“Behold, O LORD; for I am in distress: my bowels are troubled; mine heart is turned within me; for I have grievously rebelled: abroad the sword bereaveth, at home there is as death” (Lamentations 1:20).
TEXT — Lamentation 1:18-21
Message
A third-century Greek philosopher, Sextus Empiricus was credited with saying that the mills of the gods grind slowly but finely. This means that justice may be slow, but justice surely will be achieved.
Jeremiah’s lamentation over Judah portrays what happens when the justice of God is set in motion. Our text reveals the practical demonstration of divine revenge over the enemies of God and upon all rebellious souls. God is righteous and cannot condone the ways of the unrighteous. He allows a season for repentance but will not wait for the unrepentant forever. Judah and Israel were sisters caught in the bed of spiritual adultery. They were unfaithful to God and He gave them time to repent but they refused. Now, God’s fury is being poured out upon them and there is none to stay the tide.
The righteous God will not be silent forever. Justice must be done, and sinners must pay for their sinfulness. The righteousness of God excuses Him from any blame that nay-saying and atheism generate. God has given warnings many times to the unrighteous and the wicked, but they refuse to turn from evil. He closes the door to every source of help to the wicked. He orchestrates enemy attacks to buffet and bring down the pride of the unrighteous. Unless the sinner cries out to God, his/her life is tossed to and fro in the storm of evil till there’s no place to hide.
Believers need to learn from this lamentation. We are bought with a price and must glorify God in all things. He is the helper of the righteous. God is the defender of His people. As many as confess Jesus as Lord and Saviour must ensure that the enemy never has the opportunity to take advantage of them. God is not a liar. He will surely bring the day of judgment that He promised. ‘Fear God, and keep His commandments’ is a scriptural counsel none must ignore.
Thought for the day
A Life lived in wickedness now is a life of lamentation in eternity.
Listed among “500 most powerful people on the planet” by the Foreign Policy magazine in 2013, Pastor (Dr.) William F. Kumuyi is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry (DCLM) headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria. DCLM started in 1973 as a 15-member Bible study group right in Kumuyi’s apartment at University of Lagos where he was a lecturer. His revolutionary Bible teaching on personal holiness and commitment to evangelism soon gained so much traction and resulted in a widespread revival.
2 comments
Well nourished with the piece of the biblical passages and exhortation.
Well nourished with the piece of the biblical passages and exhortation.
Rebellion driven by need for self expression and identity.
Reaction to perceived hypocrisy and corruption is also called rebellion.