Lamentations 1

Most people refer to this book of the Bible as The Lamentations of Jeremiah, because most scholars agree it was written by the prophet Jeremiah. But these aren’t the lamentations of Jeremiah. They are the lamentations of God. Oh, Jeremiah might have also been distraught over what happened to his nation, but I believe the anguished heart cry here is all God’s.

The more I read of the Bible, the more I’m convinced that we can’t just stuff God into the little boxes we’d like to put Him in. There’s the “Gentle, Meek, and Mild” box—but God isn’t always gentle, meek, or mild. There’s the “Fire and Brimstone” box—but God doesn’t always appear with fire and brimstone. As much as it seems we’d like to paint our picture of God either black or white, He persistently defies being painted with one type of brush.

If there is any box we can stuff Him into, I believe it’s the “Love” box—but the way that looks in action is markedly different, depending on the circumstances.

Having just gone through 52 chapters of Jeremiah, I think I’ve heard just about every warning possible. I think I’ve heard every sternly-worded, threat-laced, If you do that again, I’ll spank you! there is. God is a tough talker. And, make no mistake, He’s also a tough disciplinarian.

But we must never equate those things with harshness. At the center of God’s heart is the most tender spot you will ever find. Any tough words He says or any tough punishments He doles out are for the sole purpose of helping us. He is desperate to save us, and the unfortunate truth is, sometimes He can’t.

When He can’t, you don’t hear, “I told you so.” You don’t hear, “Good riddance.” This is what you hear: “Oh, oh, oh… How empty the city, once teeming with people. A widow, this city, once in the front rank of nations, once queen of the ball, she’s now a drudge in the kitchen. She cries herself to sleep each night, tears soaking her pillow. No one’s left among her lovers to sit and hold her hand. Her friends have all dumped her.” (vs 1-2)

I don’t know about you, but in that lament, I hear shades of, “How can I give you up? How can I let you go?” (Hos 11:8)

I hear, “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing. Look, your house is left to you desolate!” (Matt 23:37-38)

I hear, “O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you—O Absalom, my son, my son!” (2 Sam 18:33)

Never, ever think that God doesn’t know or care about your pain. He cares more deeply than any other person you know, because He knows you better than anyone else. Your pain is His pain. And even if what you’re suffering is something you brought on yourself, God weeps.

He is never unmoved. He is never untouched.

He has a tender place in His heart for you.