Lamentations 1

Lamentations 1:8, 22 ESV

Jerusalem sinned grievously;
therefore she became filthy;
all who honored her despise her,
for they have seen her nakedness;
she herself groans
and turns her face away.

"Let all their evil doing come before you,
and deal with them
as you have dealt with me
because of all my transgressions;
for my groans are many,
and my heart is faint."

This is the beginning of Jeremiah's lamentation over the fall of Jerusalem. Three things strike me in this chapter. First is the deep pain and sorrow over her fall. Second is the honesty of Jeremiah regarding the reason for her fall and the justice of it. Third is his call for her enemies to also experience God's justice.

Even when we know that consequences are deserved, judgement is due and the failure experienced is just, it is still painful to watch and to experience. We should never rejoice over the pain of our brother no matter how well deserved it is. The truth still remains that we rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep.

That brings me to the second thought, however. Too often, rather than admit guilt and the truth that we deserve God's judgment and justice, we try to excuse own sin and our bad behavior. Our pain is always someone else's fault. Our failure was always caused by God, circumstances or other people. We are way too slow to admit guilt and culpability, and way too quick to point fingers. In this lamentation Jeremiah minces no words. "Jerusalem sinned grievously; therefore she became filthy," he writes. It is difficult to weep with one who is experiencing God's discipline in their life when they are blaming, pointing fingers and refusing to admit responsibility.

Finally, Jeremiah calls for Jerusalem's enemies to experience the same justice she has experienced. Too often we are calling for the demise of our enemies before acknowledging our own guilt. It is one thing to call for the justice of God to be carried out. It is a very different thing to call for God's judgment on others when we are refusing to admit our own guilt. Jeremiah's call for justice among the nations flows directly from his confession that God is just in judging his own city.

Justice and judgement will one day come to the whole earth. It will not be a good day, but it will be well deserved. Every person will stand before God's judgement throne to face the consequences of their own actions and choices. Every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. Today we have the opportunity to be honest with God because in that day there will be no more secrets.

Father, forgive me for the times I try to excuse or cover up bad behavior. Thank you for your grace, mercy and forgiveness. By your grace, may I always be honest with you and with those around me.

By His grace,
Rick Weinert

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