Discover What to Do When You Go Through Dark Times in Life
The book of Lamentations is a five-chapter collection that contains a quintet of laments. A lament is an expression of grief, mourning, or sorrow.
Each chapter of this book contains one such communication. They read like a poem, a psalm even—a psalm of lament, such as Psalm 5 and Psalm 102.
Though there are times when we all lament over our situation or our actions, these songs of lament emerge as a discouraging read to me most of the time. Yet helpful insight occurs in the concluding lines of the last lament.
In it, the writer—who we traditionally view as the prophet Jeremiah—gives praise to God. His rule stretches into eternity.
This reminder should put things into perspective. God is eternal; we are not. God knows all things; we do not. God is sovereign; we are not.
Then the author of Lamentations 5 slips back into his lament. He voices two plaintive questions. He asks why God has forgotten them. And he asks why God has forsaken them. It’s two ways to state his frustration.
From his perspective, God has turned his back on his people.
After this the writer wraps up with a prayer. Prayer is always a good way to conclude our interaction with God. The writer requests the Almighty to restore them to him, to return them to how it was in the past.
But his prayer tacks on a sobering thought. He wonders if God has completely rejected them, if his anger is too great to measure. How horrifying to consider that God wants nothing more to do with them—or with us.
This concern reflects God’s judgment. Relying on his grace and mercy is a much more comforting thought. Yet we’d be wrong to dismiss his judgment as an Old Testament concept that doesn’t apply to us today. Judgment can still occur.
May we never stray so far that judgment becomes necessary.
Through the closing verses of this lament, we get a good prescription in how to react when we go through our own dark times.
We begin by praising God. Then we pray for restoration. It’s that simple.
[Read through the Bible with us this year. Today’s reading is Lamentations 3-5 and today’s post is on Lamentations 5:19-22.]
Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront status quo religion and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.
Read more in his books, blog, and weekly email updates.
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