Rēad to Read …Again
Daily Reading: Lamentations 1-2
Lamentations 2:5
The Lord was as an enemy: he hath swallowed up Israel, he hath swallowed up all her palaces: he hath destroyed his strong holds, and hath increased in the daughter of Judah mourning and lamentation.
Why? Why was the Lord “as an enemy?” Because of the rebellion of His people. They rejected His Word, rejected His prophets, and rejected His laws. Over and over again the Lord sent warning to Israel, but they would not hear. Therefore, because of His justice He was compelled to allow their overthrow. He said this would happen by the mouths of Zephaniah, Habakkuk, Jeremiah, Isaiah, and six or seven more. If He did not judge them, His Word would be false. He had no choice.
Jeremiah saw it. How many times may he have said to himself, “It didn’t have to be this way.” Just like Joshua and Caleb who encouraged Israel to go up and possess the land at once, as the Lord had said, (Numbers 13:30). But they did not. For forty years these men could have said many times “It didn’t have to be this way.” Just like pastors who warn of the evils of sin only to see those they love slip into sins icy clutches. They could say, “It didn’t have to be this way.” Just like Paul on that ship to Rome. He warned of the peril of the ship, but the owner believed the shipmaster more than the preacher. They lost everything in that voyage except their lives. Paul did say …Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, Acts 27:10 But it was too late, “It didn’t have to be that way.”
Lamentations is one of the five Old Testament books that are simply called “the writings.” They contain no commands or prophecies, but they do contain human interest stories and cautionary tales. They are:
Song of Solomon
Ruth
Ecclesiastes
Esther
Lamentations
Jeremiah wrote this book to convey his sincere sympathetic reaction to Jerusalem’s fall. Instead of rejoicing over their destruction and celebrating that his message was validated, he wept; he lamented.
It didn’t have to be that way!
Dr. William T. Howe
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