Lamentations Lessons from Suffering Part 1 Lam 1:1-2:22

Introduction Lamentations is a series of acrostics making up one book –An acrostic is a form of poetry where each line begins with the next letter of the alphabet Chapters 1, 2, and 4 each go once through the Hebrew alphabet Chapter 3 has each letter repeated for three lines –A,A,A,B,B,B,C,C,C, … Chapter 5, a prayer, is not an acrostic –The importance of the style is that it points to chapter 3 as the climax Accordingly, we’ll find more and the most important lessons there

Background Written by the prophet Jeremiah –After the fall of Jerusalem in 586 BC Previously, Jeremiah had spent 40+ years trying to get Judah to repent –During which he had been threatened, imprisoned, and left to die –During which we are not told of any conversions There may have been a few individual changes (some of which are implied in the book of Jeremiah) –But the nation did not change its course Jerusalem has been destroyed

Caution Lamentations is about suffering resulting from sin –Not all suffering is because of personal sin (e.g., Job, Christ) Some of the other reasons for suffering taught in the Bible include: –Suffering because of another’s sin –Suffering for righteousness –Suffering to improve –But sometimes suffering is because of sin, and Lamentations teaches lessons about that kind of suffering

The horror of suffering Lam 1:1-11 –From the viewpoint of the city / nation Loss of children, comfort, friends, freedom, splendor, and pleasant things Reason: “The Lord has afflicted her” (v5) because “Jerusalem has sinned gravely” (v8) –Lam 1:12-17 »God was angry –Almost like a child whining that he deserved punishment, but NOT that much Lesson: Sometimes when we are in sin and suffering, we complain and get angry at God –Even if we admit we sinned, we think God ‘overreacted’

The righteousness of suffering But then a change, and Jerusalem admits the fault is her own –Lam 1:18-20 The Lord is righteous, therefore, the punishment is obviously right –She then says, ‘Okay, lesson learned. I’m sorry. I need comfort.’ Lesson: When we finally admit that we deserve the punishment we have received, then we may think the punishment should end –‘I said I was sorry’, and expect that should end the suffering

The righteousness of suffering The tone changes again (Lam 1:21-22) She now points to the sins of others, and asks why they aren’t suffering –‘Misery loves company’ –If God is righteous, He should make the other sinners suffer »Job struggled with this same thought: why not all evildoers suffer immediately Lesson: We should not try to justify ourselves by looking for those who are worse (Prov 3:11-12) –God may let you suffer because He wants you back The evil will be judged and punished in the end (2Cor 5:10)

The evil of sin Chapter 2:1-19 moves the viewpoint from the people’s view to God’s view Lam 2:1-3 –God is angry at the sinfulness of Judah –They hadn’t realized how He had been protecting them from suffering Now He removes His protective hand (v3) –They are getting what they brought upon themselves »Would have gotten it before, but for God’s protection Lesson: Our punishment may simply be the withdrawal of His blessings

The enemy of sin We know from Judah (and Israel’s) history that withdrawing His blessings didn’t change them –And so they became God’s enemy (Lam 2:4-6) There is a war going on, and you must be on one side or the other (2Cor 10:3-6) –God wants you back, but by sin you are joining Satan’s army –You have become God’s enemy, unless you return to Him Lesson: We should seriously think about what it means to fight against God –Rev 19:11-21; 20:10-14

Sorrow or repentance But we saw in Lam 1:18-20, that the people were sorry for their sins –Doesn’t that mean they were on God’s side? Lam 2:7-10 –God hears them making “a noise in the house of the Lord” (v7) He sees their sackcloth, and throwing dust on their heads, and bowing to the ground (v10) –But He doesn’t see them following the Law (v9) –They were sorry because they were punished, but that doesn’t mean they’d repented Lesson: We need to see the difference between sorrow and repentance (2Cor 7:8-11) –Judas had sorrow (Mt 27:3-5) –Peter had sorrow (Mt 26:74-75), but it produced repentance as Jesus had foretold (Lk 22:31-32)

God’s view Is God happy punishing the wicked? –Lam 2:11-16 God is saddened by the sin, the necessity of punishment –He wishes that people’s sins did not have consequences that affect the innocent »But there is no way for Him to comfort sinners who refuse to repent His people’s sin (and consequent suffering) causes other sinners to scorn God’s blessings –They think it proves their way is better Lesson: Our sins hurt ourselves, our children, the church, and even the chances of the lost to be saved – and that saddens God

God’s view Then why doesn’t God not punish sinners? –Lam 2:17 To do so would not be just He has said that sin has consequences, and so it must, does, and will Lesson: We can’t escape the consequences of sin by simply appealing to God’s goodness and love –Some say, ‘God is too loving, too good to send anyone to hell’ –God says, (Rom 11:22)

Repentance Jeremiah then proposes what it will take for Judah to return to God (Lam 2:18-22) –Hearts that cry out to the Lord (v18a) Not just outward displays and ‘noise’ –Unceasing, day and night, repentance (v18b-19a) Not saying, I’m sorry and waiting a few minutes, and returning to sin –Placing your life, your future, in the hands of God (v19b) –Then God will know that enough has been done Lesson: Repentance is a total change, not a half-hearted attempt to escape suffering

Conclusion Suffering can teach us many lessons Judah’s sufferings because of her sins can teach us: –Not to be angry with God for suffering caused by our sin –Repentance isn’t just saying, “Sorry” –Sin makes us the enemy of God All sin affects ourselves, our families, the work of the church, and the salvation of others Though God may wish to save us, He will not force us to repent –And justice demands that sin be punished –But God will notice our repentance if it is sincere and complete, no matter the sin or the suffering