Lamentations

This afternoon, I read through the book of Lamentations and I found it interesting how something so stark and depressing could contain such beauty as this book does. The book is about how Israel has been bad and how God is going to destroy them for that. The book goes on and on about how dire the situation is for Israel. Israel will groan, weep and be consumed. But this book is contrasted with something as we see in chapter 3 verse 22, "The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end." It's such a cutting contrast that it should change the whole tenor of the book for us. The nation written to were lamenting their fate, cursing their sins, awaiting wrath while holding onto a future hope, but for us as Christians that future hope has arrived. The story of Lamentations covers a period of several centuries. However, today we look back on this history and see it in an instant. As Christians we should see the wrath meant for us and the grace that let it pass over us.

Should vengeance still my soul pursue,
Death and destruction are my due;
Yet mercy can my guilt forgive,
And bid this dying sinner live.