Lamentations

To lament is to cry, to mourn, to regret.

Lamentations is the cry of Israel and Judah after the prophesies of Jeremiah come true.  It is the cry of horror over all that has happened. It is regret over listening to false prophets.  It is recognition that God is doing exactly what he said he would do if the people did not repent.  It is filled with sadness and tears.

About halfway through Lamentations, there there is a brief respite as the lament turns hopeful - God does remember them. Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail...the Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him...The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him...  

The hopefulness is quickly forgotten as the lament turns back to pleading, crying and regrets; finally concluding with a question.  Why do you forget us?  Why do you forsake us for so long? 

Ending with a final plea for forgiveness (and a bit of fearfulness) we read:  Restore us to yourself, Lord, that we may return; renew our days as of old unless you have utterly rejected us and are angry with us beyond measure.   

Fortunately for us all, God forgives us...as we should also forgive others.

Jeremiah

Poor Jeremiah!

He really didn’t want to be God’s messenger but God insisted. And I can understand why he hesitated. God kept asking Jeremiah to relay a lot of bad news. News that no one wanted to hear. News that people did not want to believe. And you know what happens when you tell people things that don't go along with what they already believe - they reject you.

Jeremiah shared a lot of bad news.

If people would have actually listened to him, they would have heard not only the bad news of their destruction, but also a message of hope.  They had chances to be redeemed.  But, since this was not convenient with what they already wanted to believe; they chose not to listen.  

Are we so different now?

God is our Father. Like most of our earthly fathers, he wants what is best for us.  He tries to guide us to good, not bad.  He gets upset when we don't listen, when we act out.  He warns us of the consequences of our actions.  But do we listen?  No, we need to experience the consequences ourselves because we think we know better.  We don't.  Father punishes and then forgives.

They cycle continues...