Today’s Reading: Obadiah & Lamentations
Reading through 1 & 2 Samuel, 1 & 2 Kings and 1 & 2 Chronicles, and also the books of the prophets, gives us new context to the book of Lamentations. Using poetry, Jeremiah mourned the loss of what Jerusalem used to be. He wept over the conditions of those who had been left behind as they starved behind the walls that were built to protect them. It would have been better for them to be captured and exiled than to remain there to watch what Jerusalem had become.
The Lord in his anger has cast a dark shadow over beautiful Jerusalem.
The fairest of Israel’s cities lies in the dust, thrown down from the heights of heaven.
In his day of anger, the Lord has shown no mercy even to his Temple… – Lamentations 2:1
As we read the grief expressed in the book of Lamentations, many of us can relate to a time when we were hurting over a loss of some kind. Perhaps you are in the midst of your grief right now. Most likely, all of us have lost someone we loved over the last five years. Loss is a natural part of life, but goodbyes are hard and grief can be debilitating, making holiday traditions a little harder than they used to be.
“Everything I had hoped for from the Lord is lost!” – Lamentations 3:18
We have all experienced loss and grief in our life and we have all watched others around us suffer. But in the midst of utter sorrow, we have also experienced the mercy of our wonderful Lord and Savior. We serve a God who is faithful and never abandons us, even if it feels like that at times.
WHEN GRIEF THREATENS TO OVERWHELM US, GOD GIVES US A MOMENT OF HOPE.
I have cried until the tears no longer come; my heart is broken.
My spirit is poured out in agony as I see the desperate plight of my people.
Little children and tiny babies are fainting and dying in the streets.
They cry out to their mothers, “We need food and drink!”
Their lives ebb away in the streets like the life of a warrior wounded in battle.
They gasp for life as they collapse in their mothers’ arms. – Lamentations 2:11-12
Many of us have gone through a season in life when one thing after another seems to be going wrong. We cry out to God and dare to hope that He will answer our prayers. We repeat the same prayers over and over again without a clear sign that God has heard or is answering our prayers. We hold on tight to our faith as we push back the wave of doubt that threatens to undo us.
Life as they knew it was gone. They were surrounded by death and grief. The totality of their sin had destroyed their beautiful city and the time of exile had begun. They cried out to God and held on to His promise that He would be with them during this difficult time. He would hold them in His hand and help them. There was not a promise to save them from pain or take away their grief, but there was a promise to be faithful in the midst of the storm. God promised them, just as He promises us, that He would not abandon them but would continue to be their Lord and Redeemer.
“I will never forget this awful time, as I grieve over my loss.
Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this:
The faithful love of the Lord never ends!
His mercies never cease.
Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.
I say to myself, ‘The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!’
The Lord is good to those who depend on him, to those who search for him.
So it is good to wait quietly for salvation from the Lord.” – Lamentations 3:20-26
Are you discouraged about a certain situation? I pray that today you are reminded that God is for you, that you are chosen, and that He has not forsaken you. My prayer for you is that you will be reminded that you are who God says you are, and that you will know with confidence that He is who He says He is.
SOME WERE GLOATING INSTEAD OF HELPING — STANDING ALOOF INSTEAD OF CARING.
The prophet Obadiah spoke strongly against the reaction of the Edomites to the defeat of Israel, replaying the animosity that Esau felt towards Jacob. As the Jacob’s descendants were being attacked and carried into exile, Esau’s descendants were celebrating; they were gloating and even going as far as to assist the Babylonians instead of stepping in to help the Israelites.
“Because of the violence you did to your close relatives in Israel, you will be filled with shame and destroyed forever. When they were invaded, YOU STOOD ALOOF, refusing to help them. Foreign invaders carried off their wealth and cast lots to divide up Jerusalem, but you acted like one of Israel’s enemies. You should not have gloated…You should not have rejoiced…You should not have spoken arrogantly in that terrible time of trouble…As you have done to Israel, so it will be done to you.” – Obadiah 1:10-12,15
God, help us! How often have we been found standing aloof while those around us are struggling? How often have we refused to help those around us who are suffering the consequences of their own actions? We stand back and say, “It serves them right” or “I’m not surprised” or “They are getting what they deserve…” Just as God expected the descendants of Esau to step in and help their neighboring brother nation, He communicated strong expectations for how we are to help those around us.
God obviously takes our responsibility to those around us VERY seriously — to the point of punishment here on earth and eternally. For this reason, we also should take it seriously. So how can we apply this? God has blessed us with so much and there are so many around us who have so little.
Dear Lord, show us today to whom you would have us reach out. Forgive us for our complacency and our gloating. Destroy our pride and replace it with compassion for others. This holiday season, may we see with new eyes those who are grieving or in need of an encouraging word or a warm meal. May we not get so wrapped up in our own celebration that we ignore the needs of those who are hurting this Christmas. Amen.
Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. – Romans 12:9-10 NLT