As we conclude the fourth
chapter of Lamentations, we remember the horrific conditions the
people of Judah and Jerusalem have faced because they forsook the
Lord. These things did not have to happen, and although God
persistently reached out to them to turn from their wicked ways, they
ignored His pleas and received judgment for it. In verse twenty-two,
Jeremiah wrote of the ending of Jerusalem's punishment and the
warning that judgment was to fall upon Edom who mocked them in their
difficulties. We read:
The punishment of your
iniquity is accomplished, O daughter of Zion; he will no more carry
you away into captivity: he will visit your iniquity, O daughter of
Edom; he will discover your sins.
The
verse begins, “The punishment of your iniquity is
accomplished, O daughter of Zion;” At
long last the “punishment” or
“perversity, depravity, iniquity, guilt or punishment of
iniquity” was ended. The consequences of their wicked ways was
“accomplished” which means “complete”, and they no
longer would endure the afflictions. Let us note as well they are
still called “O daughter of Zion” which implies
relationship, and although they paid a terrible price for their
rebellion, they still were family to Jeremiah.
The
verse goes on to say, “he will no more carry you away
into captivity:” The end of
the exodus into “captivity”
which means “to uncover, remove, depart, or to go into
exile” was stated as well by Jeremiah. Those who were taken captive
were already out of the city, and none who were left would be taken
away.
The
verse continues, “he will visit your iniquity, O daughter
of Edom;” After speaking of
the punishment and exile of Jerusalem being completed, Jeremiah
turned his attention once again to the mocking people of Edom. They
rejoiced in Judah and Jerusalem's overthrowing, and the Lord would
judge them for it. “He will visit your iniquity”
which means “to attend to, muster, number, reckon, visit,
punish, appoint, look after, or care for”, and although those who
were known as “O daughter of Edom” thought their taunting
went unnoticed, the Lord saw every wicked action and would reward
them accordingly for them.
Finally
the verse says, “he will discover your sins.” In addition
to “visiting” the iniquities of Edom, Jeremiah says the Lord will
“discover your sins”. In other words the Lord will make
their sins known. The word employed for “discover” is
“galah” and is the same word used by Jeremiah in the beginning of
this verse for “carried you away into captivity”. The idea
is that Edom rejoiced when Jerusalem was carried away, but they will
receive the same carrying away for their “sins”.
As we
think about the words in this verse, we may be directed in thought to
two ideas. First, that punishment does finally end for Jerusalem and
Judah. It is great to know that when punishment comes while we are on
Earth, there is an end to it. Secondly we are reminded that the Lord
sees every sin people commit, and as with the Edomites who ridiculed
Judah in their troubles, God sees every faulty way everyone commits.
In the book of Hebrews in chapter four and verse thirteen the Bible
says,
Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight:
but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him
with whom we have to do.
There is
nothing hidden from God. He knows our ways, and He knows our
thoughts, and yet still He sent Jesus Christ to die for every one of
them. The great news is that Jesus Christ paid the punishment for
every person in the world and made access to God readily available
for anyone who will turn to and believe in Him. We must be willing to
turn from our sins, seek His ways, and follow Him for the rest of our
days, but our punishment was completed by Jesus upon the cross. As we
ponder these things, let us be thankful for Jesus' great sacrifice,
and if we have not turned to Him, today should be the day. May the
Lord lead us into a loving relationship with Him.
Next
time we will begin the final chapter of Lamentations and see the
beginning of Jeremiah's prayer for his 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
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