Lamentations 4:9-15 says,...Bible reading week 23, day 1

Today's verses are Lamentations 4:9-15, which read,

9 - Better are those slain with the sword than those slain with hunger; for they pine away, being stricken for lack of the fruits of the field.

10 - The hands of compassionate women boiled their own children; they became food for them because of the destruction of the daughter of my people.

11 - The LORD has accomplished His wrath, He has poured out His fierce anger; and He has kindled a fire in Zion which has consumed its foundations.

12 - The kings of the earth did not believe, nor did any of the inhabitants of the world, that the adversary and the enemy could enter the gates of Jerusalem.

13 - Because of the sins of her prophets and the iniquities of her priests, who have shed in her midst the blood of the righteous;...

14 - They wandered, blind, in the streets; they were defiled with blood so that no one could touch their garments.

15 - "Depart!  Unclean!" they cried of themselves.  "Depart, depart, do not touch!"  So they fled and wandered; men among the nations said, "They shall not continue to dwell with us."

 Jeremiah continues with his description of what is going on among the people of Israel in captivity to the Babylonians.  It is better for those slain and gone than those who are still here and suffering from hunger.  It was better to be dead than alive would have been the phrase used at the time.  They were using desperate measures to keep alive and though hard to talk about or even write about, we have those who are the most compassionate in our culture toward children, the mothers, doing harm to them.  Remember, that what is happening here is the consequence of sin and dismissing God for other gods.

Jeremiah also starts to complete this time of punishment.  God has accomplished His wrath and He has started to kindle a fire in Zion.  There is always a remnant of God's people who are faithful to Him.  That small remnant will be able to display how great God is to the world.  The fire has not gone out.  I always was so happy when I opened that wood stove on a cold northern Michigan morning after a long winter night and there were still a couple hot coals buried in the ashes that I could expose to use for a new fire to warm up the house.  God has some hot coals buried in the people of Israel who are still hot for Him that will come to the surface that will help lead His people back to the way of righteousness.

The kings didn't follow God.  Their subjects didn't follow God.  Therefore when Satan came knocking of the door of their city, those tending the gate didn't keep him out.  The prophets and the priests, the religious ones were asleep on their duty to uphold God and therefore let in and let linger sin among the city.  How important it is to protect the people of God by the word of God.  This is one of the reasons why the Bible is so important in our church.  The Bible, God's word to us, keeps before us what is right and what is wrong set by God Himself.  When we slack on His word than we are letting into our city, into our church, the ways of Satan and the consequences that come from him and sin.  The good shepherd lies at the door of the sheep pen at night to keep out the thieves and the wolves who want to steal and kill the sheep.  The religious structure has broken down in the nation of Israel.

But something is happening here at the end of this passage.  The people are starting to recognize this false direction taking them away from God.  They are starting to say to the false prophets and priests, "Depart!"  Do we recognize evil?  Do we say in the face of deception, "Depart!"  Do we see the error and speak up about it?  So many times sin is disguise with laughter.  If we can laugh about sin then it becomes "less" of a sin and we do "less" about it because we have laughed about it rather than confessed it.   We have allowed Satan within the city limits by making sin funny.  When you see this or hear this, don't laugh, rather say "Depart!"  Let us pray.

"Lord how we are coached to laugh at You.  We are given opportunities through media and relationships to downplay what You have said with a giggle.  Help us to see our obedience to You is more fulfilling than a temporary acceptance from the world to laugh with them about sin.  May we start to say 'depart' and be one of those hot coals buried in the ashes to be brought to the top for You to work with.  Amen."

Pastor Adam