King James Bible Study – [And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. – Mark 8:34]
Date: Tuesday, August 26, 2025
Chapters: Lamentations 3-5
Message: Lamentations: Hope With The God
Hello My Friend,
I am not going to lie, I did not want to read the chapters for today because they are quite sad, but once I got in them it was as though God was waiting for me to hear what He had to say. As we come to the end of the reading of Lamentations we learn that while we all get discouraged and have our own pity party when it seems like God has left us to fend for ourselves, hope is what brings us back to life, [1 Peter 3:14-15 But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; 15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:]
We also learn that from the very beginning believers are saved by the same grace that we are today, admit that we have sinned, believe in the LORD, and call on Him, [Psalms 116:3-7,12-13 The sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hell gat hold upon me: I found trouble and sorrow. 4 Then called I upon the name of the LORD; O LORD, I beseech thee, deliver my soul. 5 Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; yea, our God is merciful. 6 The LORD preserveth the simple: I was brought low, and he helped me. 7 Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for the LORD hath dealt bountifully with thee. 12 What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me? 13 I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD.]
It is fitting that this passage came up as we all have times in our lives when our souls are broken and restless and need the reminder of the benefits that accompany our salvation when we call out to Him. So what is hope? [Hope: A desire of some good, accompanied with at least a slight expectation of obtaining it, or a belief that it is obtainable.]. Everyone has hope in something, even those who believe in evolution have hope that life will get better as time evolves. The sad thing is it is not, and unless they come to terms with the fact that they are sinners headed for hell and need Jesus Christ to save them then there is no hope for them, [Hebrews 4:1-2 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. 2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.]
There is not one person on this earth that has not heard the Gospel in some form but because Christ does not fit in with their choices many reject Him and become reprobates, [Romans 1:21,24-25,28 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: 25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. 28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;]
I read about this fool who identified himself as a wolf, he actually had a lifelike costume made and lived out in the woods, but when he tried to join a pack of wolves he was attacked. Do you realize that it is actually a sin to deny what you are and try to alter your body as such? Why? It is an insult to God. They are saying that God made a mistake in making them the gender they are. God, does not make mistakes, we are all here for a reason, it is just like Jesus said, [Matthew 6:25-27 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? 26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? 27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?]
Mankind, is the most precious and valuable beings to God that He has created and do you know why? He made us in His image, [Genesis 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.]. Human beings are the only beings on earth and even in the heavens that have a soul, it is what separates us from all creation. However, from the very beginning the love of sin for mankind is often greater than the love for God and therefore we will all suffer from it until we shed this flesh. Sometimes the suffering we face comes from the natural evils of life, like sickness and famines, while others come as a result of sin. Yesterday, we learned of Jeremiah’s deep sorrow over what happened to his nation and the suffering he went through just for telling them what was going to happen. Now, Jeremiah is contemplating his life, he is discouraged and feels as though God has left him all alone.
[Lamentations 3:1-4,7-9,17-18 I am the man that hath seen affliction by the rod of his wrath. 2 He hath led me, and brought me into darkness, but not into light. 3 Surely against me is he turned; he turneth his hand against me all the day. 4 My flesh and my skin hath he made old; he hath broken my bones. 7 He hath hedged me about, that I cannot get out: he hath made my chain heavy. 8 Also when I cry and shout, he shutteth out my prayer. 9 He hath inclosed my ways with hewn stone, he hath made my paths crooked. 17 And thou hast removed my soul far off from peace: I forgat prosperity. 18 And I said, My strength and my hope is perished from the LORD:]
There is not one faithful Christian who does not feel as though their soul is broken at times to the point that it feels like God is no where to be found, and the longer we suffer the more we lose hope of things changing. We often contemplate life, constantly going over things that happened in the past and wondering what we could have done differently. Then all of a sudden we are reminded of where our hope comes from.
[Lamentations 3:19-26 Remembering mine affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall. 20 My soul hath them still in remembrance, and is humbled in me. 21 This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. 22 It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. 23 They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. 24 The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. 25 The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. 26 It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.]
Oh how I needed to hear these words today, and yes I said hear as there are times when you can hear God’s still small voice calmly speaking those words. God’s compassion, mercy, and grace do not fail, it is like what Job said when he could not see God, [Job 23:8-11 Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him: 9 On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him: 10 But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold. 11 My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined.]
Job, is my life book as I discovered it through the darkest time in my life, and this is what I hold my hope on, [My foot hath held his steps,]. I may have gotten out of the line and messed up, but have never lost my faith because God held my steps and got me back on track every time. This is why our salvation is not given to us according to our works, we mess up too much, but that does not mean that we are condemned to suffer until God brings us home when we do. This is what Jeremiah is reminded of.
