It’s OK to cry. (It’s better to know why) Lamentations 1

There is much to cry about: 1 million acres have been scorched in large fires across 12 states: 392 wildfires in California alone. The Delta strand of COVID-19 is spreading like wildfire as the rates of new cases are up just when you thought we had the pandemic down on the mat. Just when you thought it was safe to go out in the sun, three sun screens touted to protect you from harmful rays that give you cancer, have chemicals in them that can give you cancer. Like the “Hee -Haw” song goes, “Gloom, despair and agony on me. If it wurn’t for bad luck, I’d have to luck at all.” It’s OK to cry.

That’s what the Book of Lamentations ( which means to cry) says. In fact, so important is crying, Jews read the book once every year to remember why they wept for seventy years. It had nothing to do with bad luck, but bad behavior. In Lamentations 1:18, the Prophet Jeremiah lays out why men should remember certain tears:

"The LORD is righteous; For I have rebelled against His command; Hear now, all peoples, And behold my pain; My virgins and my young men Have gone into captivity.”

When the character of God and the character of man are at a loggerhead, tears are certain to follow. Such was the case of the seventy-year exile of Judah and Jerusalem.

First, the nature of man: rebellion is in us. Verse 18b clearly reveal this: “ For I have rebelled against His command.” Jeremiah spoke for the actions of Judah who had sinned against God. With graphic imagery, he illustrated the nature of Judah’s offense in verse 9: “Her uncleanness was in her skirts”. Translation: God’s people played the harlot, cheating on God with lesser gods (Jer. 2:20). It was adultery equal to idolatry. For that, ther were consequences enough to cry about. A few of the twenty-two detailed consequences in Lamentations 1 goes something like this:

· Slavery (v. 1c)

· Abandonment of friends (v. 2b)

· No rest from hard labor (v. 3b)

· Disgrace (v. 6,8)

· Homelessness (v.7)

· Hunger and desperation (v. 11)

Wow! That’s just a sample of God’s judgment on Judah who did not learn from her big sister Israel’s disobedience. It’s our nature—rebellion—and weeping is our reward. Learn from other’s folly or sing a sad song in a strange land. (Psalm 147:1-4):

By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion. 2We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof. 3For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song…songs of Zion. 4How shall we sing the Lord’s song in a strange land?

The nature of God, on the other hand, is righteousness according to Lamentations 1:18a. What is in that righteousness:

· Provision: “I brought you into the fruitful land…” (Jer.2:7)

· Unconditional covenant relationship: “I will be their God…” (Jer. 31:33)

· Forgiveness: “…and their sins I will remember no more.” (Jer. 31:34)

· Future: “I know the plans I have for you...to give you a hope…” (Jer. 29:11)

When the righteous character of God is at odds with the reckless behavior of man, much is forfeited. There is much spilled milk to cry over. So, the question we have to ask ourselves is this: “Is what I want worth what I will lose?” Lest I leave you on a sour note, compassion is part of God’s righteous character, as well: Remember Psalms 30:5 and Lamentation 3:23:

5 For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favor is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. Psalm 30:5

23 They are new every morning; Great is Thy faithfulness. Lamentations 3:23

Now that’s something to sing about.