HelpFinder Bible - Flipbook - Page 1095
L AM ENTATIONS 4
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Instead, let us test and examine our ways.
Let us turn back to the Lord.
Let us lift our hearts and hands
to God in heaven and say,
“We have sinned and rebelled,
and you have not forgiven us.
“You have engulfed us with your anger,
chased us down,
and slaughtered us without mercy.
You have hidden yourself in a cloud
so our prayers cannot reach you.
You have discarded us as refuse and
garbage
among the nations.
“All our enemies
have spoken out against us.
We are filled with fear,
for we are trapped, devastated, and
ruined.”
Tears stream from my eyes
because of the destruction of my people!
My tears flow endlessly;
they will not stop
until the Lord looks down
from heaven and sees.
My heart is breaking
over the fate of all the women of Jerusalem.
My enemies, whom I have never harmed,
hunted me down like a bird.
They threw me into a pit
and dropped stones on me.
The water rose over my head,
and I cried out, “This is the end!”
But I called on your name, Lord,
from deep within the pit.
You heard me when I cried, “Listen to my
pleading!
Hear my cry for help!”
Yes, you came when I called;
you told me, “Do not fear.”
Lord, you have come to my defense;
you have redeemed my life.
You have seen the wrong they have done
to me, Lord.
Be my judge, and prove me right.
You have seen the vengeful plots
my enemies have laid against me.
Lord, you have heard the vile names they
call me.
You know all about the plans they
have made.
My enemies whisper and mutter
as they plot against me all day long.
Look at them! Whether they sit or stand,
I am the object of their mocking songs.
Pay them back, Lord,
for all the evil they have done.
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Give them hard and stubborn hearts,
and then let your curse fall on them!
Chase them down in your anger,
destroying them beneath the Lord’s
heavens.
God’s Anger Satisfied
1 How the gold has lost its luster!
Even the finest gold has become dull.
The sacred gemstones
lie scattered in the streets!
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• Adversity
LA M E N TATI ON S 3:33
Troubles may come because God knows
we need correction or growth. He is
pleased to see us corrected or growing,
but he does not enjoy the process
needed to bring about that result. God
blessed Israel and Judah in every way,
but still they rebelled against him. Out of
love, God used captivity as his means
of disciplining them. He wanted to get
their attention in order to restore his
relationship with them. Parents discipline
children for their correction and growth,
but only in a severely dysfunctional
relationship do parents enjoy inflicting the
pain. Our God is not like that. We must
remember why God created us—out of
love and a desire to have a relationship
with us. We must remember why Jesus
died for us—out of love and a desire to
see us avoid eternal punishment. We
must remember what Jesus is doing for
us in heaven: He is preparing a place for
us so that we can live with him forever in
peace and joy.
• Justice
LA M E N TATI ON S 3:55-66
What are we to do when we are
mistreated? Scripture forbids us to take
revenge into our own hands (Romans
12:19), yet we are filled with anger and
pain. This passage shows how we can
express all our feelings to God and trust
him to carry out justice. Are you carrying
any bitterness, resentment, or desire
for revenge? Do not succumb to the
temptation to take matters into your own
hands. Ask God to minister to your hurts
and show you the most effective way to
deal with your situation. Remember that
only God can, and will, judge perfectly.