Lamentations 1:12. “Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by? Behold, and see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow, which is done unto me, wherewith the Lord hath afflicted me in the day of His fierce anger.”
BEHOLD, AND SEE. PRIVILEGE Up from slavery to be a kingdom of priests – Fed by God’s hand until reaching a land flowing with milk and honey – A nation of winners until each had a place of their own – A place of peace after years of violence. What a privileged people!
THEN Attracted by false promises – forgetting the promises of God. Complacency takes the place of praise and worship. Indifference supplants the pattern of living and worship God gave. Kings take the place of divine leadership. Privileged people are on a downhill course!
REJECTION On they go past calls to repent from messengers of the Lord. Rejection of calls of entreaty from the One who loved them. Ignoring warnings of impending judgment – Denying responsibility for actions of disobedience.
Privileged people set aside!
APPEAL Plaintive calls to passers-by who now ignore them. Sorrow beyond comparison that does not let up. Judgment from God that will continue until repentance is real. Continual pressure that does not stop, from nations around. Privileged people that are not listened to!
LEARN The Lord takes sin seriously – its consequences are real and lasting. Sorrow for sin cannot be avoided – payday always comes. The Lord Jesus Christ suffered such sorrow on our behalf. He endured God’s just wrath that He might bring us to God. Privileged people can be forgiven!
“O Righteous God: this is a graphic picture that seems to impress me with the seriousness of unrighteousness in Thy eyes. A lot of us don’t take indifference and the downward slide of Thy people very seriously. I learn from this scene in the past, that ignoring the discipline of God is a very personal problem. “I need Thee every hour.” Amen.”