lost inheritance

Lamentations 5:1-8 (JDV)

Lamentations 5:1 Yahveh, remember what has happened to us. Look, and see our disgrace!
Lamentations 5:2 Our inheritance has been turned over to strangers, our houses to foreigners.
Lamentations 5:3 We have become orphans, fatherless; our mothers are widows.
Lamentations 5:4 We have to pay for the water we drink; our wood comes at a price.
Lamentations 5:5 We are closely followed; we are tired, and no one offers us rest.
Lamentations 5:6 We made a treaty with Egypt and with Assyria, to get enough food.
Lamentations 5:7 Our fathers sinned; they exist no longer, but we are bearing their punishment.
Lamentations 5:8 Slaves rule over us; no one rescues us from them.

lost inheritance

The Lamenter describes the disgrace of his nation at losing their inheritance to foreigners. He says it is because the fathers sinned, and the children are bearing their punishment. It would be that way until the nation repented, and came back to the covenant the fathers had broken.

The New Testament describes life in the flesh as a spiritual slavery. All of us are born into such a life. The good news is that there is an inheritance for all of us in Christ. We can choose to stay in slavery — even blaming God or our environment or our ancestors. But we can also choose to return to God in faith.

Lord, we choose repentance and restoration.