I woke this morning to post what I had written, and it had disappeared!
So this will be a simpler post than usual, and I ask for your grace.
We will finish up this study of the lament next week, leaving the last chapter of
Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy for you to do on your own.
We will start a new study in September, and for the first time, though it will still be free of cost, it will not be open to everyone. It will be open to all who have been regular and want to participate — but I will need to give you a password. More explanation about why I am doing that and what the study is next week. Truly, I am praying for God to lead you!
(I am more than a little excited about where God is taking us in September.)
This week we will delve into the last chapter of Lamentations. Though we might hope for a resolve, instead we see that God’s people must keep on trusting without a resolution — which is so often our case as well as sojourners in this fallen world.
Lamentations 5 begins with:
“Remember,” throughout Scripture, is a request for God to remember His promises and to keep them. It is the promises of God that keep us keeping on when He is silent. Prepare your heart with this.
Highlights from Last Week:
Julie
I loved Al Mohler’s blog post. How spot-on that is even today. I mentioned this yesterday I believe, that so many people don’t want to hurt the feelings of ‘some’ but in reality, they are hurting ‘others’ by allowing the senseless killings of innocent babies with late-term abortions and getting rid of traditional marriage that God created. I just feel so sad for those that think this is ok.
Denise
Language of Exiles and share what stands out to you. I don’t think I ever realized how much credence or faith I put in being a citizen of the United States. Isn’t this a Christian nation where freedom of religion is embraced? Isn’t this from where missionaries are sent to preach the gospel to heathen nations? Isn’t this the land of milk and honey, where, as long as I lived here, I would feel safe and secure? Putting stock in that, I feel the sands shifting below my feet as this becomes a country I barely recognize. I have made my homeland an idol…a place where I find comfort and security. I love this country…but it is not my Savior.
Sunday:
- What stands out to you from the above and why?
- Read up to “Remember O Lord” in Chapter 8 (A Road Map to Grace) and share what you believe to be the main point.
Monday/Tuesday: Remember Your Promises, O Lord
I have been upheld by the promises of God in the midst of grief. I have clung to the promise that He will be a husband to the widow, a father to the fatherless, that He will provide for me as He does the lilies of the field, that one day there will be a perfect new heaven and a perfect new earth, and that there will be no more sin, or death, or grief. All these sustain me, and indeed, He has demonstrated His faithfulness to His promises.
3. Read the section “Remember O Lord.”
A. Pastor Mark, on page 143 of the hard copy, gives four examples from Scripture of God’s “remembering” His people, His promises. What are they?
B. What specific promises do you cling to when God is silent?
C. Pastor Mark says rehearsing pain has a purpose. What is it?
D. List some of the pain rehearsed in Lamentations 5:2-18
E.. What else stands out to you from this section?
Wednesday: But You, O Lord Reign Forever
Pastor Mark reminds us, in this section, of God’s sovereignty and Cowper’s Hymn that says:
I found this wonderful clip from Bonanza, who obviously had a Christian writer:
4. How has the knowledge of God’s sovereignty and character helped you when you don’t understand what is going on? Be specific if possible.
5. Read “But You O Lord Reign Forever” and share what stands out to you.
Thursday: Restore Us To Yourself, O Lord
6. Read Lamentations 5:19-22
A. How do you see trust in God’s sovereignty in verse 19?
B. How do you see continued complaint in 20?
C. How do you see the turn in 21-22?
D. What thoughts do you have about this book not ending with a resolve to trust?
7. Read the section entitled “Restore Us…” and share what stands out to you and why.
Friday: A Road Map to Christ
8. Read this section and share what stands out to you and why.
9. Take two questions from the end of this chapter and answer them.
Saturday: Take-A-Way
10. What is your take-a-way this week and why?
187 comments
Thursday
6. Read Lamentations 5:19-22
19“But Lord, you remain the same forever! Your throne continues from generation to generation. 20Why do you continue to forget us? Why have you abandoned us for so long? 21 Restore us, O Lord, and bring us back to you again! Give us back the joys we once had! 22 Or have you utterly rejected us? Are you angry with us still?”
