Remembrance and Humbled Lamentations 3:20

As Jeremiah remembers his affliction, misery, wormwood and gall, he is affected within his soul. In verse twenty he told of the result of his inward troubles where he wrote:

My soul has them still in remembrance, and is humbled in me.

The verse begins, “My soul has them still in remembrance,...” It is one thing for Jeremiah to feel deep seated emotions because of his circumstances, and it is quite another to know that his soul was remembering his sufferings over and over again. It was not as though he could forget them because he was living in the continuance of the situation that brought these horrible conditions upon him. Rather than being able to dismiss his memories, they haunted him every day.

The verse goes on to say, “...and is humbled in me.” What was the result of Jeremiah's remembering his afflictions? It “humbled” him which means it “sunk him down” and “bowed him” as if it was toward the ground. There was no room for pride in Jeremiah's soul because his circumstances lowered him to a state of chagrin and disgrace.

Have we ever been humbled by our situations or circumstances? Have there been places of pride that have been far removed because we were chagrined or embarrassed in our lives? Maybe decisions were made that brought us into unfortunate circumstances that were made by others and now our lives are affected by them. As we ponder this verse, perhaps it will help us to remember how Jesus humbled Himself in His sufferings and death on the cross, and we should consider what Jesus said as recorded in the gospel of Matthew in chapter twenty-three and verse twelve:

And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.

May the Lord lead us to glory in nothing other than God the Father and Jesus Christ His Son, and may the remembrance of that keep us in a humbled state within our souls at all times.

Next time we see how Jeremiah recalls these things, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

 

Until tomorrow...there is more...

 

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, www.amazon.com ; www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore

Affliction, Misery, Wormwood and Gall Lamentations 3:19

As we continue to study the reaction and emotions of Jeremiah as he overlooked the devastated city of Jerusalem, we have come to a new paragraph in chapter three where Jeremiah begins to remember his overwhelming circumstances. We begin in verse nineteen where we read:

Remembering my affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall.

The verse begins, “Remembering my affliction and my misery,...” Four states of mind are mentioned in this very short verse of which the first two are “affliction” which means “poverty or misery” and “misery” which means “restlessness, straying, wanderer, or refugee”. Jeremiah began to remember how miserable he was and how his situation made him restless and as though he were a stranger without purpose. If he were asked “what is it that you own now Jeremiah?” His answer would be, “nothing but a miserable state and the belongings of a refugee”.

The verse goes on to say, “the wormwood and the gall.” In addition to “affliction and misery” Jeremiah adds “the wormwood” which is a metaphor for bitterness and “the gall” which is “venom, bitter, or poisonous” and is sometimes translated “hemlock”. Jeremiah's circumstances have him remembering his bitter state, and his life was lived as though it were poisoned.

Have we ever been in a state where it felt as though affliction and misery were the sum total of our existence? Have we lived in a manner that feels restless like a refugee or like our days are poisoned? We might suppose there are periods in our lives where nothing but adversity has stricken us and some of those times last longer than others. Sometimes afflictions come as the Lord tries and refines us as mentioned in chapter forty-eight and verse ten of the book of Isaiah where we read:

Behold, I have refined you, but not with silver; I have chosen you in the furnace of affliction.

In these times we can rely upon the word of God who will never allow them without a purpose, and He remembers us within them. As the Psalmist said in chapter one hundred and nineteen and verse seventy-one:

It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn your statutes.

When circumstances dictate “affliction, misery, wormwood, and gall” we can know without a shadow of a doubt that God Almighty is overseeing and teaching us to have closer fellowship with Him.

Next time we learn how these things affected Jeremiah's soul, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

 

Until tomorrow...there is more...

 

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, www.amazon.com ; www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore

Strength and Hope Perished Lamentations 3:18

As Jeremiah continues his lament and how it affected him personally, he spoke of physical and emotional sufferings he endured. In chapter three and verse eighteen he adds to those intangible attributes that are important and now gone. He wrote:

And I said, My strength and my hope is perished from the LORD:

The verse begins, “And I said, My strength...” Jeremiah begins by talking about his “strength” which is his “eminence, perpetuity, victory, enduring, and everlastingness”. As he thinks about the losses he has incurred because of Jerusalem and Judah's rejection of God, Jeremiah knew that even the force to keep him going vanished.

