empty and misleading

Posted on December 15, 2021 by Jefferson Vann

Lamentations - 1

empty and misleading

Lamentations 2:13-14 (JDV)

Lamentations 2:13 What can I say on your behalf? What can I compare you to, Daughter Jerusalem? What can I liken you to, so that I may console you, Virgin Daughter Zion? For your ruin is as vast as the sea. Who can heal you?
Lamentations 2:14 Your prophets saw visions for you that were empty and deceptive; they did not reveal your iniquity and so restore your fortunes. They saw pronouncements for you that were empty and misleading.

empty and misleading

What a condemnation for those prophets. They had been responsible for speaking God’s word to God’s people, but they chose to see only empty and misleading stuff. They gave their people memes instead of maturity, vanity instead of virtue, triviality instead of truth.

Lord, we wait on you for a word for our time. We want your truth for your people, regardless of the price we may have to pay for that truth.

Posted in ministry, prophecy, truth | Tagged | Leave a comment

churning within

Posted on December 14, 2021 by Jefferson Vann

churning within

Lamentations 2:11-12 (JDV)

Lamentations 2:11 My eyes are worn out from weeping; I am churning within. My heart is poured out in grief because of the destruction of my dear people, because infants and nursing babies pass out in the streets of the city.
Lamentations 2:12 They cry out to their mothers, “Where is the grain and wine?” as they pass out like the wounded in the streets of the city, as their throat spills out in the arms of their mothers.

churning within

I remember the horrible feeling I felt one day when as a missionary in the Philippines I encountered a young mother with an extremely malnourished infant. This is something you never want to happen, and it does something to you when you see it. The Lamenter has seen it, and it left him churning within.

Oh God, preserve us from this terrible judgment. Bring us back to yourself, so that we experience your kindness, not your wrath.

Posted in judgment, wrath of God | Tagged | Leave a comment

what crisis does

Posted on December 13, 2021 by Jefferson Vann

Lamentations - 1

what crisis does

Lamentations 2:8-10 (JDV)

Lamentations 2:8 Yahveh determined to destroy the wall of Daughter Zion. He stretched out a measuring line and did not restrain himself from destroying. He made the ramparts and walls grieve; together they waste away.
Lamentations 2:9 Zion’s gates have fallen to the ground; he has destroyed and shattered the bars on her gates. Her king and her leaders live among the nations, instruction is no more, and even her prophets find no vision from Yahveh.
Lamentations 2:10 The elders of Daughter Zion sit on the ground in silence. They have thrown dust on their heads and put on sackcloth. The young women of Jerusalem have bowed their heads to the ground.

what crisis does

The COVID-19 pandemic and its resultant health and economic crisis deeply influenced us all. A crisis does that. The crisis described here changed the faith of the nation of Judah. Even the prophets could no longer encourage them with a vision from God. The crisis changed the nation’s leaders. They were in mourning, and could not lead. The crisis changed the hope of the people to hopelessness. The young women of marriageable age bowed their heads to the ground, refusing to dream of a future life and family.

Lord, lead us out of our crises and to your cross. Restore our faith, our leaders, and our hope.

Posted in crisis, faith, hope, leadership | Tagged | Leave a comment

end of worship

Posted on December 12, 2021 by Jefferson Vann

end of worship

Lamentations 2:6-7 (JDV)

Lamentations 2:6 He has wrecked his temple as if it were merely a shack in a field, destroying his place of meeting. Yahveh has abolished appointed festivals and Sabbaths in Zion. He has despised king and priest in his fierce anger.
Lamentations 2:7 The Lord has rejected his altar, renounced his sanctuary; he has handed the walls of her palaces over to the enemy. They have raised a shout in the house of Yahveh like on the day of an appointed festival.

end of worship

Long before Jesus overturned the moneychangers’ tables in the temple, Yahveh wrecked it by allowing it to be invaded by foreign armies. Why would God do such a thing? The same reason his Son did. When worship becomes a sham, God puts an end to the show.

