Scripture Reading : Lamentation 5
Theme : Prayer of Restoration
Jeremiah recounts the misery of Israel and prays for its restoration based on God’s character and promises. Children must bear the consequences of the sins of their ancestors, but not their ancestors’ guilt (Eze. 18:20). There is no such thing as a “generational curse,” that says later generations are cursed by previous generations’ sins. God is righteous and gracious. Whoever does not repent, God will judge, whoever repents He will forgive, independent of their ancestors’ sins. This is His glorious character as stated in Exodus 34:6-7 (third, fourth generation in this passage is not literal but symbolically means every or all generations (cf. Amos 1:3-2:6), which parallels the word thousands in the same passage). None of us is left hopelessly by our ancestors’ sins. Whoever returns to God through Jesus can be freed from their sins. Jeremiah is exhorting the exiles to repent and not feel hopeless or accuse God of injustice and complain about it (Eze. 18:2). The prophet Daniel took God’s counsel and pray in such way in Daniel 9:1-19.
Praying the Scripture
When you sin, do not blame it on other people or the environment. This is not to say that other people or the environment have no bearing on you, but the primary responsibility of your sin is in you, not outside of you; it is in your heart, not outside of your heart. To blame it on others alone is to neglect your responsibility to own your sins. God’s grace is powerful enough to overcome the effect of previous generation of sins. All of God’s children can break the bad habits and sins of previous generations. God even uses your background to mold you into the image of Christ (Rom. 8:28-29). Take responsibility for your sins and come to the Lord for forgiveness and purification.
经文：耶利米哀歌5
主题：求复兴的祷告
耶利米回顾以色列的遭遇，并按神的品性与应许求神复兴以色列。儿女必须承担他们列祖犯罪的后果，但无需承受他们的愧疚（结18:20）。因此，所谓的“世代诅咒”是不存在的，即后代因先辈的罪孽受诅咒。神是公义的，且满有恩典。无论先辈有罪与否，凡不愿悔改的，神会审判；凡悔改的，神会饶恕。这是神在出埃及记34:6-7所彰显的荣耀品性（这节经文的“三四代”并不是指具体的数字，而是象征每一个或所有的世代（参：司1:3-2:6）；这与文中的“千万人”是并行的）。无人会因自己先辈的罪孽变得彻底绝望。凡借着耶稣归回神的可以从罪中得着释放。耶利米是在劝诫被逐之民要悔改，不要感到绝望，或认为神不公平而发怨言（结18:2）。
用经文祷告
当你犯罪时，不要归咎于他人或环境。这并不代表你不会受到他人或环境的影响，但犯罪的主要原因是内在因素而非外在因素；其关键是你的心，不是你内心以外的东西。你若只归罪于他人，就是疏忽你对自己犯罪的责任。神恩典之大能足以遮盖前世人犯罪的后果。凡属神的孩子都能戒除坏习惯以及前世的罪孽。神甚至能使用你的背景塑造你更像基督（罗8:28-29）。你要为自己的罪负责，并来到主前求饶恕，得洁净。
