August 18, 2015

Lamentations 2

December 20, 2011

The LORD's anger. 

It is real and it is hard to read about, but it is necessary to come to grips with. The God of Grace is also a God of anger—righteous anger. His righteousness demands it.

Who God is should evoke fear/awe in all of us. How could the Jewish people—HIS people—continue to ignore Him and stubbornly refuse to believe He would do what He promised to do? Why would they refuse to follow His commandments and obey Him? Why? They passionately devoted themselves to obey the gods of their own choosing but stubbornly refused to obey THE LORD. Why then? And why now?

Why do people—HIS people—those who have claimed Jesus as The Christ, STILL refuse to obey His commands, follow their own desires, and reject Him as LORD? It breaks my heart. It makes you want to grab them by the collar, shake them, look them straight in the eyes and say: DON'T YOU GET IT!!?!!

Listen to the words Jeremiah uses to describe God's anger against them:
  • Brought to shame
  • Thrown down
  • Swallowed up without mercy
  • No longer remembered them
  • Pulled down
  • Threw down
  • Has removed
  • Took away His protection
  • Burned against
  • Like an enemy
  • Prepared to shoot
  • His hand against
  • Like an enemy
  • Killed
  • Poured out His anger
  • Like an enemy
  • He swallowed up
  • Destroyed
  • Caused moaning and groaning
  • Cut down
  • Destroyed
  • Rejected
  • Abandoned
  • Handed over
  • Planned to destroy
  • Left them
  • Stopped teaching them
  • Stopped speaking to them
Total destruction of HIS people. Total ruin. They chose to follow false advice. Advice that was false and worthless. Their advisers did not expose their sins which could have warded off captivity. Instead, they gave them advice that was false and misleading. (Verse 14) They refused to listen to the truth. They refused to heed the warnings God sent over and over again. Refused! And there came a time when enough was enough. Lamentations 2:17 - "The LORD has done what he planned; he has kept his word that he commanded long ago. He has destroyed without mercy (NIV - overthrown without pity), and he has let your enemies laugh at you (NIV- gloat over). He has strengthened your enemies." Lamentations 2:22 - "Terror on every side." 

God is Holy. Not just Holy, but Holy, Holy, Holy. He is worthy of ALL Honor, Glory, Power, and Praise. The God who WAS, IS, and WILL ALWAYS BE!

Blessed be the Name of THE LORD.


Next Entry: Lamentations 3

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