Lament of tears

Lament of tears

lamentations 1:12~22

 

□ Praise and Sharing

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Second son's 24th birthday

 

Painful and sad things happen to everyone, but each person has a different attitude toward accepting them. Some people simply despair, while others blame others and lament their lives. Therefore, they sometimes make the extreme choice of euthanasia. On the other hand, there are people who erase sadness with extreme optimism and only speak of hope. Here is a prophet lamenting as he looks at Jerusalem, which is in ruins under the hands of Babylon. His laments are full of sadness stemming from the miserable reality, but he does not remain in despair. He acknowledges that all of this is God's punishment, confesses his sins before God, and asks God to judge his enemies. The prophet’s ‘Lament of tears’ leads to ‘repentance of self-reflection’ and ‘plea for justice.’

 

□ Words and Sharing

1. Zion (Jerusalem) laments over those who are indifferent to its destruction (verses 12-16).

1) Who is the one who has tormented ‘me’ (Zion)? (verse 12)

12 All you who pass by, see if there is any pain like mine, for the LORD has afflicted me in the day of his anger.

The LORD has afflicted me in the day of his anger.

2) Why did the Lord hand over ‘me’ (Zion) into the hands of ‘one who cannot bear it’? (verse 14)

14 With his hands he has bound and entangled the yoke of my iniquities; he has laid them on my neck; he has exhausted my strength; he has delivered me into the hands of those beyond whom I could not bear.

Because of my iniquities LORD have delivered me into the hands of those who cannot bear me.

<Sharing 1> The prophet lamented the painful reality, but also acknowledged that this pain was caused by rebellion against God. Lament without acknowledgment and repentance of one's sins only makes people more miserable. Let’s share with each other how we are responding to God’s discipline.

We must reflect on ourselves and seek true repentance and for God's mercy and justice to be realized.

 

2. Zion asks God to judge the enemy with justice (verses 17-22).

1) When Zion opens her hands, how do the surrounding peoples react? (verse 17)

17 Zion has stretched out her hands, but there is no one to comfort her. The LORD has commanded those around Jacob to be his enemies; Jerusalem has become an unclean thing in their midst.

Zion spread out her hands, but there was no one to comfort her. They became Jacob's enemies.

 

2) What does Zion acknowledge and confess even while it is suffering? (verse 18)

18 The LORD is righteous; but I have rebelled against his commandments. Hear me, all you people, and see my torment. My virgins and my young men have gone into captivity.

Even in the midst of Zion's suffering, she confesses that Jehovah is righteous and that she has disobeyed His commands.

 

3. What does Zion ask to do to its enemies? (verses 21-22)

21 They have heard my groaning, but no one comforts me. All my enemies have heard that I am afflicted, and rejoice that you have done this. But let the day you have announced come, that they may become like me.

22 Bring all their wickedness before you; do to them as you have done to me for all my iniquities, for my groaning is many and my soul is sick.

Zion says, “Let all my enemies become like me! Do to them as You have done to me for all my sins!”

 

<Sharing 2> The moment when everything is blocked and you cannot expect help from anyone is the time to reach out to God for help. Let’s talk about the experience of being in a predicament where all avenues of escape seemed cut off, and the salvation we received from God there.

When I first went to Pakistan alone about 20 years ago, I was able to find true peace and meet co-workers only by praying to God while I was alone at the airport in the dark of night.

<Sharing 3> It is very cautious for Christians to ask others to judge them. However, sometimes it is necessary to pray for judgment on unrighteous and evil forces (see Psalm 10:5-13; 58:6-9). In order for evil things to disappear and God's justice to be realized, let's share what prayers we need to pray and pray together.

We must pray that God will judge unrighteous and evil forces with justice so that the evil people will disappear and God's justice will be realized.

 

□ Let's pray together

Lord, help us to humbly acknowledge our sins and repent when You discipline us.

At the moment when we are blocked on all sides and cannot expect help from anyone, help us to rely only on God for salvation!

Please judge the unrighteous and evil forces with justice so that the evil people disappear and God’s justice is realized!

 

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