The verse goes on to say, “...and my hope is perished from the LORD:” In addition to losing his strength Jeremiah speaks of losing his “hope” by way of the LORD's “perishing” or “vanishing, going astray, being destroyed” as in “divine judgment”. Not only was his strength to continue gone, but his “hope” that there would be any change in the future was destroyed as well.

When we ponder Jeremiah's losses in this verse, we may do well to consider what would happen if we lost all our strength and hope? What would we be like if we were totally weak and totally hopeless? Many times these two traits are linked together because having strength gives us hope, however having weakness leans toward hopelessness. Jeremiah's condition would benefit us personally and nationally if we think about it as we believe ourselves to be strong and hopeful. But what if our strength was gone? What if our hope was lost? Would we then turn to the Savior Jesus and learn that our true strength and hope has always, is and will be in Him? May the Lord Jesus lead us to rely upon the strength and hope that is enjoyed by fellowship with Him.

Next time we will see what Jeremiah remembered, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

 

Until tomorrow...there is more...

 

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, www.amazon.com ; www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore

No Peace and Forgotten Prosperity Lamentations 3:17

Have we ever wondered what it is like to live in total fear within our souls? Have we experienced prosperity and then lost it all? These are the thoughts of Jeremiah as he continued his lament in chapter three and verse seventeen where we read:

And you have removed my soul far off from peace: I forgot prosperity.

The verse begins, “And you have removed my soul far off from peace:” Jeremiah employed the Hebrew word “zanach” which means “to cast off, reject, spurn or forcefully reject someone” and it means “to stink, become odious”. He uses this word twice as he wrote this verse as it reads “Zanach nephesh Zanach” and implies double and repeated depth to his emotions. His “soul” or “self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion” was affected to the core as “peace” which means “completeness, soundness, welfare, tranquility and contentment” was completely removed from him.

The verse goes on to say, “I forgot prosperity.” Not only was Jeremiah's peace forcefully removed, he also “forgot prosperity” which means “good, pleasant, agreeable, excellent, rich, appropriate, and becoming”. It conveys the idea of being “better, glad, happy, of good understanding, kindness and right”. Jeremiah was so overwhelmed by his current circumstances that he could not remember what a good and prosperous life was like anymore.

We can almost sense Jeremiah's despair as he goes through this third chapter and describes his current state. As he wrote of “peace” and “prosperity” being gone, perhaps we have experienced losses in these areas as well or maybe we can imagine what it would be like to be without them. Whichever the case, we see the troubles of Jeremiah and we may be reminded of what Jesus did as he came to the earth to die for our sins. Paul the apostle gave us an idea of this in his letter to the Philippians in chapter two and verses six and seven where he wrote speaking of Jesus:

Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

In other words, Jesus left “peace” and “prosperity” that we might have fellowship and a relationship with Him. As the songwriter penned, “Oh what a Savior! O Hallelujah! He gave His life's blood for you and me!” May we ever live in eternal peace and prosperity that comes with God through Jesus' sacrifice, and we should remember that we will never lose these benefits no matter what comes our way.

Next time we will see Jeremiah's strength and hope vanquished, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

 

Until tomorrow...there is more...

 

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, www.amazon.com ; www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore

Broken Teeth and Covered with Ashes Lamentations 3:16

Jeremiah assessed that God was against him as he suffered the consequences from the destruction of the nation of Judah and the city of Jerusalem. His suffering became a type of Jesus as He suffered the ridicule and punishment for our sins. In chapter three and verse sixteen Jeremiah continues to describe his emotional experience. We read:

He has also broken my teeth with gravel stones, he has covered me with ashes.

The verse begins, “He has also broken my teeth with gravel stones,...” Jeremiah uses poetic description to convey his anguish. He refers to how God has “broken” or “crushed” his “teeth”, and notice the weapon of choice, “gravel stones” or “small stones made of gravel”. It is though the Lord has crushed all the teeth out of Jeremiah's mouth with an weapon of gravel as His choice.

The verse continues, “...he has covered me with ashes.” In addition to having his teeth as though they were crushed, Jeremiah says the Lord “has covered” which means “bent, pressed or trampled” him “with ashes” which refers to being humbled or made to feel worthless. The judgment of the Lord upon Jerusalem and Judah was no doubt a humbling experience to which Jeremiah felt a part.

