Lamentations 3
The discipline of God against
It seems to him that God is actively against him, determined to see trouble come upon him. If there were any way out of difficulty, that way is being blocked by God. The suffering one is the target, and God is shooting the arrow. There are mocking observers. That is part of the pain of it all, but the real problem is not them, but God Himself. This righteous suffering man was a person who hoped in the Lord. Now it feels as if that hope is gone. This is a person who received endurance from the Almighty, but now he feels like he cannot keep on going.
In the midst of the depths of despair, in this setting of a horrible low point in the history of God’s dealings with His people, at the center of this central chapter in this poetic book comes a cry of faith that is deeply impressive. He remembers that the steadfast love of the Lord never ceases. Even when it feels like God’s love is utterly gone, he reminds himself that the Lord’s mercies never come to an end. He speaks out the word to God himself: “Great is Your faithfulness.” When all is taken away from the man of faith, what can he cling to? “The Lord is my portion. I will hope in Him.” This is a gift that no enemy can take away.
From this center of faith come reflections that encourage the most weary soul. It is good that we don’t get everything we want immediately. How would we ever learn to wait upon the Lord in faith if we had no trials? This is an opportunity for the righteous man to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. This is a chance for a young man to learn how to bear the yoke that is his portion, and to grow through this time of personal and national horror.
The fact is that the Lord will not cast off His beloved child forever. Yes, He does cause grief, but isn’t He the one who has compassion in the end? His end goal is not to afflict his beloved child. This is not what we find in the depths of the heart and will of God. The Lord is just. The Lord is good. He does not approve of oppression. He does not want to see brutal people pursuing hatred to have the final word. He is the Author and Finisher of His own good purposes. If we face a bad time at some moment, and we will, then surely this is yet from the hand of the one who ordains good and bad, and there shall be a good day yet ahead of us. Do we really have a right to complain against Almighty God?
Let us do something different with this affliction than murmuring. Let us examine our ways and discover some good pathway ahead of us – some way of obedience and love. Let us turn to God with more zeal and sincerity. Surely God is showing His people something very important through this time of pain and sorrow.
This does not negate the pain of what an individual suffers during a period of divine chastisement of His church. The tears are real. The taunts of the godless are infuriating. The righteous suffering man cares not only for himself but for the trouble of others all around him. He is moved with compassion as one who has come to know grief. Were the ways of evil enemies justified? Not at all. Surely God will hear the cries of His righteous servant and will deliver him from trouble. Surely the vengeance of the Lord will come against those who wickedly abuse the Lord’s own beloved one.
When the time had fully come, God sent forth, not just any righteous man, not just any suffering servant, but His beloved only-begotten Son. He knew what He had come to do. He knew that it involved a fulfillment of passages like Lamentations 3. He would face horrible trials, and the wicked hatred of cruel oppressors. This He did for a purpose. It was necessary for the accomplishment of our salvation. What this One Man suffered was about more than Him. He gave His life for the nation, and not just for the Jews but for the scattered household of God who would be brought back home.
When He suffered, He entrusted Himself to One who was faithful. He offered up loud cries and tears. He prayed and He was heard. In His resurrection, He has achieved a tremendous vindication of the faithfulness of the Lord through the worst personal suffering. His suffering was for us. We were in Him in His death, and we are in Him forever in His resurrection. Great is Your faithfulness. In view of the mercies of God toward us in Christ our Lord, let us bear the trial that comes to each of us today with a quiet confidence in God our Father, and let us offer up our lives as living sacrifices to our God who has redeemed us through the blood of His Son.
posted by Pastor Magee @ 7:00 AM
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