ESOCS Devotional 23 April 2024 – Remember
MEMORY VERSE: “Remember, O Lord, what has befallen us.” Lamentations 5:1
TEXT: LAMENTATIONS 5:15-END
The joy of our heart has ceased;
Our dance has turned into mourning.
16 The crown has fallen from our head.
Woe to us, for we have sinned!
17 Because of this our heart is faint;
Because of these things our eyes grow dim;
18 Because of Mount Zion which is desolate,
With foxes walking about on it.
19 You, O Lord, remain forever;
Your throne from generation to generation.
20 Why do You forget us forever,
And forsake us for so long a time?
21 Turn us back to You, O Lord, and we will be restored;
Renew our days as of old,
22 Unless You have utterly rejected us,
And are very angry with us!
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The suffering and pain that were being experienced offered a time for the prophet and for the people to reflect on what had happened and why. This was their opportunity to learn that their unwillingness to listen to the truth of God’s messengers has caused their judgment. The prophets and priests, who were to be the teachers of God’s messages, were the ones committing sins and shedding the blood of the righteous in the streets. In Lamentations 4:17, the author reflects on how there was no one to help deliver them. Only God could deliver them. Only God could save them. The prophets and priests (4:13), as well as the kings (4:20), had failed the people. Therefore, the people were looking for true prophets, priests, and kings who would be able to save them.
Why does the author ask the Lord to ‘remember’, as he opens this prayer? It is not that the author thinks that God does not know what had happened or had already forgotten what he said in the earlier poems. When you read about people in the scriptures asking God to remember something, the thing that they always want God to remember is His covenant promises. Lord, remember the promises that you made to me. Remember the promises you made to us as a nation. Why do they ask God to remember these promises? They want God to act on those promises. The author is saying, ‘We know that you are the faithful God who keeps His covenant promises. Look at what has happened to us! Act upon your faithful promises toward us and restore us! Remember what you said!’ God had made a very important promise to David in 2 Samuel 7:13-16.
God said that the throne of his kingdom would be forever. God said His steadfast love would never depart even though he would commit sins. God said the house (which is the temple) and the kingdom would be sure and established forever. But now, the throne had ended, the temple was destroyed, and the people were ruined. God, remember your promises! Remember, Lord, and look at what has happened to us!!! This is the reason the author retraces all that has happened to them. He is invoking in his prayer the faithfulness of God to keep His word.
- It is good to remind God of His promises to us. But it is better for us to keep our own part of the covenant, which is to obey His word and live a holy lifestyle.
- Holy Spirit, please guide me throughout my life to be faithful to God.
Further Reading: Genesis 22:1-18; Mark 15:21-41; Colossians 1:18-23
ESOCS Devotional 23 April 2024