While we meditate upon this verse, maybe we have felt like all our teeth have been assaulted by the Lord, and perhaps we have been made to feel worthless because of our circumstances. It might be that events have occurred that were unexpected and feel like someone has punched us right in the teeth, or maybe our own personal failure has made us feel worthless. Whichever the case, we must always keep in mind that we have the choice to serve a risen Savior in Jesus who has endured a punch in the mouth and covering with humility to have a relationship with us. He knows our hurt, and He knows our pain. He has endured that we may have fellowship with Him, and sometimes that fellowship is the “fellowship of His sufferings”.

That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; Philippians 3:10

Next time we will look at Jeremiah's lack of peace and prosperity, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

 

Until tomorrow...there is more...

 

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, www.amazon.com ; www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore

Bitterness and Drunken Lamentations 3:15

As we continue through the third chapter of Lamentations, we remember the poor conditions which Jeremiah felt and we are reminded of what Jesus faced as He was tormented and crucified for our sins. In verse fifteen Jeremiah extends his description to include bitterness and drunken with wormwood. We read:

He has filled me with bitterness, he has made me drunken with wormwood.

The verse begins, “He has filled me with bitterness,...” Jeremiah said the Lord “filled” him or “satisfied, enriched, sated or glutted with undesired” him with “bitterness” which is “a bitter thing or like unto bitter herbs”. It is as though God has given him a diet of nothing but bitter morsels, and rather than a nourishing and sweet regimen, Jeremiah has been given an acerbic one.

The verse continues, “...he has made me drunken with wormwood.” In addition to bitter food, Jeremiah employs another metaphor for his beverage, “drunken” which means he was “satiated, saturated, drunken with, intoxicated, drenched or filled” “with wormwood” which was a herb that was known to be noxious and poisonous. The circumstances in which Jeremiah found himself led him to believe that God had not only filled his life with bitterness, but also poisoned him in the process.

We can easily tell by Jeremiah's descriptions that he felt that God was against him. Perhaps there are times when we feel this way. It may seem that our lives are filled with nothing but bitter events, and on a daily basis someone has poisoned our way. We must keep in mind what Jesus said while He was on the earth:

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world you shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. John 16:33

Jesus knew there were going to be times when it seems like the whole world is against us. He knew in advance that we would need the comfort of His words when this happens, and regardless of the circumstances that arise, He has overcome them. As we ponder Jeremiah's words, let us continually be reminded that when bitter and poisonous times come, Jesus said to “be of good cheer” because He has overcome them all.

Next time we will see what happened to Jeremiah's teeth and how he was covered with ashes, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

 

Until tomorrow...there is more...

 

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, www.amazon.com ; www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore

A Derision and Song Lamentations 3:14

As Jeremiah continued to describe the way he felt during the aftermath of the destruction of Jerusalem, he told us of the Lord being like and archer who had his bow drawn at a target upon his back and was ready to unleash a full quiver attack upon him. In chapter three and verse fourteen we see how Jeremiah's neighbors treated him, and in their behavior we see how Jesus' neighbors dealt with Him. We read:

I was a derision to all my people; and their song all the day.

The verse begins, “I was a derision to all my people;” Jeremiah said he was a “derision” which means “laughter, laughing stock, or mocking” to “all” his “people” or “nation or tribe”. It was difficult enough for him to feel abandoned and attacked by God, but now even the people around him are mocking and ridiculing him.

The verse continues, “and their song all the day.” Jeremiah became the “song” or “music and taunting” song of the people around him. Not only would they make fun of him, they also composed songs that derided and heckled him. If we use our imaginations we can almost envision the people singing their songs, mocking and teasing Jeremiah.

As we consider the surroundings of Jeremiah written in this verse, we might be inclined to remember what Jesus faced just before and as He was crucified. In the gospel of Matthew in chapter twenty-seven and verses twenty-seven through thirty-one we read:

Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers. And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe. And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews! And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him.

Jesus endured the mocking and ridicule of the people around Him to a greater extent than Jeremiah. The next time we are the object of others heckling perhaps we will keep in mind what Jesus endured so that He might have fellowship and a relationship with us.

Next time we will look at Jeremiah's bitterness and being filled with wormwood, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

 

Until tomorrow...there is more...

 

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, www.amazon.com ; www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore

The Arrow of His Quiver Lamentations 3:13

Sometimes when we endure hardship we reach for words to describe to others about the way we feel. Such is the case with Jeremiah as he continues his lament over the fall of Jerusalem and Judah. In chapter three and verse twelve Jeremiah pictured the Lord as an archer who has his bow drawn and his arrow targeted toward him, and in verse thirteen he continues that thought where we read:

He has caused the arrows of his quiver to enter into my reins.

