Scripture Reading : Lamentation 3
Theme : Lament and Hope
This lament by Jeremiah is written for the sake of all the survivors from the fall of Jerusalem. He models a biblical way of dealing with suffering and pain in a broken world. The prophet does not pretend his pains and feelings are not there. He does not suppress them by ignoring them. Instead, he deals with his suffering and pain by honestly and humbly bringing them before God, not ignoring God or hating Him. In his honest and humble lament to God, God graciously opens his heart to remember His character and promises (vv. 21-45). It is his faith in God’s character and promises that produces hope and endurance in him. His sorrows are held in check by his hope. God also reveals his sins and his need for forgiveness and humility. Such humility and forgiveness is the antidote to complaint, entitlement, and pride (v. 39).
Praying the Scripture
When you suffer, God encourages you to be honest with Him and lay your feelings before Him. This is common in the Psalms. Such lament is not a weapon designed to manipulate God into getting what you want like pagans who inflict pain on themselves in order to receive their gods’ favor (1 Kgs 18:28). It is also not a catharsis session designed to purge your emotions through pure psychological means. Such lament is designed to bring you, as a sufferer, before the Lord of the universe and to start to depend on Him humbly and forsake the idols that you had trusted to save you and give you pleasure. Suffering is designed to bring us to God who alone can fix your brokenness and pain. Such lament is designed to lead you to reflect on the character and promises of God whose natural disposition is to forgive and restore, not to punishment (v. 22-24, 33). It is also designed to move you to examine yourself and to agree with God’s righteous judgment on your sins and idolatry (v. 39). Lastly, such lament is designed to produce hope that comes from your faith in God’s character and promises. Endurance builds character and hope (Rom. 5:4). Hope builds a longing for God (Gal. 5:5), who is our portion, our treasure (v. 24). If you think you are waiting long enough, keep waiting, for God knows how long you need to wait for. This is how you ought to live as an exile in this broken world (1 Pet. 2:11).
经文：耶利米哀歌3
主题：哀号和盼望
耶利米是为耶路撒冷沦陷后的生还者写下这首哀歌的。他让我们晓得如何在这破碎的世界里承受苦难和痛楚。这位先知并没有假装他毫无感觉，没有痛楚。他也没有无视自己的情感，从而抑制自己的感受。反之，他坦然面对自己的苦楚和伤痛，虚心将这一切带到神面前，而不是无视神或憎恨祂。在他向神坦诚与谦卑的哀号中，神恩待他，让他想起神的品性与应许（21-45节）。耶利米的信心是扎根在神的品性与应许上的，所以他仍有盼望与忍耐。他的盼望比忧伤更大。神也揭示了他的罪，以及他当谦卑与蒙饶恕的需要。这种谦卑与饶恕是怨言、权益和骄傲的良药（39节）。
用经文祷告
当你受苦的时候，神鼓励你向祂坦诚一切，将自己的感受摆在祂面前。这在诗篇中是很普遍的。这种哀号并不是摆弄神的武器，叫神帮你圆梦；这与外邦人尝试夺得他们偶像之喜悦而自割自刺（王上18:28）是不同的。这也不是一个宣泄的时间，藉着纯属心理学的方式发泄你的情绪。这种哀号是要将身为受苦之人的你带到宇宙万物的主宰面前，叫你开始虚心依靠祂，舍弃你曾信赖能救你并给予你福分的偶像。苦难是要领我们归向神，因为唯有神能医治你的忧患和痛楚。这种哀号是要领你反思神的品性与应许，而神乐意饶恕，使罪人复兴，不愿施行惩罚（22-24，33节）。它也要领你察验自己，叫你认同神对你拜偶像与其他罪行有公义的审判。最后，这样的哀号是要叫你因着信靠神的品性与应许得着盼望。忍耐生老练和盼望（罗5:4）。盼望叫我们渴望神（加5:5），而祂是我们的份，我们的宝藏（24节）。你若认为自己已经等了很久，乃要继续等候仰望神，因为神晓得你还要等待多久。这就是你在这破碎世界中如何以旅客的身份生活（彼前2:11）。