Lamentations 5:19-22 NLT
A. How do you see trust in God’s sovereignty in verse 19?
Jeremiah remembers the character of God…never changing and He still reigns.
B. How do you see continued complaint in 20?
Asking questions of why.
C. How do you see the turn in 21-22?
He turns to the Lord for restoration, to bring them back and give back their joy. I feel verse 22 returns to complaint again.
D. What thoughts do you have about this book not ending with a resolve to trust?
It took me by surprise quite honestly but it also reminded me that the continuation of crying out to God is needed to bring us back into the context of His character We must keep praying!
It is a surprise to have the book end that way. I remember Keller quoting Derek Kidner about the two psalms that end that way: “God understand how man prays when he is desperate.”
6. Read Lamentations 5:19-22
A. How do you see trust in God’s sovereignty in verse 19? That He is eternal and He remains on the throne and in power for eternity.
B. How do you see continued complaint in 20? They are continuing to state that they feel forgotten and forsaken.
C. How do you see the turn in 21-22? They are focusing on God and asking Him to turn them back to Him, to renew them.
D. What thoughts do you have about this book not ending with a resolve to trust? It makes me think how much of our worship music ends either victory or in resolve to trust, so its uncomfortable for Lamentations to end with a ‘hey you might not restore us because your just so angry’.
7. Read the section entitled “Restore Us…” and share what stands out to you and why.
What stands out to me is that the cry for restoration is also a cry for a new heart.
6. Lamentations 5:19-22
A. God’s sovereignty in 19. Jeremiah acknowledges freely the truth about God. He is always on the throne, always reigning. Power has not, is not, will not, slip from His hands. B. Continued complaint in 20.
I’m feeling this today. With all Your power, God, why am I left here to stumble and sin? Why aren’t I finding Your help more obvious?
C. The turn in verses 21-22.
Jeremiah is beseeching God to make it right. To clear the table between us. When he says, “renew our days as of old…”, I find it curious that he asks for a return to an earlier time. So many times, the Bible writers would have almost a nostalgia, seeming to see that earlier time as having been more loyal, more obedient, more faithful. But when I look back at where they are looking, that isn’t what I see. They were like us, I think. Sometimes obedient, faithful, and sometimes not. Not sure if I think it a comfort or a warning.
D. Thoughts about the book not ending with a resolve to trust.
I had noticed it, and mentioned it, earlier. At first it felt like we are left hanging. It felt incomplete. But now I see it as a echo of our lives on earth. As long as we walk here, it is incomplete. The complete only comes when we see Jesus face to face.
7. The section, restore to us. What stood out and why.
Mark mentioned Lamentations being a recap of Jeremiah’s message, calling the people to turn back (restore) and return. He talked about God’s using pain in order to bring His people back to Him. It reminded me of other places in the Old Testament and the prophets questioning why God seemed to bring more pain to His own than to the wicked. It seemed like the answer was that God cared a lot about restoring His loved ones to Himself, and that it is the illegitimate sons who are not punished. Plus, at the end of time, those who have refused to respond to God’s discipline that will suffer eternally. We are only being called to intimacy with Him.
But when I look back at where they are looking, that isn’t what I see. They were like us, I think. Sometimes obedient, faithful, and sometimes not. Not sure if I think it a comfort or a warning.
We are only being called to intimacy with Him.
I love these thoughts, Mary. We are called back to God through pain. Interesting how we try so hard to escape pain rather than embrace the pain and then move toward healing. Thank you for your thoughts.
I have been reading Richard Rohr’s v book ‘Breathing Under Water’. It is a Christian look at the AA 12 steps and it has brought to light the importance in facing and accepting my own pain and being real to have the freedom in Christ.
Sounds intriguing, Becky!
6. Read Lamentations 5:19-22
A. How do you see trust in God’s sovereignty in verse 19?
Jeremiah acknowledges God’s reign through eternity.
