“Don’t put so much food in your mouth all at once and wait until you chew and swallow what’s already there before you take another bite!” That compound sentence is taken from the files of, “Things My Parents Had To Tell Me Too Many Times.” The urgency of the moment did not allow for a thorough account of the rationale behind it. The basic idea was, “Do what you are told and you will eventually understand… hopefully… maybe… someday… if we let you live.” Agreement, understanding, and wisdom may have been in short supply but past experience had instilled a sufficient measure of fear and a more exhaustive level of mastication immediately commenced.
Having finished reading Jeremiah yesterday, this morning’s devotion time included beginning Lamentations. Normally this would include several chapters, perhaps twenty minutes to half an hour or more. But this morning ended up just being that first chapter. Even before finishing the second verse, it was clear that it was too much, too fast. The need to more fully chew on it and swallow before moving on was clear.
Jerusalem had fallen and, with it, the last hope for Judah. The writer portrays the emotions, the questions, the grief, the bewilderment, the inevitability, the feelings of betrayal, the loss, and the despair so vividly and within such a relative economy of words. Had they ignored what was coming? Was it the worst of all nightmares? Were they dumbfounded? Did they deserve it? Was God’s wrath more than they could bear? Was there enormous regret and grief? Were their spiritual weaknesses now exposed and undeniable? Were they overwhelmed with shame and embarrassment? Did they plead for help?
Yes. To all those questions, the answer is a shivering, “Yes”.
There was no way to read those twenty-two verses without recognizing the course our nation has been on for a very long time. It is as if one is looking into a future—being given a preview of coming attractions—to which we have been prepaying our admission. And it seems to be a future to which we have finally and fatally arrived.
Who will save us? The answer God gave Solomon remains true today. "If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land." (2 Chronicles 7:14 ESV)
Since God always keeps his promises (Numbers 23:19; Psalm 103:17) and in light of 2 Chronicles 7:14, why is our nation not being healed? Where do we point the finger of blame?