Lord, teach us how to worship you with integrity and respect.

Posted in hypocrisy | Tagged | Leave a comment

like an enemy

Posted on December 11, 2021 by Jefferson Vann

like an enemy

Lamentations 2:1-5 (JDV)

Lamentations 2:1 How the Lord has covered Daughter Zion with the cloud of his anger! He has thrown down Israel’s glory from the sky to the land. He did not acknowledge his footstool in the day of his anger.
Lamentations 2:2 Without compassion the Lord has swallowed up all the dwellings of Jacob. In his wrath he has demolished the fortified cities of Daughter Judah. He brought them to the ground and defiled the kingdom and its leaders.
Lamentations 2:3 He has cut off every horn of Israel in his burning anger and withdrawn his right hand in the presence of the enemy. He has blazed against Jacob like a flaming fire that consumes everything.
Lamentations 2:4 He has strung his bow like an enemy; his right hand is positioned like an adversary. He has killed everyone who was the delight to the eye, pouring out his wrath like fire on the tent of Daughter Zion.
Lamentations 2:5 The Lord is like an enemy; he has swallowed up Israel. He swallowed up all its palaces and destroyed its fortified cities. He has multiplied mourning and lamentation within Daughter Judah.

like an enemy

We need God in our lives, but as a friend, not like an enemy. Judah had so infuriated their Lord that he turned on them, and began treating them like an enemy.

Oh, Father, forgive us, and turn your wrath from us. We need your comfort and your healing. We confess that our sins have brought these trials upon us, but without your help, we have no help. Put down your bow, Lord, and restore your people.

Posted in dependence upon God, forgiveness, reconciliation | Tagged | Leave a comment

bring on the day

Posted on December 10, 2021 by Jefferson Vann

Lamentations - 1

bring on the day

Lamentations 1:20-22 (JDV)

Lamentations 1:20 Yahveh, see how I am in distress. I am churning within; my heart is broken, because I have been very rebellious. Outside, the sword takes the children; inside, there is death.
Lamentations 1:21 People have heard me groaning, but there is no one to comfort me. All my enemies have heard of my misfortune; they are glad that you have caused it. Bring on the day you have announced, so that they may become like me.
Lamentations 1:22 Let all their wickedness come before you, and deal with them as you have dealt with me because of all my transgressions. You see, my groans are many, and I am sick at heart.

bring on the day

The city feels the shame of being singled out for God’s judgment. Even in her destitute state, she prays that God deal with the surrounding nations as he has done with her. She cannot stand being laughed at by heathen nations that are more wicked than she is. She admits that she is getting what she deserves, but the fact that God seems to be overlooking the sins of others is too much for her to bear.

But she know that God has a day of judgment coming, and her prayer is that she lives to see justice. This is not the most noble sentiment, and we do not have to do theological gymnastics to justify it. We are hearing many groans of a sinful, sick heart, groping about for help.

Lord, we know you have a day coming in which all your enemies will be brought to justice. We long for that day as well, but we also ask you to help us restore the nations to yourself before that day comes.

Posted in second coming | Tagged | Leave a comment

look at my pain

Posted on December 9, 2021 by Jefferson Vann

Lamentations - 1

look at my pain

Lamentations 1:18-19 (JDV)

Lamentations 1:18 Yahveh is being just, because I have rebelled against his command. Listen, all you people; look at my pain. My young women and young men have gone into captivity.
Lamentations 1:19 I called to my lovers, but they betrayed me. My priests and elders were destroyed in the city while searching for food to keep themselves alive.

look at my pain

The city calls on the people to look at her pain. She knows that she is suffering justly, and wants everyone to know it. As difficult as these times of trouble and heartache are, they can be opportunities to witness to the glory of God. But we have to get over own own pride and self-righteousness.

Lord, your ways are right, even we suffer. You are just.