B. How do you see continued complaint in 20?
A questioning of the length of time that God seems silent (the words forget and forsake)
C. How do you see the turn in 21-22?
The Word “restore” and “renew”. Restore means o bring back to or put back something to a former or original state. This song by Steve Green, Bring Back the Glory” ministered to me. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BkrPZPPzpY
All the laughter is gone And the sound of the song that we sangSlowly faded awaySimple joys that we knew When we walked close with you, hand in handIn the cool of the day Are just memoriesOr are they dreams Yet we hold to the hopeThat the music will come back againBring back the Glory, Won’t you show us what life is forBring back the Glory Make us open once moreBring back the music the trust the wonderThat’s just like a child who has never known painBring back the Glory, The Glory againGive me a cause that is grand And a reason to standThat calls for the best I can seeSomething worthy to live for A reason to giveEverything that I ever could beO there must be more, Take me, LordHow I need you to give me A glimpse of eternity.
Read Lamentations 5:19-22
A. How do you see trust in God’s sovereignty in verse 19?
God is the same ways.
B. How do you see continued complaint in 20?
He is still asking why?
C. How do you see the turn in 21-22?
Jeremiah is remembering how it used to be when God blessed them. He asks for a blessing now too.
D. What thoughts do you have about this book not ending with a resolve to trust?
Well, although it is sad, it is real. Our lives don’t necessarily always have a happy ending, at least how we think it should be. God knows the big picture, we do not. Bing posted a short video on the FB page from Unite714 that really spoke to me this morning. Christine Caine was talking about not giving up, which quite frankly I have done lately. My prayers don’t seem to matter. She asked what if the people stopped their “quest” (my word not hers) after John and never “got” to Paul? How would Christianity have ever spread? They had to have faith that God was in charge. Jeremiah seems to still be unsure of himself here. He doesn’t know if God is still angry. I can only think that because he was a prophet so maybe he really knew that things would eventually work out?
Laura, how can I get on the Facebook page? I’m sure I had an email from Diane at one point which I responded to, but nothing ever came of that. Thanks-Chris
Diane or Renee can add you. I can let Diane know.
Simmchris, glad to try to help you get on our Facebook group. Are you on Facebook? Do a search for me “Diane Trail” (with a picture of my husband and I). Message me on Facebook. If you sent me an email and I didn’t respond, I’m sorry. I don’t recall any email.
Harper has quoted from Brueggemann’s essay ‘The costly loss of lament’, which I have in a book of his collected essays, The Psalms and the Life of Faith.
Monday/Tuesday: Remember Your Promises, O Lord
3A – the 4 examples from Scripture of God’s “remembering” His people, His promises are: 1) God remembered Noah during the flood, 2) God’s promise to remember His covenant, 3) Mose pleads with God to remember His covenant with the patriarchs, and 4) David cries to the Lord for mercy based on God’s promises for the Lord’s sake.
3B – I’ve shared this passage recently, but it is one I love and do cling to when it seems the Lord is silent: Deut. 30:19-20 (choose life or choose death). I have several other passages that always speak to me . . . which if these “speak” to me, then the Lord really is not silent, is He? I’ll just share a few that I cling to, that I always gravitate toward: the Beatitudes in Matt. 5 (this is how to live as one of the Lord’s kingdom-ites); Jer. 29:11-14 (He has a plan for a future and a hope, and He will be found when I seek Him); Rom 8:28 (God causes ALL things to work together for good to those who love Him); and more recently, John 10:10 (“the thief comes only to steal, kill & destroy; I came that they might have life, and might have it abundantly.”)
3C – The purpose for rehearsing pain, to lament, is to call upon God to remember.
3D – Lam 5:2-18 rehearses the pain of: foreigners invaded and destroyed their nation; the people felt abandoned, oppressed, and desperate; survival was hard; hopelessness had set in; and they bore the consequences of national sin whereby the glory of Israel had vanished.
3E- what the Israelites experienced then seems very similar to what we in America are experiencing now.
Karmen, how true that if a passage of scripture is speaking to us, then God is not really being silent! I so often have my own idea of how He has to speak or act, and He is not confined to my ideas!!