The verse begins, “He has caused the arrows of his quiver...” As we saw in verse twelve Jeremiah described God as an archer who had his bow drawn and was aiming at him, and he now magnifies the Lord's offensive. He said “he has caused the arrows” which is the Hebrew word “ben” and means “son, grandson, or member of a group” “of his quiver” or the cylindrical container that holds his arrows to be a part of this assault. The idea is that a full scale attack has been waged against him, and there was no defense against the Lord's arrows.

The verse goes on to say, “...to enter into my reins.” The effect of this attack by the Lord against Jeremiah is that he felt the arrows “enter into my reins” which means “go into or come into” his “seat of emotions, affections, and innermost mind”. In other words, the Lord's actions or lack thereof sunk deeply into Jeremiah's heart and mind, and his very soul was damaged by what he saw.

Have we ever felt like situations and circumstances were like quivers full of arrows that have been shot into our hearts and minds? Have we ever been so emotionally distraught and mentally disturbed that we wondered if God was shooting arrows at us? If so, we may be able to relate to Jeremiah, but not only him, we can relate to our Savior Jesus. Jesus endured the suffering of the cross, and He knew what it was like to be ridiculed by His creation. He knew the greatest mental and emotional suffering that has ever been known to man, and He experienced it for us to have a relationship with Him. The next time we wonder if the Lord has unloaded His quiver full of arrows against us, perhaps we should remember that Jesus was the one who took the arrows of all mankind that they may have fellowship with Him.

But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. Isaiah 53:5

Next time we see how Jeremiah was ridiculed by the people, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

 

Until tomorrow...there is more...

 

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, www.amazon.com ; www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore

His Bow and Arrow Lamentations 3:12

As Jeremiah continued his description of how he felt as he overlooked the ruins of Jerusalem, he told of how he believed that God was against him. We may be able to relate to him as we consider what he wrote in chapter three and verse twelve about God's bow and arrow. We read:

He has bent his bow, and set me as a mark for the arrow.

The verse begins, “He has bent his bow,...” As we think about these words, we should imagine that an archer has a bow in his hands, and he has pulled back the string. He has prepared for the strike, and he is soon to let his arrow fly. Jeremiah sees God like a mighty hunter who has withdrawn the string of his bow and prepared to let His arrow fly.

The verse goes on to say, “...and set me as a mark for the arrow.” It is one thing to have a bow drawn, and it is quite another when the target set for the arrow is us. Jeremiah said it was “me” who was the “mark for the arrow” or “target” which was in aim. Jeremiah felt that God had drawn his bow, aimed his arrow at at target, and the target was him.

As we ponder this verse, we may ask, “Have we ever felt like we had a target upon us and the Lord was the one ready to shoot?” Perhaps circumstances and events have occurred that made us feel like we were in God's aim. Certainly Jesus as He was beaten, mocked and crucified could have come to that conclusion. When we feel like Jeremiah and believe ourselves to be within God's aim, let us use wisdom and rely upon the Bible, God's word, that He is for us and not against us. As we feel like this, let us be reminded of Paul the apostle's words in the book of Romans in chapter eight and verses thirty-eight and thirty-nine where we read:

For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

There is no situation where the Lord is aiming to destroy us unless we do not have a relationship with Him. If we have no relationship with Him through Jesus Christ, then His aim is to bring us into fellowship with Him. We can reject His offering and sacrifice but woe be to those who are then directly within His aim.

Next time we see about how Jeremiah feels about God's arrow, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

 

Until tomorrow...there is more...

 

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, www.amazon.com ; www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore

Turned Aside, Pulled and Desolate Lamentations 3:11

Jeremiah continues his description of the way he felt as he overlooked the devastated city of Jerusalem. We have learned that his description becomes a type of Jesus Christ as He suffered, bled and died for our sins, and in chapter three and verse eleven Jeremiah tells of feelings of being turned aside, pulled in pieces and made desolate where we read:

He has turned aside my ways, and pulled me in pieces: he has made me desolate.

The verse begins, “He has turned aside my ways,...” The idea behind “turned aside” is “cause to depart, remove, take away, put away, depose”. It means to “put aside, leave undone, retract, reject, or abolish”. Where Jeremiah once felt his ways, journey and direction were going with God, he now felt like he was abandoned, rejected and put away.

