Scripture Reading : Lamentation 2
Theme : God’s Anger with His People
God had warned the sinful people of Israel to turn away from their idolatry and other filthy sins, but they would not repent. Instead of listening to God’s corrections through His true prophets, they listened to false prophets who tickled their ears and fanned the flame of their sinful passions (v. 14). Therefore, God brings down His righteous justice on them. Even in such harsh judgement, Jeremiah exhorts the suffering remnant to cry out to God for mercy (v.19) and hope for grace from God.
Praying the Scripture
When God’s punishment falls on your sins, the wrong response is to ignore God or to double down on your self-righteous pride, entitlement or anger. If you do that you will continue to be God’s enemy. The right response is to humble yourself, agree with God’s righteous judgment and cry out to God for mercy for He is a God of mercy and His primary delight is to forgive and restore. Pray that this would be your response to God’s punishment.
经文：耶利米哀歌2
主题：神对其子民的愤怒
神已经告诫以色列子民要弃绝拜偶像与其他污秽的罪孽，但他们就是不肯悔改。他们不按神借着自己属实先知的劝告改邪归正，只听从挠他们耳朵，又煽动他们罪恶私欲的假先知（14节）。因此，神向他们降下公义的审判。即便在如此严酷的刑罚中，耶利米劝诫受苦的余民向神求告怜悯（19节），盼望神赐下恩典。
用经文祷告
当神对你的罪行施行惩罚时，万不得无视祂，或心中燃起自义的骄傲、愤怒，好像自己配得什么似的。你若那么做，就将继续成为神的敌人。我们要谦卑自己，认同神公义的审判，并求告神怜悯我们，因为祂是满有怜悯的神，并十分乐意饶恕与复兴罪人。祷告在你面临神的惩罚时，这就是你的回应。
