Lament is part of the expression of what we feel due to a situation that someone causes or that we have caused. We often express this lament in the presence of others especially when it’s something tragic. This is common in our culture.
As believers, we know that God is involved in our lament. The lament needs to be expressed to God as well. This is not common, but it is important. Lament should include admitting (if we are certain) that what has produced our pain is our disobedience to God. This is what we see in this passage in Lamentations 1. In the first verses (vv. 12-17), Jerusalem publicly expresses her pain that God has caused her. He prays that those who listen to her have compassion on her. Furthermore, Jerusalem expresses her sorrow to the Lord (vv. 18-22). She declares that He is just and that she is to blame for rebelling against Him. She prays that God will see her suffering.
The passage teaches us to mourn horizontally and vertically. Both are necessary to maintain the correct perspective. Otherwise, it will lead us to despair. It also helps us learn compassion for those who are going through pain and suffering. It also helps us learn to express our regret to God both when it is our fault or when it is not.
We notice first that she expresses her pain that God has caused her. She pleads for the compassion of others (vv. 12-13) by giving two reasons she wants this from others. First, she has experienced God’s anger.
“Is it nothing to you, all you who pass by?
Look around and see.
Is any suffering like my suffering
that was inflicted on me,
that the Lord brought on me
in the day of his fierce anger? ” v. 12
She appeals to those who pass by to have compassion on her. She expresses that her pain is not like that of others. Her pain is worse. Many of us tend to exaggerate what happens to us, but in this case it is not. Why is it worse? She expresses the reason: “the Lord brought on me in the day of his fierce anger?.”
God poured out His anger on Judah. The anger of God is not something out of control, it is expressed within his holiness. God is very patient and does not want to punish. He gave them opportunities to repent and warned them that if they did not, the city would be destroyed (See Jer. 17:27). This anger from God brought disastrous consequences for Judah but God did not destroy them which He had every right to do.
We also see here Jerusalem’s transparency. She clearly states that her pain she is experiencing has come from God. This teaches us to be transparent when we experience pain, anguish, and sadness. This can include recognizing if what is happening to us is because we are being disciplined by the Lord for being disobedient to Him. It does not mean that we do it with everyone, but as believers we must have a group of people (a small group ) where we have that freedom, find comfort and help. As believers, we cannot live the Christian life alone.
But not only the disobedient believer suffers. The godly believer can also wait and not be amazed when the “fire ordeal” comes into his or her life. The purpose is to help us be more like Christ.
1 Peter 4: 12-13 says:
“12 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.”
Secondly, she expreses how it has affected her.
“From on high he sent fire,
sent it down into my bones.
He spread a net for my feet
and turned me back.
He made me desolate,
faint all the day long.” v. 13
Images of destruction are presented. Literally the city of Jerusalem was burned by her enemies (remember once again that she admits the “true” reason for her state was God.) This judgment was like a fever that consumes her bones (“sent it down into my bones”) .
The Lord spread a net for her as He did to her enemies many times. But this time it was the Lord himself who laid this net for her. The Lord became her enemy. She was trapped by Him without any escape. She has been left alone, desolate, sick and in pain all day.
When we look at someone who is suffering for their sin, it is easy to judge them. It is easy to point our finger. But when we are the ones experiencing a time of lament or God’s discipline (seen in the consequences), we want compassion. Some who are lamenting will continue to rebel against the Lord and blame him for what is happening. But others, in their pain, will seek the compassion of others. We must be ready to give them this compassion.
Compassion is not telling people that what they have done is right. Nor is it accusing God for what is happening in their lives. Compassion is recognizing the state of the person and feeling the pain they feel.
Our Lord did. Looking at the crowds, he had compassion on them “because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” (Matthew 9:36). He invited his disciples to pray that the Lord would send people to share the Good News of Salvation to them. That is also our call.
Are you suffering and lamenting for what is happening to you now? Do you have someone to share your pain? I encourage you to do this if you are in a difficult situation.
Maybe you are not experiencing a time of lament. But, maybe you know someone. Pause for a moment and ask God to bring comfort and restoration to his/her life. Think how you can be involved in showing compassion to him/her this week.