The verse continues, “... and pulled me in pieces:” Next Jeremiah describes his situation as though the Lord has “pulled me in pieces” or “to rip or tear into parts”. Where he once felt whole and able to go through life with a sense of togetherness, Jeremiah now felt torn apart.

Finally the verse says, “he has made me desolate.” In addition to feeling rejected and torn in pieces, Jeremiah said God “made me desolate” or “appalled, stunned, or stupefied”. He was “awestruck, horrified, ravaged, astounded and caused to be ruined”. The events which occurred around Jeremiah made him feel deposed, ripped in pieces and horrified. Rather than feeling close to God, he felt that God was against him.

There are sometimes when we may feel like God has rejected us, torn us in pieces, and made us desolate or alone. Life brings events that evoke these emotions, however, the truth is that we are never alone. In the book of Hebrews in chapter thirteen and verse five we read:

Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as you have: for he has said, I will never leave you, nor forsake you.

When we have feelings such as Jeremiah's, we must remember that they are just emotional reactions to our circumstances. Sometimes our emotions deceive us and make us draw incorrect conclusions. When these times enter our lives, and they will, we must rely upon the Holy Word of God and Jesus Christ His Son who promises, “Lo, I am with you always, even until the end of the age”.

Next time we see how Jeremiah uses bows and arrows as examples of the way he feels, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

 

Until tomorrow...there is more...

 

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, www.amazon.com ; www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore

Lying Bear and a Lion Lamentations 3:10

When times are difficult we can feel that the whole world, God, and everyone is against us. Jeremiah felt this way as he overlooked the city of Jerusalem and the destruction that was all around him. He continues his description of himself in chapter three and verse ten where he wrote:

He was unto me as a bear lying in wait, and as a lion in secret places.

The verse begins, “He was unto me as a bear lying in wait,...” As Jeremiah continued his explanation of the way he felt, he turned to the “bear lying in wait” as an example. Like a bear waiting to attack its prey, Jeremiah felt that the Lord was “lying in wait” as in an “ambush or lurking” like an enemy ready to destroy him. No doubt the suddenness of the attack from a bear is a fitting description of the well-attacked Jeremiah.

The verse goes on to say, “...and as a lion in secret places.” Jeremiah next employs a “lion” as an example of the way he feels. This lion is one that is not exposed, in “secret places” or a “hiding place” where it also would be undetected by those passing by. The pounce of a lion when one is not expecting it would be a surprise element, and when the lion's prey is without knowledge of danger, sudden slaughter comes.

Perhaps as we think about these two animal examples given by Jeremiah we too have felt that a “bear” or “lion” has been after us. Maybe there was an element of surprise to adverse circumstances, or perhaps we felt as hunted prey because of certain situations. Let us keep in mind as we read Jeremiah's words that he is a man in deep sorrow, and descriptive words often help to convey that sorrow to others. Regardless of how we feel, Jesus knows about it. He too suffered through sorrow and as one who was hunted and treated as prey. As we think on these things let us be reminded of what Isaiah the prophet said about Jesus in chapter fifty-three and verse three:

He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

May we evermore identify with you Lord Jesus.

Next time we see more of Jeremiah's anguish, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

 

Until tomorrow...there is more...

 

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, www.amazon.com ; www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore

Hewn Stone and Crooked Paths Lamentations 3:9

As a reminder for us about this lament of Jeremiah, it is an acrostic poem that begins with each verse containing a sequential letter of the Hebrew alphabet in chapters one, two and four. The third chapter includes three verses for each letter, and as Jeremiah wrote, the ideas conveyed were either repetitive or contrasting. In chapter three and verse nine we see Jeremiah feeling trapped and misdirected as he wrote:

He has enclosed my ways with hewn stone, he hath made my paths crooked.

The verse begins, “He has enclosed my ways with hewn stone,...” Once again Jeremiah tries to describe how trapped or imprisoned he feels. He refers to the Lord and said “He has enclosed” which means “walled off, closed off or built a wall” against his “ways” or “road, distance, journey, or manner”. He also refers to the stones as “hewn” or “crafted and made in advance” stones. These stones were meant with purpose from their artisan, and they were intentional in development. No doubt with the devastation all around him, Jeremiah's normal way of doing things was vastly altered.

The verse goes on to say, “...he hath made my paths crooked.” Not only did Jeremiah feel imprisoned by walls all around him, but he also credits God for making his “paths crooked” which means He has made his normal route “to bend, twist, and distort”. Rather than being a straight path, Jeremiah feels that his usual trodden pathway has been bent with all kinds of contortions.

