As the author remembers his affliction, he also recalls the Lord‘s compassionand gains hope. He knows that God is good to those who hope in Him. - P69
Evenamid suffering, it is good to sit and wait for the salvation of the Lord becauseHe will not cast off His people forever. - P69
No act of injustice goes unnoticed byGod. Everything that happens is because God has decreed it. - P69
God gives us permission to vent our grief and anger to Him. He listensto us even when our hearts are too bitter to praise. - P70
He tells us to offerup such prayers because this begins the process by which we grow infaith and maturity. As we vent to God, the counsel and love He provideschanges us. - P70
God causes us to remember that we are beloved and restoresour hope. This is exactly what happens in Lamentations. - P70
As the authorpours out his grief, God reminds him of His great love and faithfulness.
Though his circumstances have not changed, his heart is turned towardthe Lord and he is once again able to hope in His salvation. - P70
It is onlyby spending time processing our pain with God that we can experiencesuch moments of clarity and revelation. - P70
May we persevere in prayereven when we feel like we are doing it wrong. - P70
Dear Jesus, how faithful You are! Even at times when our hearts are sad, we thinkof You and it gives us hope. - P71
Help us to remember You in our every day, in bothgood and bad times. In Your name, amen. - P71
Estonia gained independence from Russia in 1918 but was invaded by the Soviet Union in1940 and only regained independence in 1991. The nation‘s history of occupation by foreignpowers meant periods of high-level religious persecution, which has led to more than half ofthe population rejecting any form of religion. - P70
Currently, those who call themselves Christiansdo not practice their faith in their daily lives. Still, thanks to freedom of religion, Bible schoolsand seminaries are raising up Christian leaders to spread the gospel in Estonia. - P70
The author calls the people to examine themselves and repent before God.
Because of their sins, God has unleashed His anger against them. Their en-emies have welcomed their destruction. - P73
As he sees the devastation aroundhim, he cries unceasingly. He recalls how his enemies hunted him down untilthere was no way out. - P73
The prophet calls upon the people to examine their ways and return toGod. - P74
True repentance begins with introspection-looking inward tosee whether we are still aligned to God‘s will or have gone astray. - P74
Thisis, however, not a purely human endeavor. It can only happen whenwe have been convicted by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit causes usto acknowledge the gravity of our sins. We can then express sorrowover our brokenness through prayer, lifting our hearts toward heavenand asking for God‘s forgiveness. - P74
And our God is gracious and full ofmercy. When we come to Him with broken hearts, He promises toforgive and restore us. - P74
The prophet feels utterly broken by the devastation he sees around him.
He cannot control his tears. He is particularly moved by the plight ofthe women who perhaps have lost both their husbands and their chil-dren in the destruction. - P74
He hopes that the Lord will be moved by histears and save the people of Jerusalem. There is much brokenness in theworld today that should cause us to cry tears of godly sorrow. - P74
Lamentis not an expression of hopelessness but rather a heartfelt acknowledg- hment of all the wrongs that we desperately want to see made right.
- P74
Godly lament gives birth to hope, and hope believes that our good Godwill not allow things to remain as they are.
- P74
Heavenly Father, thank you for being close to those who are brokenhearted.
Please have mercy on us for the sins of our generation. Please forgive andrestore us. In Jesus‘ name, amen. - P75
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