Lamentations 3:17-26

Lamentations 3:17-26

It is 575 BC when Jeremiah writes this poem. It is a sad song like one written for a great tragic event. It is a World Trade center, Sandy Hook, Colorado fire or Moore Ok, kind of poem. Yet in the midst of it is this little bit of faith and trust in God. It is ironic that from a book of sorrow comes one of the great hymns of hope, “Great is Thy Faithfulness”

1. Context
               Jeremiah has just witnessed one of the worst sieges in history. Starvation, cannibalism, the slaughter of the people, the burning of the town. It is to much.
Jeremiah has been beaten, arrested, his words burned, disregarded, imprisoned, thrown down a well, and now leaves for Egypt watching the city he fought to save burn.
Even as he leaves and is proven right, the people, the nobles, the King, do not apologize, repent, say “I am sorry Jeremiah for our actions.

2. Perhaps you have been in the same place?
Outcast by your family, society, the school click, a spouse, or at work.
It could be a physical loss, a parent, a child, a friend, or part of your own physical abilities.
Anger and outrage give way to mourning, to a Lament.
aware of what has happened vs 17-20 Jeremiah has not forgotten.

3. Hope
vs 21 This I call to mind and I have hope
Vs 22 Because of God great Love We are not consumed
His compassions never fail
His love is new every morning
Great is His faithfulness
The Lord is my portion, (Good enough)

I am like Jeremiah, angry, broken, hostile biting at others, often the wrong people, only seeing injustice. For this I am sorry.
Our church is like Jeremiah, we hurt because of those who have died, and changes that have come. We have won great battles, yet carry the stress. Some are quick to find fault and few repent of their actions.
I must find a way to vs 21 -24, to forgive, to forget, to stop complaining about what has happened to allow God to bring a new day.
We as a church need to stop picking at each other, stop finding faults so we can experience Gods’ compassion, His healing.

What will we experance as a church, as individuals, exile and mourning? Or will we find a way to:

 

Because of the LORD'S great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.   They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

Jeremiah 52:1-5 "God has Spoken"

Jeremiah 52:1-5

We have come to the end of Jeremiah. All throughout the book i looked for hopeful things. God’s saving of the remnant, hope for those who repent, looks forward to the return and even the coming of Jesus. Yet here in the end what God has said does happen. What God has spoken about judgment has become reality. The end of Jeremiah reminds us that God is not safe. While loving and offering forgiveness, God angry, vengeful and not afraid to bring destruction to those who do not repent.

1. The certainty of judgment
            a. Psalm 33:12-19 “a horse is a vain hope”
            b. Jeremiah 8:5-7 “no one repents”
            c. Jeremiah 38:14-15 “if I tell you the truth you will kill me”
            d. Matthew 23:27-36
            e. Jeremiah 52:8-11

2. False hope
            a. Jenn and drugs
            b. Jason with mental and physical strength
            c. Phil and her money
            d. Mayson and political power
            e. Hide under the rocks revelation 6:15-17
                        fallout shelters, tornado shelters

3. A sure hope
            a. John 1:11-12
            b. John 3:15-17
            d. Don’t push God off to the side of your life
            e. Pray for the lost around you

Judgment is coming, God is angry, we must listen to the words of Jeremiah and avoid the mistakes of Zedekiah, for God has spoken, and it will come to pass.

Jeremiah 50:31-34 "A Strong Redeemer"

Prayers for Fran Wood family, Sally Swanson family, Marion Hutson, Barb Boettcher, Connie Olf, Ken Van Camp Family, Kay Parker Family, Fay Carlsen’s brother Francis Steininger family, Dorothy Hotzel family, Bill Gustin’s brother died.

Jeremiah 50:31-34  A Strong Redeemer

In this last month we have seen many families dealing with loss, we have watched news of fires, tornadoes, and war.  Who can overcome this? This is the question of Israel and Judah. Babylon has been ruthless in it’s attack, defeat, and treatment of Israel and Judah. Though directed by God to take over the land, God is angry with the manor in which it has been done. It is a classic case of doing the right thing in the wrong way. (a wrong way to kill a rattle snake)

1. The Arrogant one
               a. Babylon then
               b. Babylon to come Rev 14:8, 16:19, 17:5
               c. A government, or world system, that is the base for the Antichrist and Satan

2. The Judgment of Babylon
               a. Vs. 31-33
               b. Daniel 5:25-31
               c. Rev 18:2-10

3. The strong Redeemer
               a. Movies and Books, the could, should and might work
               b. For Israel, the Medes and Persians, who let them return
               c. Revelation God sets the world right
               d. We have a strong redeemer
               e. no matter our life situation
               f. John 3:16, 1 John 1:9, Revelation 3:20

You have a strong Redeemer, one who died to save you, one who can cast away all the sin that oppresses you. Not a might work, could work, should work, it will work, God’s guarantee.