[NIV] 18 "The LORD is righteous, yet I rebelled againsthis command. Listen, all you peoples; look on my suf-fering. My young men and young women have goneinto exile. - P46
21 People have heard my groaning, but there is no oneto comfort me. All my enemies have heard of my dis-tress; they rejoice at what you have done. May you bringthe day you have announced so they may become likeme. - P47
22 Let all their wickedness come before you; deal withthem as you have dealt with me because of all my sins.
My groans are many and my heart is faint." - P47
The woman who personifies Jerusalem confesses that she has rebelledagainst the Lord. - P47
Her young were exiled and her leaders perished whilesearching for food. Inside and outside the city, only death awaits them. - P47
Herenemies hear about this and rejoice. The woman asks God to deal with theirsins just as He has dealt with her sins. - P47
It is human nature to always want to be right. So when we fail or makemistakes, we try to justify our actions to make ourselves look like weare in the right. - P48
But only the Lord is always right. - P48
Amid his suffering,
the author of Lamentations humbly acknowledges that the Lord wasright in allowing Jerusalem to be destroyed because of her sin. - P48
Jerusalemcalls out to the people to look upon her suffering and realize the con-sequences of rebellion against a holy and all-powerful God. - P48
The Lordhas made it clear from the beginning: sin leads to death but His Wordleads to life eternal. - P48
Instead of trying to be righteous by our own merit,
let us rely on our God to make us righteous by the work of His Spirit. - P48
As God‘s people suffer the devastation of His wrath, they have begun Fto realize that it was their sin that brought about this tragic turn ofevents. - P48
But what about those who brought destruction to Jerusalem?
How would God deal with them? God is able to work through allthings even the wicked-to accomplish His plans. - P48
But just becausehe has allowed the enemies of Israel to defeat His people does not meanHe has suddenly switched sides. God is faithful to His children andpromises to deal with evildoers according to His perfect justice. - P48
May wenot be discouraged when we see the enemies of God enjoy momentary success.
- P48
Our God will claim victory over the enemy and vindicate Hispeople in His time. - P48
Lord thank you that You are perfectly righteous and just. Help me to trustin Your promise that You will vindicate Your people and claim victory overYour enemies. Continue to mold me into Your likeness. In Jesus‘ name, amen. - P49
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