This is a very short book written as a mournful poem about the destruction of Judah. It is heart-breaking, but serves as a warning for believers in any age and ends in hope.
1:1 - God's beloved daughter, Judah, rejected His love and gave herself away to others. She sold herself into prostitution with false gods and greed. Because of the choices of the people of Judah, they have become enslaved...enslaved to lies...enslaved to Babylon...enslaved to suffering. When we turn our backs on God...when we say God is not enough and we try to find fulfillment in earthly lusts and possessions and other humans - we find ourselves as slaves. Instead of being the heirs of the Most High God - the sons and daughters of the Creator - we are enslaved to things that are killing us. I have seen beautiful princesses of God - young teenage women who so desperately seek affection that they throw themselves to boy after boy in search of what can only be found in a relationship with God. They become slaves and it is heartbreaking.
1:6 - This verse reminds me of Jeremiah 52:7, when the warriors and the king of Judah escape from the Babylonian siege (Very bravely leaving behind the women and children). After 2 years of being trapped in Jerusalem and malnutrition, they are weak and overtaken very easily. Like the powerless deer described in this passage, they are slaughter in the fields.
1:9 - The people of Israel refused to think about the future. They thought only of the moment...thought only of whatever would bring them instantaneous pleasure. So the fall was catastrophic...they were blind and had no idea it was coming, because they refused to look at where their choices were leading them. Many of my high school students (And people of any age to be honest) often dwell in the "now" and do not think about the consequences of their actions. They believe they have all the time in the world to get their faith in order...they refuse to accept that their choices are going to have serious repercussions when it comes to their souls...and they couldn't be more wrong. The fall is really hard when you don't look at where you are going.
1:17 and 18 - The people cry out to God but they do not get the help they are looking for...He does not listen to their cries. This seems cruel, bit verse 18 tells us that God is absolutely in the right (He has quite the habit of being that way). You cannot reject God, refuse God, dishonor God, spit in God's face with your actions and words, and then expect Him to come running when you call. I am not saying the situation is hopeless, but there are some dire consequences when people who claim to be believers dishonor God with their lives.
1:19 - Other human beings can never give us what we need - NEVER! People cannot bring fulfillment to our lives. When we try to rely on those we have used as replacements for God in our lives, they will always let us down in the end. Always. We were created to worship God...not other human beings.
2:7 - This theme has come up over and over again in scripture. As God punishes His people for what they have done, He is also hurt in the process. He is shamed because of the actions of His people...His name is mocked and brought low because of the sins of His people. Never forget that your sins don't just affect you...they affect the whole community of believers and God Himself.
2:14 - People often have a bad habit of listening only to those who tell them what they want to hear. Don't be one of those people...that only leads us further and further away from the will of God.
2:19 - All there is to do when everything is falling apart is to cry out to God. That is all that is left for the people of Judah...everything else is gone...there is no hope but God. And that is exactly why God allows His wrath to be poured out on His own people...so that they will return to Him.
No comments:
Post a Comment