Chapter 4 of Lamentations is almost devoid of hope and were it not connected to the rest of the book, and indeed the rest of Scripture itself we might falsely conclude there is no hope at all. So dark is the chapter that we struggle to find meaning and application as people of hope who do trust in Christ. What does this say to us? What can we learn from this sad, dark moment in Jewish history? Plenty
When It All Falls Down
August 30, 2020 • Dr. Willy Rice
More from
Lamentations
Out of The Darkness
September 6, 2020 • Dr. Willy Rice
The book of Lamentations is a story of what happened and what one man felt when the darkness fell upon the Jewish people in 586 BC. This final chapter, this final lament is more chaotic than all the others. While it has 22 verses, one for each letter of the Hebrew alphabet, unlike the other 4 chapters there is no acrostic, no order to the verses. Some speculate that this is a picture of the chaos the author felt. In the end he just pours out his pain in the rawest of forms. At some level this is what grief is. It is pouring out our pain through our words and expressions. We can either bottle up the poison, or find a way to express our sorrow. These lamentations give us permission to pour out our sorrow.
Finding Hope
August 23, 2020 • Dr. Willy Rice
Hope is found when we remember two things: God is FAITHFUL, God is MERCIFUL. God is a good and loving God and He does not want to bring suffering or affliction upon us. God doesn’t delight in our pain. There is a loving purpose behind every tear whether we can see it or not.
Cloudy Eyes Clear Vision
August 16, 2020 • Dr. Willy Rice
While the book of Lamentations deals with a unique and specific historical situation, the fall of Jerusalem, we will all deal with grief and devastation at points in our life. Many of us are dealing with extraordinary circumstances and loss and sacrifice in this COVID season of 2020. The book of Lamentations teaches us how to pray out of our pain. It gives us a vehicle to express our pain, our confusion, and eventually our hope.