Lamentations 3-5 A Very Sad State

We cannot IMAGINE what conditions must have been like for the people of Jerusalem as the city was besieged by invaders.  All attributes of civility evaporated as life wound down to survival mode.  Mothers resorted to cooking their babies for food! Jeremiah had been warned by God that it WOULD happen.  The nation's sin was too deep.  Yet he watched in stunned disbelief at the depth of the punishment they faced -- God's own people had totally abandoned Him.  Now, THEY were reaping the punishment for their rebellion. I'd written margin notes from a commentary that said 3:1-18 were reactions based on EMOTION.  But the REST of chapter 3 is based on FAITH AND REASON.  We KNOW God.  We KNOW His love for those who obey Him is immeasurable.  And KNOWING that is the beginning of restoration.  We begin to SEE God's love even in the punishment -- designed to bring us BACK to Him.  But first we have to realize what we've DONE to Him by our sin.  We have to FEEL the SORROW that our sins have brought upon God.  THEN we can begin to reach out and up to Him, asking for His guidance and protection once more.   Father, this is a place I don't ever want to visit again.  I don't want to have to experience Your judgments in order to finally receive Your MERCIES.  Keep me in Your will.  Show me how to live.  I want to remain in Your love. Your brother in Christ, Gary Ford