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Sunday School Lesson
It seems to be difficult for some individuals to grasp the fact of consequences. This "result of an action or process" (Webster) does not seem to fit into the plans of a self-centered life. It is easy for one to desire this fact to be carried out in the lives of others, as long as it does not touch me. God sent many prophets to the nation of Judah - the southern kingdom of the chosen nation - warning of the results of national and personal sin. Most of these messages fell on deaf ears. This attitude did not change the truth of the message, nor did it eliminate the prophesied results. There came a time when God had had enough. Even though Nebuchadnezzar had made two invasions into the promised land, the third one would be the final one. Zedekiah was the last of the "puppet kings" under the Baby-lonians. This Jewish king was not loyal to his superiors - "he rebelled against the king of Babylon." 2 Kings 24:20d. This action brought the final siege to the city. 2 Kings 25:1,2. The Babylonians cut off all supplies into the city. "And on the ninth day of the fourth month the famine prevailed in the city, and there was no bread for the people of the land." 2 Kings 25:3. We are told that "all the men of war fled by night by the way of the gate between the two walls, which is by the king's garden ... and the king went the way toward the plain. And the army of the Chaldeans pursued after the king, and overtook him in the plains of Jericho: and all his army were scattered from him." 2 Kings 25:4,5. Judgment was pronounced upon the king. "And they slew the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes, and put out the eyes of Zedekiah, and bound him with fetters of brass, and carried him to Babylon." 2 Kings 25:7. Then, the city was destroyed. 2 Kings 25:8- 17. Before the destruction of the nation and the city, Jeremiah wrote a series of poems, calling the people to repentance, and showing them the fact of the care and concern of the heavenly father - the creator of the universe. These words became the words that encouraged the exiles - and have continued to bring encouragement to all who will apply them to their lives. The prophet wrote, "The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him." Lamentations 3:24. He had already reminded these people of the faithfulness of God. Lamentations 3:23. It was quite easy for these exiles to forget the blessings of the past. We, too, can become so involved in the problems of the present that the past blessings tend to fade. Yet, the words from the past bring assurance to all who will accept the divine promise. "The Lord is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him." Lamentations 3:25. The prophet continued his words of assurance. "It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord." Lamentations 3:26. Too often, the pressures of the immediate cause us to lose perspective of the divine help of the past. The things of our past are not erased, as we move on with life. However, things that we learned when we were young need to be kept in our memory bank to be drawn on as lessons to be applied. "It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth." Lamentations 3:27. All of the hardships that you knew in the past can help you - and others - in time to come. Since the judgment of God is laced with mercy, in times of personal reflection these thoughts need to be nurtured. "He sitteth alone and keepeth silence, because he hath borne it upon him. He putteth his mouth in the dust; if so be there may be hope." Lamentations 3:28, 29. In this poem, Jeremiah agreed that the lives of the exiles were difficult. Lamentations 3:30. Yet, God had not forgotten, nor abandoned them. "For the Lord will not cast off for ever: But though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies." Lamentations 3:31,32. It is difficult for the rebellious soul to understand the things of God. Romans 8:58. The one who would "do his or her own thing" sees the divine directives as "restrictions" on the "pleasures of life." Yet, God allows many of these difficulties as part of the divine "plan" to bring us back to the point of total dependence upon heavenly help. Jeremiah told the exiles, "For he doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men." Lamentations 3:33. These are words of comfort to the soul that is depending on the heavenly father. The life of Jeremiah was not one of ease. His life was threatened by the religious leaders. Jeremiah 26:8. He was cast into the dungeon where he sunk in the mire. Jeremiah 38:6. He was rescued by an Ethiopian. Jeremiah 38:7-13. Thus, even in the homeland, life was not easy for this man who served God with all of his heart. The faithful prophet wept as he observed the wayward living of those who were in the homeland. Lamentations 3:48-54. He told the exiles, "I called upon thy name, O Lord, out of the low dungeon." Lamentations 3:55. The words of assurance that he gave to these people show us the attitude that reached beyond the present conditions. "Thou hast heard my voice; hide not thine ear at my breathing, at my cry. Thou drewest near in the day that I called upon thee: thou saidst, fear not." Lamentations 3:56,57. Even in our darkest hour, God does not forsake us. In all of the troubles that plagued the life of Jeremiah, he seemed to have called out with a strong voice of testimony, "O Lord, thou hast pleaded the causes of my soul; thou hast redeemed my life." Lamentations 3:58.
Jesus Christ is our hope. John 3:16.
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