and praised.

Some verses that help understand this further:

• Ps 139: 19-22
• Ps 15:4
• Ps 109

In the end, God holds the ultimate judgement and sentencing. We are to pray for all, those who wish us harm and good, and we are to pray to God for those who wish our death and a death of Him. We must always remember the limits of our human selves, give Him the glory, and all the power. But always, choose peace. Choose to be a peacemaker.

I hope these verses, these insights on my Bible study this morning has inspired you to pick up Lamentations and read. It is a beautifully poetic book, with a lot of soothing words for a trouble heart and spirit. We all suffer, and it is great to find healing and peace in our suffering in Scripture. 

I'm eager to read the next chapter, and the ones that follow. I hope you will continue to join me.

Full and Deep Blessings to You,

Kiandra