Lamentations 3:19-27
The book of Lamentations is a collection of poetic laments (“passionate expression of grief or sorrow”) over the destruction of Jerusalem, the temple, and the exile of Judah’s inhabitants by the Babylonians in 586 BC. My study bible says the authorship of Lamentations is uncertain, although ancient tradition claims that the prophet Jeremiah wrote it. The book consists of five chapters with one, two, four, and five each containing 22 verses of lament (the number of letters in the Hebrew alphabet). Chapter three, (today’s reading) which has 66 chapters (3 x 22), brings hope!
If we review today’s reading we learn of a God of hope, love, compassion, faithfulness, and salvation. Verses 26 and 27 read as follows: “The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks Him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.”
We are currently in the season of Advent. Based on the Latin word “coming”, Advent is a time of anticipation and preparation for Christ’s coming to us, not only at Christmas as a baby, but through the Word and Sacraments, and ultimately as “Christ Triumphant” on the last day.
Like the author of Lamentations, we have sorrows and failures that are part of the sinful world that we live in. But we have so much more -- the fulfillment of God’s love for us through the gift of His Son, Jesus Christ. Let us give thanks during this season of Advent for Jesus and our God of hope, love, faithfulness, and salvation!
Dear God, thank-you for Christmas. Thank you for remembering us and sending the gift of your Son to rescue us from sin and our “sorrows”. Help us share that gift with others during this Advent season. Amen.
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