Posted in repentance, sin | Tagged | Leave a comment

something impure

Posted on December 8, 2021 by Jefferson Vann

Lamentations - 1

something impure

Lamentations 1:16-17 (JDV)

Lamentations 1:16 I cry because of these things; my eyes flow with tears. For there is no one nearby to comfort me, no one to keep me alive. My children are desolate because the enemy has won.
Lamentations 1:17 Zion stretches out her hands; there is no one to comfort her. The Lord has issued a decree against Jacob that his neighbors should be his adversaries. Jerusalem has become something impure among them.

something impure

The city was being treated like a leper colony. No one wanted to see the once beautiful and majestic land — now defeated and in disgrace.

The pain of being ignored after once being honored and appreciated can be worse than physical pain. All you want to do is cry out, but you are afraid of the empty space all around you. It is humiliating to break down, and have no one around to comfort you.

Lord, rescue us from our incredible desolation. Only you can restore us to yourself, and that is what we need.

Posted in deliverance, reconciliation | Tagged | Leave a comment

trampled

Posted on December 7, 2021 by Jefferson Vann

Lamentations - 1

trampled

Lamentations 1:13-15 (JDV)

Lamentations 1:13 He sent fire from high up into my bones; he made it descend. He spread a net for my feet and turned me back. He made me desolate, sick all day long.
Lamentations 1:14 My transgressions have been formed into a yoke, fastened together by his hand; they have been placed on my neck, and the Lord has broken my strength. He has handed me over to those I cannot resist.
Lamentations 1:15 The Lord has rejected all the mighty men within me. He has summoned an army against me to crush my young warriors. The Lord has trampled Virgin Daughter Judah like grapes in a wine-press.

trampled

The Lamenter describes Virgin daughter Judah as having been trampled like grapes in a wine press. It speaks of the aftermath of violent confrontation, and a loss of strength and integrity.

When Jesus returns, his domination of the nations is described with similar wording. He will rule them with an iron rod, and he will tread the wine press of God’s fierce wrath (Revelation 19:15).

At this time, it is God’s own nation who is experiencing this fate. It is their transgressions that have been formed into a heavy yoke.

But we are fortunate to be living in an age of grace, and that great warrior — Jesus — comes to us today and offers us a light yoke for our necks.

Lord, give us the wisdom to accept your offer of peace, because the day of wrath and judgment is quickly approaching.

Posted in grace, second coming | Tagged | Leave a comment

detested

Posted on December 6, 2021 by Jefferson Vann

Lamentations - 1

detested

Lamentations 1:7-12 (JDV)

Lamentations 1:7 During the days of her misery and homelessness Jerusalem remembers all the precious belongings that were hers in the old days. When her people fell into the adversary’s hand, she had no one to help. The adversaries looked at her, laughing at her downfall.
Lamentations 1:8 Jerusalem has sinned grievously; which is why she has become an object of scorn. All who honored her now detest her, because they have seen her nakedness. She herself groans and turns away.
Lamentations 1:9 Her uncleanness stains her skirts. She never considered her end. Her downfall was astonishing; there was no one to comfort her. Lord, look on my misery because the enemy boasts.
Lamentations 1:10 The adversary has seized all her precious belongings. She has even seen the nations enter her sanctuary – those you had forbidden to enter your congregation.
Lamentations 1:11 All her people sigh while they search for bread. They have traded their precious property for food in order to stay alive. Yahveh, look and see how I have become despised.
Lamentations 1:12 Is this nothing to you, all you who pass by? Look and see! Is there any pain like mine, which was dealt out to me, which Yahveh made me suffer on the day of his burning anger?

detested

The once beautiful city has lost it all and is now looked on and detested. Do you feel that shame? And it is a shame that could have been prevented. She lost it all — included her honor and glory — because she sinned against God.

Lord, forgive us and restore us. We feel the shame and ugliness of sin.
bbjv - 1

Posted in sin | Tagged | Leave a comment