[Lamentations 3:31-39 For the Lord will not cast off for ever: 32 But though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies. 33 For he doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men. 34 To crush under his feet all the prisoners of the earth, 35 To turn aside the right of a man before the face of the most High, 36 To subvert a man in his cause, the Lord approveth not. 37 Who is he that saith, and it cometh to pass, when the Lord commandeth it not? 38 Out of the mouth of the most High proceedeth not evil and good? 39 Wherefore doth a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins?]
In other words, as long as we are alive we have hope and instead of complaining about how bad things are we need to forego the self pity party and encourage ourselves with the hope that things will get better, even if only when we see Jesus. We are sinful by nature so the suffering we complain about is far less than what we deserve, and while we are welcome to pour out our complaints to God we are to never question His decisions. Why? His thoughts and ways are much higher than our own, and we can also take from what Job said, [Job 42:2-3 I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee. 3 Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not.]
There really are things that we go through that we will never understand and it is not always to chasten us or prove our faith, but God knows exactly why He does or allows them. Now, keep in mind that wicked evil comes from Satan and is not always in God’s will for us, but He will use every situation to bring some good out of it. While we are prone to reflect on other people’s ways, and blame them when we suffer our duty is to search and try our own ways, that we may turn from the evil and return to God with our whole heart.
[Lamentations 3:40-42,47-51 Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the LORD. 41 Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens. 42 We have transgressed and have rebelled: thou hast not pardoned. 47 Fear and a snare is come upon us, desolation and destruction. 48 Mine eye runneth down with rivers of water for the destruction of the daughter of my people. 49 Mine eye trickleth down, and ceaseth not, without any intermission, 50 Till the LORD look down, and behold from heaven. 51 Mine eye affecteth mine heart because of all the daughters of my city.]
The more Jeremiah reflected on the situation the more it grieved him as he no longer worried about his own life rather the state of friends and family. He actually recalls the suffering he went through while he was in the dungeon and how God had gotten him out of it, [Lamentations 3:55-59,64 I called upon thy name, O LORD, out of the low dungeon. 56 Thou hast heard my voice: hide not thine ear at my breathing, at my cry. 57 Thou drewest near in the day that I called upon thee: thou saidst, Fear not. 58 O Lord, thou hast pleaded the causes of my soul; thou hast redeemed my life. 59 O LORD, thou hast seen my wrong: judge thou my cause. 64 Render unto them a recompence, O LORD, according to the work of their hands.]
Jesus, does more than just redeem our soul when we fully accept the Gospel and ask Him to save us, He redeems us from our lives. I do not know about you, but my life was not the greatest before I knew Him as my Saviour. I really cannot understand why Jesus pulled me out of the mire, but He has more faith in me than I do myself. And once we get over our pity party and realize that it is not all about us, we draw the conclusion that this is God’s judgment on the world and what they have done to bring the suffering. Jeremiah, reminds the unfaithful Jews that they are where they are because their sins were worse than those who were living in the world.
[Lamentations 4:1-4 How is the gold become dim! how is the most fine gold changed! the stones of the sanctuary are poured out in the top of every street. 2 The precious sons of Zion, comparable to fine gold, how are they esteemed as earthen pitchers, the work of the hands of the potter! 3 Even the sea monsters draw out the breast, they give suck to their young ones: the daughter of my people is become cruel, like the ostriches in the wilderness. 4 The tongue of the sucking child cleaveth to the roof of his mouth for thirst: the young children ask bread, and no man breaketh it unto them.]
Ostriches, lay their eggs in the sand, then leave them where they are easily crushed or found by prey and as a result many do not survive. Those who manage to survive are neglected and left to fend for themselves. This was the state of the women back then and when you think about not far from that right now as abortion is the number one killer of babies, and those who do manage to survive one are neglected. I will be the first to tell you that I do not understand why God gives children to women who have no value of their own lives let alone a child, but I will tell you that God has a special place in His heart for those precious children, [Luke 18:15-17 And they brought unto him also infants, that he would touch them: but when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them. 16 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. 17 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.]
hese are the ones who turned their backs on God and are now living on the streets, literally dying of starvation, and unrecognizable. Jeremiah, goes on to describe them, [Lamentations 4:6,8-10 For the punishment of the iniquity of the daughter of my people is greater than the punishment of the sin of Sodom, that was overthrown as in a moment, and no hands stayed on her. 8 Their visage is blacker than a coal; they are not known in the streets: their skin cleaveth to their bones; it is withered, it is become like a stick. 9 They that be slain with the sword are better than they that be slain with hunger: for these pine away, stricken through for want of the fruits of the field. 10 The hands of the pitiful women have sodden their own children: they were their meat in the destruction of the daughter of my people.]
