08/06/2022 – Day 160 – The Book of Lamentations – Chapter 1 – 5 // Amidst the horrific carnage and grief of the scene, once again: Romans 8:28
Romans 8 is titled Future Glory in my NIV bible. “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to His purpose.”
Halley in his “Bible Handbook” notes: “The last chapter #52 of Jeremiah should be read as an introduction to this book of Lamentations. That probably explains why It was not included in Wiersbe’s Jeremiah commentary book: “Be Decisive.”
Twice in the first chapter, Jeremiah writes in the first person about rebelling against God. But look at the amazing turn around to assurance in hope, faith and love in chapter three: “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, ‘The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.’ (3: 22: 24) …
“Though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love.” (vs. 32)… “Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord. Let us lift up our hearts and our hands to God in heaven, and say: ‘We have sinned and rebelled and you have not not forgiven.’ ” But then another rebound to verses 57 & 58: “You came near when I called you and you said, ‘Do not fear.’ O Lord, you took up my case; you redeemed my life.”
If you want to reference it, in the last cycle, 1024/2020, there is a more comprehensive excerpt summary of this book. Halley finished his summary with this note: “Howbeit, in spite of its horrible sufferings, Jerusalem failed to learn its lesson. After the Captivity it was rebuilt, and in Jesus’ day had again become a great and powerful city, and climaxed its sin by crucifying the Son of God. Then followed its eradiction by the armies of Rom (A.D. 70. See under Hebrews 13).”
And then, in 1967 , Jerusalem was liberated in after almost 2000 years since it had been in Jewish hands