Jerusalem, once thriving is now deserted. The city, once celebrated is like a widow. She is sad and everyone has deserted her. There are no people because their sins have destroyed them. The glory and splendor have gone. People remember the good times, now they suffer. Her sins made her unclean, but she didn't care, until Jerusalem fell and she realized no one would help her. Even the most precious place had been desecrated by foreigners - the Holy of Holies. Jerusalem shouted to the Lord to notice how she suffered. Nobody else noticed or cared. The Lord tied Jerusalem's sins around her neck and they were sapping her strength. Judah once beautiful was now trampled like grapes. Jerusalem mourned and cried without comfort. Jerusalem was disrespected by her neighbors. The Lord was right, but Jerusalem refused to obey Him. Couldn't God see that they were sick with regret? Jerusalem had lost all hope.
The Lord was so angry that He destroyed Jerusalem. He wiped out the army, and the cities. God left Israel in ruins. The people were weeping and moaning. He even shattered His temple. He started destroying and did not stop until the walls mourned and trembled. Everyone was numb from grief. Jeremiah felt sick all over. The Lord had kept His promises of long ago. Don't lose hope - get up and pray for help, pour out your feelings to the Lord, beg Him for help. Had the Lord ever been this cruel or angry before?
Jeremiah had suffered. He was kept in the dark and punished over and over. His skin and flesh was wasting away. His life was hardships and trouble; he was chained. Even when he shouted, his prayers weren't loud enough. Obstacles and ambushes awaited him on his path. He was a joke, everyone made fun of him. He thought he couldn't count on the Lord anymore and that made him feel depressed. Then Jeremiah remembered that he could count on God after all. If God had not been merciful everyone would be dead. Deep in his heart, Jeremiah knew God was all he needed. He told the people they could learn from insults and hard knocks. God sees everything, so do what is right and treat other people well. Jeremiah rememinded them they shouldn't complain about being punished for their sins, instead, they should think about what they are doing and stop sinning. They needed to pray and ask God to forgive them. (Good advice today too!)
Tomorrow read Lamentations 3:52-5:22; Ezekiel 1-2
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