Jeremiah wrote Lamentations (Tears/Wailings in Greek) after personally witnessing the downfall of Judah and the capture of Jerusalem. As his pen so vividly illustrates, His people suffered tragically. God’s fierce judgment crushed them because of their total disregard for His law. No wonder Jeremiah was called the weeping prophet. Broken in heart and spirit, he grieved over this horrific devastation and urged the people to repent of their sins.
As I read this scripture, I imagine witnessing the breakdown of the present day Church! Picture every vestige and denomination– disgraced beyond imagination and completely broken down because of our sins and idolatry. Reflection should thoroughly rupture every true Christian spirit. Revival time would be soon upon us; the old-time tent meetings would spread from shore to shore. I hope and pray we will realize the need to turn our hearts back to God before His wrath is nigh at our door. Lord, have compassion on our souls as we strive to let Christ back into our churches before condemation comes knocking.
The Jewish people read Lamentations every year on the commemoration date of the temple’s destruction. Maybe we ought to integrate this scripture reading into our Lenten services and contrite reflection during that somber season. Why wait until then? Our walk with Christ is in dire need of realignment now. How about repentance today?
“This I recall to mind, therefore have I hope:
Because of the Lord’s mercies, we are not consumed; his compassions fail not.
They are new every morning; great is his faithfulness. The Lord is my portion, says my soul; therefore I will hope in him.
The Lord is good to them that wait for him, to the soul that seeks him.
It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord.
It is good for a man that he bears the yoke in his youth.
Let him sit alone and keep silent, because God has laid it upon him.
Let him put his mouth in the dust, so there may be hope.
Let him give his cheek to him that smites him; he is filled full with reproach.
For the Lord will not cast off forever.”
If you died today, are you absolutely certain that you would go to heaven? You can be! TRUST JESUS NOW
Read more articles by Jeanne E Webster or search for articles on the same topic or others.
I think all of us who love the Lord recognize the breakdown of churches, nearly all of them in one way or another. Denominations seem to be the biggest deterent. What do you think? How do we bring things back to Christianity with boundries, dedicated lives, not testing how far we can stray? I think we need more exhortation on overcoming the little foxes. It doesn't matter how high one gets under the emotion of the service but how straight we walk when our feet touch the ground and real tests come upon us. You did a great job of a call to self-examine. Thank-you
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