7. Read the section entitled “Restore Us…” and share what stands out to you and why.
““But this is the new covenant I will make with the people of Israel after those days,” says the Lord. “I will put my instructions deep within them, and I will write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.”
Jeremiah 31:33 NLT
This verse is the commitment God made to the people of Israel. This is why Jeremiah could have faith that God would restore Jerusalem (from the question above about how a lamentations ends). He wrote Himself on our hearts when He made us. Isn’t that exciting? That we have Him inside of us…even people who don’t believe in Him. Wow. Sometimes I walk around and think how I have this little “secret” that makes me smile. Others don’t know why I am smiling. It’s because if they only knew what I knew…that God is with me, inside of me, taking care of me, loving me. I also wish the “secret” for them. It’s all I need.
Oh sweet Laura, your joy and enthusiasm in the last paragraph is contagious and yes it is exciting!!
Laura–love this “Sometimes I walk around and think how I have this little “secret” that makes me smile. ”
And I love how you are sharing your “secret” with others 🙂
6. Read Lamentations 5:19-22
A. How do you see trust in God’s sovereignty in verse 19? This reminds me of Psalm 103:19.
I see that Jeremiah realizes, through remembering who God is, that this devastation has no power or rule over Him and his people, for only God does. Only God is eternal ruler over all-even the bad things that happen. Circumstances don’t have the first or last word but God does. I think at this point perhaps Jeremiah places His trust in God and lets go of his trust in the current state of or outcome of his circumstances.
B. How do you see continued complaint in 20?
Jeremiah remembers that since God is sovereign-King and Ruler overall-why has He has forgotten and forsaken his people?
C. How do you see the turn in 21-22?
I think it is like once Jeremiah remembered God is ruler over all and has the power to stop it or restore it, but didn’t because of their sin against God. Then he turns from asking God why has he forsaken his people to realizing that is why-but it isn’t a total resolve in trusting God yet. He asks God to restore his people to Himself but concludes with, unless He is angry with them beyond repair.
D. What thoughts do you have about this book not ending with a resolve to trust?
I like it. I think it is real for the time hadn’t come for Jeremiah’s resolve..His heart wasn’t ready yet. God’s sovereignty over hearts is a mystery but one thing I do know is that as The Song says, “Don’t awaken Love before it’s time”.
Rebecca, “Jeremiah places his trust in God and let’s go of his current trust in… the outcome of his circumstances “. I need this! To realize the outcome isn’t within my power to control, and I can’t tell God what it needs to look like.
Friday: A Road Map to Christ
8. Read this section and share what stands out to you and why.
The book of lamentations shows us how a song of sorrow can remind us about:
the brokenness of the world,
invite us to rehearse hope-filled truth,
and confront our idols.
The above three puts all things into perspective for me. Yes, the world is broken because of sin. Yes, sin creates idols in our lives. BUT God invites us to put our hope in Him alone. Despite the brokenness and sin of the world, we can rehearse the truth about His character and trust that victory is ours to be taken.
As I learn to lament more, I see the beauty of Christ and His suffering more and more. And that He loves me in spite of my sinful self makes me love Him more and more.
9. Take two questions from the end of this chapter and answer them.
Spend some time asking the Lord to open doors and to give you the courage to walk through them.
Lord, I do not like pain and I know you know that about me. I need to be in tune with these emotions and accept them instead of denying them. Give me the courage to walk through experiences of pain with others. Jesus, you wear a Man of Sorrows when you walked the earth but set your face like a flint to humble yourself and to die for my sins. BUT you defeated death and its power over us. Thanks be to God!
Why do you think Christians are reluctant to step into the pain of other people’s lives or into the pain of a community? What are the dynamics involved?
We are reluctant because of fear of being misunderstood or being labeled “too religious”, too transparent, too everything. And it takes the giving up of self (our time, resources, our own emotions) so we can focus on the pain of others and walk with them through it. Am I willing?
