In His anger, the Lord has extinguished Israel‘s splendor and torn down Judah‘sstrongholds. His anger is like fire that consumes everything. God has slain Hispeople as though He were an enemy. - P51
The land is left desolate, and wailing isheard throughout the land. God‘s appointed festivals are forgotten. Destruc-tion is everywhere, and the people sit in mourning. - P51
In the second poem of Lamentations, the narrator openly expresses histhoughts and feelings regarding the punishment that God has inflictedupon Jerusalem. - P52
God in His anger has withdrawn His favor andtection from His people by allowing them to experience ruin and de-struction. - P52
This is ultimately a result of God‘s judgment upon Jerusalem‘ssins-revealing His sovereignty and power over human sin. - P52
Hundredsof years later, God would exercise this sovereignty and power in a rad-ically different way by punishing His own Son so that sinners like uscould receive His forgiveness. - P52
Christ‘s work on the cross has withdrawnGod‘s wrath from all those who repent and believe, and they now enjoyHis favor and protection. - P52
It is further revealed that God has judged His people by destroying thetemple in Jerusalem. The temple is where the Israelites came to offer upsacrifices to the Lord and receive forgiveness for their sins; it is whereGod‘s presence dwelt among His people. - P52
It is through the temple thatthe Israelites were able to have fellowship with God, so its destructionbrought about great fear and despair. - P52
The people mourned and lost allhope-but God had a plan. We now know that God planned to notonly rebuild the temple but to send His Holy Spirit so that He couldmake His dwelling place within each individual He would redeem byHis grace. - P52
Believers today have a direct access to God that cannot bestolen away. - P52
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