Lamentations 3-5

❇️ It happened because of the sins of her prophets and the iniquities of her priests (4:13)

❇️ Above verse sums up the betrayal of leaders of the Jewish community who not only failed in their duty to guide and correct people but were guilty of sins and iniquities .

❇️ Collective failure of the entire Jewish nation caused the Lord to reject his altar and to abandon his sanctuary from them (Lam.2:7).

❇️ Once the Lord who was their security left them they were at the mercy of their enemy who took them into captivity.

❇️ Though there were reasons for despair due to their circumstances they were in Jeremiah found hope in the character of the Lord as given below

▶️ We are not consumed because of the Lord’s great love (3:22)
▶️ His compassions which are new every morning, never fail (3:23)
▶️ Great is His faithfulness (3:23)
▶️ He does not willingly bring affliction or grief to the children of men (3:33)

❇️ Hence Jeremiah suggests the following as the right response to their misery
Let us examine our ways and test them and let us return to the Lord (3:40)

❇️ As children of God let this be our response too when we go through misery and pain in our life we can find our strength and hope in the character of our Lord. It is wise to identify our part that caused our misery and deal with it instead of blaming others.

✅ Insights learnt:
▪️God does not afflict willingly
▪️Hope in God’s character
▪️God forgives when we return to him

Dr.E.Christadoss
Vellore🙏🏽