Bing, yes, I agree! I don’t like pain either! One of my favorite verses is Job 36:21 Beware of turning to evil, which you seem to prefer to pain…. that is always a warning to me that in my effort to avoid pain, I could be embracing evil instead.
Bing–I just love your heart so much. So honest, so teachable. Soft.
Thursday
7. Read the section entitled “Restore Us…” and share what stands out to you and why.
“The nation strayed from faithfulness and God will use pain in order to renew them.” This really stood out to me because I compared it to where our country is and all the pain we are experiencing. And “restoration and renewal is only something God can do.” This is true in my life as well…it brings me into a right relationship with Him and that’s the best place to be!
I have not commented through this study, but it has been powerful and given me so much hope because I know that God is who he says he is and he promises to provide the light in the tunnel when I don’t know where to go or what to do. I have recommended this book and study to others that are overwhelmed with life right now. I am in awe of a God that I can be so honest with about my trivial daily struggles that are like giants to me and he listens as if they were the most important thing on his agenda for the day. Thank you Dee for this study at this time—truly a gift.
Becky, I hope your friends decide to come along with us in our studies. It is hard to imagine a life where our troubles are all we have and there is no hope for the future. I don’t know what people who don’t believe in God do when they are distraught with the world? Where do they place their hope? Humans cannot fix pain and suffering. You are right, He is the light.
A Road Map to Christ
8. “…what stands out…why.” Lament is the language of a people who know the whole story- the gospel story. Christians can enter the rubble of life and even lead in lament because we know the rest of the story. There is much truth in those statements. I know the rest of the story. I see a lot of rubble but don’t always want to go in. I have been admonished over and over by the words Hezekiah thought after he’d sinned and shown all the treasures of the house of God to strangers. Isaiah (39:6-8) prophesied of the future devastation and Babylonian captivity of God’s people, “At least there will be peace and security in my time.” There is rubble all around me. “I’m going in.” (quote from the movie Matrix)
9. Questions from the end of this chapt. I looked at the 2 Scriptures in Jeremiah and Ezekiel and rejoiced at the reminder that God does an internal work in our minds and hearts for He is our God Who makes and keeps covenant. All Praise and Glory to the King of kings Whose Holy Spirit lives in us because of Jesus Christ, His Son, our Savior.
Becky — I love it — quotes from Jeremiah and The Matrix!
Love this from Mary:
Thoughts about the book not ending with a resolve to trust.
I had noticed it, and mentioned it, earlier. At first it felt like we are left hanging. It felt incomplete. But now I see it as a echo of our lives on earth. As long as we walk here, it is incomplete. The complete only comes when we see Jesus face to face.
Thursday: Restore Us To Yourself, O Lord
6. Read Lamentations 5:19-22
A. How do you see trust in God’s sovereignty in verse 19? – They know the power and authority that God holds.
B. How do you see continued complaint in 20? – They’re asking him again why he has forgotten them for so long.
C. How do you see the turn in 21-22? – They are coming to him asking him to restore them to him again, but then they appear to doubt him, thinking that God has rejected them completely.
D. What thoughts do you have about this book not ending with a resolve to trust? – It makes me sad for those who don’t trust that God will provide and care for his children. Even though it may be a long period of suffering, he does always carry us through. We need to know and remember that and take the time we are in our trial to learn more about God and His Word and to find the lesson He is teaching us. We can’t give in to the weariness. We need to give our burdens to Him.
7. Read the section entitled “Restore Us…” and share what stands out to you and why. – WOW what I see in this section, what God did to Jerusalem for falling away from him is exactly what is happening in today’s world. Right now, there is so much hatred, anger and unforgiveness. So many things are falling away from God, they are removing him out and hushing those that believe in Him. We are not free to say anything about him, because we may offend someone else. But sadly those people who are getting offended by things of God are the ones who need Him the most. Oh Lor, see us down here and help us to know how to restore our hearts so in turn we can restor the world you created and those that are in it.
Friday: A Road Map to Christ
8. Read this section and share what stands out to you and why. – I never thought about when Jesus was hanging on the cross that he was hanging between heaven and earth. Great visual for me, to see what all he was giving up for us, but the beauty of where he was going is a much better place. And He did it all for us, sinners who betrayed Him.
