“Jerusalem, once so full of people, is now deserted. She who was once great among the nations now sits alone like a widow. Once the queen of all the earth, she is now a slave. 2 She sobs through the night; tears stream down her cheeks. Among all her lovers, there is no one left to comfort her. All her friends have betrayed her and become her enemies. 3 Judah has been led away into captivity, oppressed with cruel slavery. She lives among foreign nations and has no place of rest. Her enemies have chased her down, and she has nowhere to turn.” Lamentations 1:1-3 NLT
“Cry aloud before the Lord, O walls of beautiful Jerusalem! Let your tears flow like a river day and night. Give yourselves no rest; give your eyes no relief. 19 Rise during the night and cry out. Pour out your hearts like water to the Lord. Lift up your hands to him in prayer, pleading for your children, for in every street they are faint with hunger.” Lamentations 2:18-19
“The thought of my suffering and homelessness is bitter beyond words. 20 I will never forget this awful time, as I grieve over my loss. 21 Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this: 22 The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. 23 Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. 24 I say to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!” Lamentations 3:19-24 NLT
God of hope,
Lamentations anonymous and poetic. Written by a person or persons who survived. A reflection of Babylon’s siege of Jerusalem and the destruction and exile that followed (2 Kings 24 and 25)
One of the worst catastrophes in Israel’s history up to this point. God had promised Abraham the land of Canaan, David had made Jerusalem Israel’s capital where the kings from the line of David lived. Where Solomon built the temple for You, God, and where the priests maintained the rituals of Israel’s worship. 500 years of their history and then everything was lost. Lamentations a memorial to pain and confusion. And perhaps a beginning of repentance, regret and humility? And finally hope.
Amidst catastrophe however it happens the best we can do is grieve, cry out to You God, repent if we have had any part in it and finally hope in You. You will not fail us.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Worship Friday 5th September 2025
The steadfast Love of the Lord never changes,
His mercies never come to an end.
They are new every morning, new every morning,
Great is Thy faithfulness.
Lyrics: Edith McNeill words and tune 1974