Think about Sodom and the state it was in before God sent fire down upon it and turned the people who refused to leave into pillars of salt. Judah’s, sins were even greater than that if that were even possible. Do you know what made them greater than the sodomy, immorality, and lawlessness of life that consumed that city? Judah, knew God, and actually worshiped Him while living in those very sins that Sodom was guilty of. Through Jeremiah, we learn what was going on with the prophets and the priests that was worse than the worlds sins.
[Lamentations 4:11-13,16-18 The LORD hath accomplished his fury; he hath poured out his fierce anger, and hath kindled a fire in Zion, and it hath devoured the foundations thereof. 12 The kings of the earth, and all the inhabitants of the world, would not have believed that the adversary and the enemy should have entered into the gates of Jerusalem. 13 For the sins of her prophets, and the iniquities of her priests, that have shed the blood of the just in the midst of her, 16 The anger of the LORD hath divided them; he will no more regard them: they respected not the persons of the priests, they favoured not the elders. 17 As for us, our eyes as yet failed for our vain help: in our watching we have watched for a nation that could not save us. 18 They hunt our steps, that we cannot go in our streets: our end is near, our days are fulfilled; for our end is come.]
My goodness, we are all guilty of this, watching and waiting for someone to come in and save us instead of trusting God to get us through. While God is not against us asking for and getting the help we need, He does not want us to be dependent on the government or anyone else to take care of us. Trust me, the second you seek help from the world they will sell you out, [Matthew 6:31-34 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.]
Wow! We get so wrapped up in what we need tomorrow that we lose sight of what we need today, and this is exactly why we are to live each day by our daily bread. God, will lead us, we just need to let it all go and not make any hasty decisions that will bring more problems. There was nothing that Jeremiah could do to change what happened, he certainly had no idea what tomorrow would bring, but he could do something at the time, and even though that was limited, he did know to pray. As Jeremiah ponders the destruction of Jerusalem, he laments over the state of their captivity, but pleas with God for the return of His mercy.
[Lamentations 5:1-7 Remember, O LORD, what is come upon us: consider, and behold our reproach. 2 Our inheritance is turned to strangers, our houses to aliens. 3 We are orphans and fatherless, our mothers are as widows. 4 We have drunken our water for money; our wood is sold unto us. 5 Our necks are under persecution: we labour, and have no rest. 6 We have given the hand to the Egyptians, and to the Assyrians, to be satisfied with bread. 7 Our fathers have sinned, and are not; and we have borne their iniquities.]
Since we live in the midst of a wicked world we can expect that we are going to get caught up in judgments that God has placed on His nations that turn His back on Him. Think about all the suffering that an unsaved person or even a Christian that has backslidden faces and how hopeless they feel. Yes, God gets angry, and if they are living in sin and unrepentant then He will allow them to suffer with that pain until they come to their senses, but no one is without sin. We are in this together, which Jeremiah goes on to say.
[Lamentations 5:16-22 The crown is fallen from our head: woe unto us, that we have sinned! 17 For this our heart is faint; for these things our eyes are dim. 18 Because of the mountain of Zion, which is desolate, the foxes walk upon it. 19 Thou, O LORD, remainest for ever; thy throne from generation to generation. 20 Wherefore dost thou forget us for ever, and forsake us so long time? 21 Turn thou us unto thee, O LORD, and we shall be turned; renew our days as of old. 22 But thou hast utterly rejected us; thou art very wroth against us.]
In some cases while they may have repented, God does not remove all the suffering until He brings them home. Why? To be a testimony. When Paul walked the earth he had walked with a limp the rest of his life after hr got saved and Jesus told him why, [2 Corinthians 12:8-10 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.]
It is strange that Jeremiah ended his letter with the thought that God has rejected them. God’s mercies renew every single day, great is His faithfulness to those who put their faith and trust in His Son, no matter how many times they fall, repent, and get back up, [Proverbs 24:15-16 Lay not wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous; spoil not his resting place: 16 For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.]
Today’s Prayer: God, Of all the people that have come and gone in the world, You had a purpose for every one. Sadly, not everyone fulfills that purpose and not only do they suffer judgment, we suffer the repercussions of their judgment. While we do not want to face affliction, often You place difficult situations in our lives in order to show us that You do have a purpose for us and that through our suffering You are our hope. Lord, lead us and guide us, give us Your power, mercy, and grace. Strengthen us, and help us to look to You for hope out of every situation, and do what is necessary on our part to be a witness and a testimony that You do hear us, and are our hope. I ask these things in Your name, Jesus. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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