9. Take two questions from the end of this chapter and answer them. – 1. Why do you think Christians are reluctant to step into the pain of other people’s lives or into the pain of a community? What are they dynamics involved? – I think people are afraind to get involved, especially in today’s world. We may feel that we don’t have what e need to help them, but I think everyone has been through some kind of trial in their lives as they get older. We can always just be there to listen, to help guide them and stear them back to God’s Word. I think too that some don’t want to be around the negativity of a person in pain, or the sorrow that their pain brings to them. I remember my ex-father-in-law, when he had cancer was so depressed and in the ‘why me’ mode, that no one wanted to be around him. He was bringing everyone else down with him and I think people may feel that there is enough of that in the world today that they need to stay back and away from it. 6. How can lament lead to the gospel? What would lament sound like, or what words would you say in using the language of loss as a bridge to the cross? – I know for me, when I start to talk something out with my boss at work that is bothering me, I start to feel better. I know when I reach out to God about something that is bothering me, or about the pain and sorrow I’m feeling, I can feel His Peace come over. Like he’s holding my hand telling me, ‘don’t worry, I’ve got this’. Lament is a great stepping stone to bring you closer to God. He wants us to come to him with our burdens. The words that I use are ‘Lord help me. I don’t know what else to do. Open up the doors, the path that leads (insert name of person or issue) back to the cross. I know only you can get me through this. You have the power to overcome everything and I know you are walking with me now’
julie–this is a good reminder “We can always just be there to listen, to help guide them and stear them back to God’s Word.”
Wonderful post, Julie.
Loved this:
I know for me, when I start to talk something out with my boss at work that is bothering me, I start to feel better. I know when I reach out to God about something that is bothering me, or about the pain and sorrow I’m feeling, I can feel His Peace come over. Like he’s holding my hand telling me, ‘don’t worry, I’ve got this’
8. A road map…. What stood out and why.
The message of the gospel is where lament should lead. Yes! Jesus is the answer to every pain. Even though we know the victory that is coming, we still embrace this language of sorrow. Lament helps us confront our idols. I need confrontation. Most of my idols creep in very quietly, without my even noticing. When Mark wrote that lament is a memorial, that is a different thought to me. Through this study I’ve looked at lament to something else, rather than a memorial. Not sure how I feel about this.
9. Reflection questions.
#4). Define the sovereignty of God.
It means He gets to say, to choose, to decide. Not sometimes, but every time. He rules. I really, really like the post from earlier this week, that He reigns over. At what point of your life has this doctrine been a struggle?
It’s always in the background, because I’ve always wanted to be in control. I didn’t like His leading in my miscarriages, marriage troubles, or in putting me on the shelf. When has it been comforting?
As I age, I have less need to be first, less ambition. It is nice to rest in Him and remember He has this. I live in dichotomy, obviously, because these two things exist side by side, moment by moment. #8). Ask the Lord to open doors and give courage…
Lord Jesus, I think I see many opportunities, places You may want to work through me. Some of them seem very natural and comfortable. Some very difficult. But the truth is I don’t know. My life is a vapor in Your hands. Help me, dear Lord, to hear You clearly, and to be instantly obedient to Your will. Help me be that servant in Psalms, just watching Your hand, so that I can do as You direct. Especially, Lord, help me be content with being a slave and not a foreman.
6. A. Lamentations 5:19 How do you see trust? I see trust because God is reigning and this goes on to all generations. He is in control of our world and all that is happening so I know that his plan is for good even when I don’t know the future.
B. Verse 20 Why do you forget us forever? Because we are focusing on the present circumstances which feel very wrong, so we have complaint.
C. Verse 21-22 The turn: These verses take up the desire and the request that we may be restored and renewed! Yes, there is the ending – if you remain exceedingly angry!!
D. The book of Lamentations does not end on a resolve to trust so this is not our hope-that everything turns out good forevermore. Well, the reality is that not all evil will stop. The wrath of God will give punishment to the deserving ones who go their own way. That is the reason for the book- people had sinned and turned away from God.
