Scripture Reference: Lamentations 2:19, NKJV- “Arise, cry out in the night, At the beginning of the watches; Pour out your heart like water before the face of the Lord. Lift your hands toward Him For the life of your young children, who faint from hunger at the head of every street.”
How desperately do you need to praise the LORD? Much of the world believes that the Bible is not relevant to our daily lives. The only reason this is believed is because most people do not study the Word of God and learn of its’ historical perspectives.
Every day we read and hear in current events about the wars raging with Israel and Jerusalem. Lamentations was written 2,612 years ago and yet the Babylonians, modern day Iraq, had taken over Jerusalem. This region has battled against God’s chosen for thousands of years.
The youth of America do not understand this history because they are not taught Biblical history. Israel has been under attack for centuries. We think we are so advanced, at times, and yet America has only been in existence for 250 years. As I read about the writing of Lamentations at gotquestions.org, I learned that the Babylonians burned down Solomon’s Temple in Jerusalem and that building was 400 years old at the time.
No matter the length of time or the depth of our knowledge, pouring out our hearts to the Lord withstands all attacks and prepares us for all eternity. Jeremiah wrote of great hopelessness, and we can feel hopeless at times as well.
However, in Lamentations 2:20, these people were starving to death and Jeremiah was asking if the women should consider eating their own children! Our struggles today are no comparison to the temptations of God’s children during those days.
Jeremiah also wrote in Lamentations 3:21-22 “Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.” (NIV) No matter what we are facing we can recall that God’s mercies are new every morning as promised in Lamentations 3:23. We must only hope and wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD as we are instructed in Lamentations 3:26.
The hope we have in the LORD is worth more than gold and diamonds. In fact, Lamentations 4:1 described the value of earthly things when all hope is lost, “How the gold has lost its luster! Even the finest gold has become dull. The sacred gemstones lie scattered in the streets!” (NLT)
We can see some similarities of our world today with those during the times of Lamentations. Lamentations 4:3 mentions how the people had become heartless and cruel. Lamentations 5:15 shares that “Joy is gone from our hearts; our dancing has turned to mourning.” (NIV)
However, like Jeremiah in Lamentations 5:19 we must cry out “You will rule forever, LORD! You are King for all time.” (CEV) We may not be able to see tomorrow but we can cry out to our LORD as Lamentations 5:21, “Restore us, O LORD, and bring us back to you again! Give us back the joys we once had!” (NLT)
We must pray and wait patiently for the LORD. Our hopes for restoration are always in the LORD, and it is in Him we find joy as we pour our hearts out to Him and raise our hands to Him. Will you?
Today’s Prayer: Heavenly Father, You are our LORD. In all circumstances I will pour my heart out to You and raise my hands to You. All hope and joy are found in restoration with You. Restore us LORD and bring us back to You. Amen.
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