LAMENTATIONS: NOT FORSAKEN

Sunday we’ll continue with Lamentations by looking at chapter two. It’s an interesting chapter because Jeremiah gives voice to Judah’s complaint that God has gone too far in his correction. He says in verse two, “The Lord has swallowed up without mercy.”  He goes on to describe the harshness of God’s destruction, saying, “he did not restrain his hand.” Was their complaint accurate? Had God gone too far? Was he unjust?
 
Questions like this are honest. I think when he corrects us, we often feel this way, but that’s typically because we undersell our sin, saying things like, “It’s not that bad; Consider what others have done; It wasn’t entirely my fault.” Whenever we think this way, we expose our own self-deception and human reasoning concerning sin.
 
So how would God answer their complaint? How would God answer your complaint? Jeremiah voices the complaint but then tells the people to cry out to God for mercy! If God is unjust, if he is unrestrained, then why cry out for mercy? 
 
Come Sunday, and let’s consider if God is merciful.