Restore Us to Yourself, O Lord; So this prayer is needed for us all. It shows us that we need to come to God with repentance. I love the prayer of David in Psalm 51 and I pray that also. Create in me a clean heart, O God and renew a right spirit within me. I love to sing these words. This is God’s promise. I pray also for our nation which has so much evil now that we hear many lies, and never seem to know what is the truth in men’s words. Good is called evil and evil good, leaving a confused state of affairs. But God is the judge of all.
Thursday:
6) A) Even though the list of pain has just been rehearsed, Jeremiah remains steadfast that God has not let up His rule from His throne and that this rule, God’s rule, has prevailed through the centuries and will continue to prevail into eternity. He will continue to rely on it and appeal to it.
B) The complaint continues with the “Why?” question of lament. It asks why God is allowing the suffering to continue. This question “why?” is quintessential lament.
C) The expectation to hope for a better restored future remains because ultimate confidence that the tether to the reigning sovereign ruler and bestower of new hearts and new conditions of existence is not severed but remains intact because God “remembers” with fidelity His covenant.
D) Lamentations 5 doesn’t end with a resolve to trust but ends with a child-like vulnerability. It is the acknowledgement of children who are wholly dependent on God’s grace for any restoration to even happen for them. It is the picture of children looking to their Father for acceptance and for the fulfillment of His promise to restore them when they fail because He knows we are dust. It is left open-ended for the sake of anticipating what He has yet to fulfill. I think this is where the potential faith of non-believers is often aborted. It is that when they are faced with the reality of God they have difficulty living in the state of being a dependent and small child before Him. This expression of child-like vulnerability at the end of Lamentations depends on child-like trust – it IS trust.
7) What stands out to me is that we are utterly helpless…but God intervenes, loving us too much to leave us in our depraved and lost state. Without His stooping to restore, without His pity on our sorrowful state, we are not restored. He promises us a new heart and a new condition of existence and an inheritance even! “Lord, to whom shall we go?”, “Whom have I in heaven but you?” These 2 questions could also be fitting last questions for Lamentations 5 as we see them elsewhere in God’s Word.
Friday:
8) What stands out to me is that we have been entrusted with what is precious and powerful – the Gospel.
9) 2) It’s helpful because it brings the pain into the light before God and touches the specific nerve that the healing of God is being sought for. The pain is presented before God in conjunction with the request that He remember that He has stepped in to heal His own in the past. It is an appeal that He remember His faithfulness to restore.
5) These verses go to the core of our utter dependence on God for restoration and for the hope of healing in our lives. Getting rid of the old useless heart, that clunker, for a new heart that pleases God can only happen because God does it as He commits and covenants to love us beyond what we deserve.
Love this from Lynne:
“Lord, to whom shall we go?”, “Whom have I in heaven but you?” These 2 questions could also be fitting last questions for Lamentations 5 as we see them elsewhere in God’s Word.
Take Away this week: During all my remembering of past tragedies, laments, and sorrows, there is the knowing that there is no longer pain in this study of Lamentations. There were seasons when Jeremiah’s words were my words (on a personal level). But God heals, restores, comforts and shows Himself strong and faithful. I sing His praises. BUT YOU, O LORD REIGN FOREVER.
10. What is your take-a-way this week and why?
This sounds almost too simple but my takeaway is the sin God has revealed in me the past two days, and Becky C’s insight ..that she sees rubble but doesn’t always want to go in-OH my..that is me, and yet, “…There is rubble all around me. I’m going in.” LOVE that quote from Matrix!! I want to escape but God wants me to stay in and I don’t know why.
The fact that this passage ends with still no resolve to trust is huge. My response isn’t always trust but that is where I long to be where my responses are more and more that way. I see through this trial how broken I truly am yet how magnificent He is and I am His! He puts me more in awe of Him.
