Lamentations 4:14-22 "They have wandered as blind men in the streets, they have polluted themselves with blood, so that men could not touch their garments. They cried unto them, Depart ye; it is unclean; depart, depart, touch not: when they fled away and wandered, they said among the heathen, They shall no more sojourn there. The anger of the LORD hath divided them; HE will no more regard them: they respected not the persons of the priests, they favored not the elders. As for us, our eyes are yet failed for our vain help: in our watching we have watched for a nation that could not save us.
They hunt our steps, that we cannot go in our streets: our end is near, our days are fulfilled; for our end is come. Our persecutors are swifter than the eagles of the heaven: they pursued us upon the mountains, they laid wait for us in the wilderness. The breath of our nostrils, the anointed of the LORD, was taken in their pits, of whom we said, Under HIS shadow we shall live among the heathen. Rejoice and be glad, O daughter of Edom, that dwellest in the land of Uz: the cup also shall pass through unto thee: thou shalt be drunken, and shalt make thyself naked. The punishment of thine iniquity is accomplished, O daughter of Zion; HE will no more carry thee away into captivity; HE will visit thine iniquity, O daughter of Edom; HE will discover thy sins."
Who was at fault for this judgment upon Jerusalem ? While the political rulers of the nation certainly had to be held accountable (Lam.2:9). Jeremiah recognized that the messages being given by GOD's prophets were vain, or empty. Such men were predicting "foolish things for THEE" (Lam.2:14 pictured above). Sadly, the people chose to listen to the lies they were being told -- that everything would turn out fine, that Babylon would not actually destroy the city, that the temple's treasures would soon be returned (Jeremiah 28:1-4, 10-11). It was not long before reality set in, and the situation became evident to all that these prophets had lied to the people (vv.14-20). They would witness no restoration of the glory of the temple, nor would they see the kingdom in its former splendor or even anything remotely close to it. The LORD's anger was so great that, in the end, these false prophets were essentially regarded like lepers (vv.14-15).
A proper interpretation of the Bible reveals that the LORD has chosen only one nation above all others: Israel (Romans 3:1-2; Isaiah 40:2). He holds her to a very high standard. However, the Bible also informs the other peoples of the world concerning their purpose and role in the plan and program of GOD in this age. Have you ever stopped to consider that if the LORD judged Israel and all the other nations of that time, HE also will judge our country and all others in this present time ? We must not think that our nation or any other is immune from divine reckoning. GOD will judge the world in righteousness by "that MAN" WHOM HE has appointed (Acts 17:31 pictured above). Knowing this, let us earnestly and fervently pray for our governmental leaders today (1st.Timothy 2:1-8). GDF
Your servant in CHRIST,
Julie
Copyright, FEATURE: A Daily Bible Study Guide.
Used with permission. www.featoday.org
https://fivestarchristianministries.com/salvation
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