Friday
Read: Lamentations 5
SOAP: Lamentations 5:21
Bring us back to yourself, O Lᴏʀᴅ, so that we may return to you;
renew our life as in days before.
Devotion
As our time in the book of Lamentations comes to a close, we find a simple, yet profound prayer of repentance in the midst of all the indescribable suffering and pain. The author believes God does not turn away from a repentant heart and is compassionate and abounding in love and faithfulness (Exodus 34:6). He pleads with God to allow the people of Judah to return to Him so their lives may be saved and renewed. Jeremiah knows that there is no life or hope apart from the Lord.
In the whole book of Lamentations, we read the account of a people who were reaping what they had sown. It is a well-known biblical principle, also taught by Paul in the book of Galatians: “the person who sows to his own flesh will reap corruption from the flesh, but the one who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit” (6:8).
As we learn more about the practice of lament in the daily life of a Christian, may we never forget who the source of all life, joy, renewal, and faith is. It is our Lord, our Heavenly Father, our holy and just Creator who loves us beyond what we can imagine, who hates sin beyond what we can imagine, and who is holy beyond what we can imagine. May the request in Lamentations 5:21 for restoration and renewal become a regular prayer for those of us who want to love God greatly. We should ask Him to enable us to walk with Him daily, so we may never turn away and forget Him .
With the exception of chapter 3, the book of Lamentations is often skipped in Bible study. Perhaps this is because it stirs conflict within us, forcing us to question God, His purposes, and His nature. However, such questioning is what brings God’s children closer to Him. It is in the deep, true, soul-searching process that we find beautiful, life-giving answers about the God we know and serve and profound peace in response to those questions which can, for this time on earth, only be filled with faith.
Lamentations is a poetic book, and most of it is written in the form of an acrostic – from A to Z. It is meant to be read at once, without stopping mid-way through. This is a beautiful picture of the practice of lament. We are meant to continue through the whole process, one step at a time. After crying out to God and repenting of sin, we turn to the practice of trust and praise.