Lately I am seeing how I desire to see a resolve to trust right away-that I want to experience Him 100% in full now! How impatient I can be with His pruning in me. I have always identified with Peter! Rabbit trail ahead. 🙂 I love the scenes with Peter in “The Chosen” series..it sometimes makes me laugh for I am the same way! So excited about Jesus but haven’t a clue as to what he is doing even though I think I do.. So filled with His joy I want to tell the world, and the next day something happens and I struggle to trust. Ugh. Yet He loves me and has a beautiful plan for my life to mature me and bring Him Glory. I am humbled that He would even choose me, a clearly broken sinner who has been forgiven MUCH, and that He desires to attract others to Himself through this broken mess..
Lord Jesus I am so thankful you are so patient with me, with us in our journey with you on this blog, I pray you would help us to sense you even more as Dee starts the next study-she is excited and so I know Lord that means you are going to reveal more of yourself to us! Thank you for Dee, for her love that compells her to continue to help us grow deeper. I am thankful you have given her wisdom for direction for our next study. Help us to long more and more for you and help us to shed the scales that keep us from you. We love you Lord Jesus and we desire you come back soon-may we be all beautiful for you as you are making us now! We long for you. In your name, Amen.
My take away is not just for this week, but for the whole study on lamenting. At the beginning I thought that my lamenting would most likely center on my son and his family moving west, but it is has more been about the emptiness that I feel in many aspects of my life, the dry prayer life, no real close friends, things of that nature. I sometimes spend my one hour commute to work lamenting (which has been a cure for my dry prayer life 🙂 ).
You have friends here, Dawn — though I know we all need up close and personal friends. Great that the lament has brought energy to your prayer life.
Dawn, loneliness was here in our world even before sin… God said, it is not good for man to be alone. We need each other. I struggle with this, too, and firmly believe everyone does in varying degrees at any one moment. I pray for you, dear sister, that God’s arms and continual provision will fill your heart to overflowing on a daily basis.
I wish we could all get together for a weekend. Wouldn’t that be fun? Thinking of you sweet sister ♥️.
Dawn–I’m glad you’re here. I always appreciate you honest heart. I’m sorry for the emptiness you feel, praying for Him to hear your cry and fill that void.
8. Read this section and share what stands out to you and why.
Sin brings death and suffering. Under this though God provides mercy.
The resurrection of Christ reveals the coming death to the devil.
We must wait for Christ to be victorious in His return.
The neighbors of the murdered pregnant woman ended up having more study to help all lament the awful event and heal. Jesus is our hope. Lament leads to Christ.
Saturday: Take-A-Way
10. What is your take-a-way this week and why?
I am asking God to help me continue to trust Him even when things that I pray for do not resolve here on earth. There are a final resolution and a renewal of all things. Someday when we see Jesus again, all these “light afflictions” will vanish to oblivion.
8. Read this section and share what stands out to you and why. That we as Christian’s know the rest of the story. That suffering and sorrow will one day end, and the rest of the story for those who trust in Christ is that heaven awaits us. Peace, fullness and no more sorrow.
9. Why do you think Christian’s are reluctant to step into the pain of other people’s lives or into the pain of a community? When we enter into another’s pain, we do not walk away unscathed. By coming alongside of them, we take part in helping to carry the burden of grief, loss, and sorrow. When that happens, we are left with pain and sorrow as well. We cannot walk away unaffected. It hurts to step in. there are things we cannot unsee, pain w cannot ignore. Also for some it might be because it knocks on the door of unprocessed pain in their lives.
10. My take away is the idea that we tend to hush the recitation of pain. That restoration doesn’t come for those who live in denial. True peace/healing and false peace cannot coexist. False peace found in stuffing our pain and denying its existence, never allows for the wound to be accessed, aired out, infection removed, and to receive a surgeons hands if necessary.
Tammy jo- this is so good “we as Christian’s know the rest of the story. That suffering and sorrow will one day end, and the rest of the story for those who trust in Christ is that heaven awaits us. Peace, fullness and no more sorrow.”
Tammy Jo, I agree with your take away: True peace/healing and false peace cannot coexist. And the sentence that follows is so accurate.