There are times when we feel walled in and our paths seem crooked, and we need someone to free us from our internal prison and to make our paths straight. Jesus Christ came to provide both liberty to the captive and to make our ways straight. In other words, in Jesus we have all the provision we need when we feel like Jeremiah did. No matter what our circumstances, no matter what our difficulties, and no matter how devastating our lives may seem, Jesus is ready and willing to help all who call upon Him. Let us call upon Him and find Him to be all the Savior He has promised in His word.

Next time we see animal examples used to describe Jeremiah's condition, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

 

Until tomorrow...there is more...

 

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, www.amazon.com ; www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore

Shut Out Prayer Lamentations 3:8

In chapter three of Jeremiah's lament, he has told of his enduring the affliction of the Lord, the wrath of His rod, the darkness into which he was led, and how God turned against him. He added that he fell walled in, compassed with gall and travail, set in dark places like those who were dead of old, and bound with a heavy chain. If those descriptions were not enough, Jeremiah shares how he felt about his prayers in verse eight where he wrote:

Also when I cry and shout, he shuts out my prayer.

The verse begins, “Also when I cry and shout,...” As though in a yelp of anguish Jeremiah tells of his appeal to heaven through his “cry and shout”. These cries and shouts are not ordinary as they tell of his desire for help and rescue. Like one who has fallen overboard upon a large ship, Jeremiah cried out for relief, but he found none.

The verse goes on to say, “...he shuts out my prayer.” Rather than hearing or receiving the extrication he desired, Jeremiah said “he shuts out” or “stops up” his “prayer”. He believes that his prayer doesn't go beyond the surpassing of his lips and in lieu of answered prayer, Jeremiah concludes that his prayers are ignored.

Have we ever experienced times when it seems that our prayers do not make it past the ceiling? Sometimes it is as though we only waste our breath as we cry and shout out to God. We can be assured that when we are in a relationship with God He does indeed hear us even if we do not receive the answer to our prayers the way we think they should be. Sometimes His answer is “yes”, and other times His answer is “no”. Still other times His answer may be “wait”, but He does answer, and it is within His own time. When we feel like Jeremiah and believe that God has shut out our prayers, let us be reminded of the importunate woman spoken of in the gospel of Luke chapter eighteen who after repeatedly coming to the judge heard these words:

Yet because this widow troubles me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.

To which Jesus added:

And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

Let us evermore hear Jesus' words and live in “faith on the earth”.

Next time we see how Jeremiah felt about his ways and paths, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

 

Until tomorrow...there is more...

 

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, www.amazon.com ; www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore

Hedged with a Heavy Chain Lamentations 3:7

We have seen how Jeremiah responded to the devastation in Judah and Jerusalem, and as he describes his own reaction, we have seen parallels within Jesus Christ as He suffered the punishment for our sins. We continue to look at both of these in chapter three and verse seven where Jeremiah wrote:

He has hedged me about, that I cannot get out: he has made my chain heavy.

The verse begins, “He has hedged me about, that I cannot get out:” Jeremiah continued his description with “He has hedged me about” which means God “walled him up, walled him off, closed off, built a wall” around him. It was as though a mason came in and built a stone wall around Jeremiah so that he “cannot get out” or “exit, escape, go forth or proceed”. Jeremiah felt impeded by God as the wall was built around him.

The verse continues, “he has made my chain heavy.” In addition to feeling like he was walled in, Jeremiah said “he has made my chain heavy” which means “chain of brass” like a slave or prisoner Jeremiah felt bound and laden with a “weighty, grievous, hard, burdensome and difficult” “chain” around him. Not only was he walled in, but he was chained within his wall.

There are times in life where we feel walled in and chained. Jesus certainly knew what this was like as they bound Him, ridiculed Him, beat Him, and crucified Him. This sense of being shut off and bound is difficult for us, but imagine for a moment how it was for Jesus when He cried as He spoke to the Heavenly Father, “My God, My God, Why have you forsaken me?” Whenever our circumstances seem to have us walled and chained, perhaps it will help us to remember Jeremiah's plight, and in doing so, Jesus' conditions as well.

For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. (Hebrews 4:15)

Next time we see how Jeremiah felt about his prayers, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

 

Until tomorrow...there is more...

 

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, www.amazon.com ; www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore