The Lord has done what he planned;
he has fulfilled his word,
which he decreed long ago.
Lamentations 2:17
he has fulfilled his word,
which he decreed long ago.
Lamentations 2:17
For context, this part of Scripture is mostly filled with sad stories of judgment and destruction. Hard things have happened, and lament is the music of the day. Lamentations is decidedly minor key. What I find most interesting is that all of these hard things are clearly attributed to God. To be sure, the judgment is a consequence of human sin and disobedience. But it is God who has brought destruction and judgment and suffering. The text makes this very clear. God has done this. God is responsible. God is sovereign.
Even if human choices have contributed to this tragic outcome, we struggle to understand. In the face of suffering, our normal response is complaint: How could God do this to us? How could God allow this to happen?
Even if human choices have contributed to this tragic outcome, we struggle to understand. In the face of suffering, our normal response is complaint: How could God do this to us? How could God allow this to happen?
God's judgment is sometimes hard to understand. All the same, when God is involved, there is a grace even in his judgment. When God is at work - even if his work is judgment - there is the certainty that what is happening means something. What grace to know that God can use even judgment for his purposes. And what grace to know that God is present and at work even when our world seems to be falling apart!
Naturally, we'd rather not have our world fall apart at all. But when it does fall apart, I'd like to be sure that God is the one who is holding it in his hands. In Lamentations 2, the world is falling apart. There is no other way to describe what's happening. But instead of asking where God is, the lament simply says this: "We are being judged for our sin. God is doing this - and this is exactly what he said he would do." The words are painful, but simple and honest. Though the world is falling apart, the presence of God is never questioned.
Sometimes, the option for us is a meaningless mess - or a mess in the hands of God. If I get to choose between those two options, I'll choose the mess in the hands of our sovereign God every time.
Yes, sometimes we make the messes. And sometimes the messes simply appear. Wherever they come from, though, it's good to know that God is still God.
So be encouraged today. Be certain of this: even when the world seems to be falling apart, God is sovereign. If he is here, and if he is at work, then whatever is happening can mean something. Our sovereign God can do that sort of thing.
Naturally, we'd rather not have our world fall apart at all. But when it does fall apart, I'd like to be sure that God is the one who is holding it in his hands. In Lamentations 2, the world is falling apart. There is no other way to describe what's happening. But instead of asking where God is, the lament simply says this: "We are being judged for our sin. God is doing this - and this is exactly what he said he would do." The words are painful, but simple and honest. Though the world is falling apart, the presence of God is never questioned.
Sometimes, the option for us is a meaningless mess - or a mess in the hands of God. If I get to choose between those two options, I'll choose the mess in the hands of our sovereign God every time.
Yes, sometimes we make the messes. And sometimes the messes simply appear. Wherever they come from, though, it's good to know that God is still God.
So be encouraged today. Be certain of this: even when the world seems to be falling apart, God is sovereign. If he is here, and if he is at work, then whatever is happening can mean something. Our sovereign God can do that sort of thing.