Hope in my Lament!

The lamentation of Jeremiah is the lament of someone who feels they have lost it all. Someone who is so burdened that they can only see the darkness around them. The woe its me experience. I am not sure if you have ever felt abandoned or overwhelmed by life? It is not as unusual as you may think. I am reminded that while folks may be smiling there could be a whole lot going on! The first 20 verses of chapter 3 describe a man hurting, lonely, forsaken, troubled, pitied, shameful, embarrassed, in turmoil, bitter, fearful, and burdened. He is so engulfed in his troubles he has almost lost hope!

The book of Lamentation is a collection of 5 poems or laments that express the emotional state and graphic picture of a hurting man. Chapter three appears even more personal that the others. Where he may be lamenting for the fall of Jerusalem its in this chapter we capture and man desperately trying to convey his hopeless state. Why his he in such pain? He sees his condition has a punishment from God. He acquaints his afflictions with God punishing him.

Many times we do the same thing! We think God is punishing us when we are going through trials and tribulations. The writer is in such a deep state that he states 3 things

He lacks Peace

He has forgot what happiness is

and His cant go on! He said my endurance has perished!

The accumulation of these these things has caused in the loose hope that Lord will come to his rescue!

Have you ever lost hope? Please don’t ever spiral to that point. As the Psalmist ask the question in Psalm 42:5

Why are you cast down, O my soul,

and why are you in turmoil within me?

Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,

my salvation and my God. (Ps 42:5–6).

In Psalm 42 the Psalm can ask that question because he has the ability to reflect on what The Lord has done in the past. Watch this: read it when you get home!

My soul is cast down within me;

therefore I remember you

from the land of Jordan and of Hermon,

from Mount Mizar.

7  Deep calls to deep

at the roar of your waterfalls;

all your breakers and your waves

have gone over me.

8  By day the LORD commands his steadfast love,

and at night his song is with me,

a prayer to the God of my life.

9  I say to God, my rock:

“Why have you forgotten me?

Why do I go mourning

because of the oppression of the enemy?”

10  As with a deadly wound in my bones,

my adversaries taunt me,

while they say to me all the day long,

“Where is your God?”

11  Why are you cast down, O my soul,

and why are you in turmoil within me?

Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,

my salvation and my God. (Ps 42:6–11).

Yes the writer is stretch beyond his capacity to with stand. Yet he finds hope.

Have you ever search for something and then find it? Yes he had lost hope but he makes a pivot. In that pivot he finds hope.

This has been a troublesome 13 months. While we were in the mist of a pandemic. We saw public lynching on the streets of Minneapolis. George Floyd’s spark a movement. We march and protested. We were determined not to let this be business as usual. Many of were relieved Tuesday when the verdict was read guilty, guilty guilty! Yet the issue of blacks being killed by police continue. Not only blacks man killing black people continues! We have some major issues. We have states trying to restrict voters rights. Prevent peaceful protest! The darkness of racism still is evident in our Country.

The black man in this country still faces difficulties that our white counterparts never have to deal with. When I see what going on I feel like the lamentation writer My soul is lacking peace,

I felt like Kurt Carr I almost let go

I Almost Let Go

Kurt Carr

I Almost let go

I felt like I just couldn’t take life any more

My problems had me bound

Depression weighed me down

But God held me close

He goes on to say Gods Mercy kept him

Well I believe Kurt Carr was reading Lamentation;

But this I call to mind,

and therefore I have hope:

22  The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases;

his mercies never come to an end;

23  they are new every morning;

great is your faithfulness.

24  “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul,

“therefore I will hope in him.” (La 3:21–24).

I have news for you this morning

Wait for him!

The LORD is good to those who wait for him,

to the soul who seeks him.

26  It is good that one should wait quietly

for the salvation of the LORD.

27  It is good for a man that he bear

the yoke in his youth.

28  Let him sit alone in silence

when it is laid on him;

29  let him put his mouth in the dust—

there may yet be hope; (La 3:25–29).

You can shout on this

For the Lord will not cast off forever,

32  but, though he cause grief, he will have compassion

according to the abundance of his steadfast love; (La 3:31–32).

Don’t Complain

Who has spoken and it came to pass,

unless the Lord has commanded it?

38  Is it not from the mouth of the Most High

that good and bad come?

39  Why should a living man complain,

a man, about the punishment of his sins? (La 3:37–39).

Check yourself

Let us test and examine our ways,

and return to the LORD!

41  Let us lift up our hearts and hands

to God in heaven:

42  “We have transgressed and rebelled,

and you have not forgiven. (La 3:40–42).