Oscar L. Varnadoe III; MAR, MDIV, DMIN
Lamentations. 3:1-10 (KJV)

I am the man that hath seen affliction by the rod of his wrath. [2] He hath led me, and brought me into darkness, but not into light. [3] Surely against me is he turned; he turneth his hand against me all the day. [4] My flesh and my skin hath he made old; he hath broken my bones. [5] He hath builded against me, and compassed me with gall and travail. [6] He hath set me in dark places, as they that be dead of old. [7] He hath hedged me about, that I cannot get out: he hath made my chain heavy. [8] Also when I cry and shout, he shutteth out my prayer. [9] He hath inclosed my ways with hewn stone, he hath made my paths crooked. [10] He was unto me as a bear lying in wait, and as a lion in secret places.

Never Giving Up On People; Or Go 

The above scripture is Hebrew poetry of weeping, written by the prophet Jeremiah; about the way he or the Hebrew people are feeling at the time. I can understand that some times a long life journey anger do set in. You are positioned in a holding pattern where you feel that there is nothing working for you and everything is working against you. This might be a time of pay back felling the rod of his wrath or it might be a time when you are in the process of leaping forward.

This Lament that Jeremiah puts forth in Lamentations is poetry of anger grief frustration but it is also poetry of wisdom and knowledge. It takes knowledge and wisdom to know understand and accept the fact that God is just not God in good times and great situations but God is God in bad times and tough situations. God is God in the light but God is also God in the dark.

The writer of this Lament lived to be old but also wise. He endured a lot in the forum of criticism and imprisonment he tried to warn the people about wrong doings but they would not listen. Jeremiah was so upset at the spiritual condition of the people it is said at one time he vowed to quite preaching but he never said he would give up on God. Jeremiah knew that God was still working even though the people were not listening. Just like then, now we have people who are spiritually dead. Still we must keep holding on to God's unchanging hand; and holding up the blood stain banner of Jesus Christ. Yes we can get upset at the people and God but we must not give up on the people or God.

Prayer 

O gracious God, we coming first to say thanks for all you have done. We would like to ask for strength for standing in the gap for the least fortunate and courage to continue holding up the blood stained banner of Jesus Christ. We give your name the honor praise and glory all in the name of Jesus we pray Amen.

Thought for the day 

You can get upset but don’t lose focus.