Lament and the Nature of God

As we study chapters from the book of Lamentations in the Bible, I think that an important part of lament is acknowledging who God is.  Lamentations 5:19 gives us some reminders of God’s sovereignty (which is a word we don’t use very often these days, but in my own words, means that He’s in charge).

You, Lord, reign forever
your throne endures from generation to generation.

Lamentations 5:19 NIV
https://lamentations.bible/lamentations-5-19

Although God should be praised for who He is, there are multiple aspects of God’s nature that relate to human lament:

• One aspect of God’s nature is that He is just.  Actions beget reactions, and sin requires punishment.  An earlier verse in this chapter acknowledged that the people’s sin was resulting in consequences.  As we lament the consequences of sin, we understand that human sin is at the root of human suffering.  (Similarly, if we didn’t see the goodness of God, including His various blessings, there would be nothing to contrast the bad times against.)
• Another aspect of God’s nature is that He is loving, merciful, and gracious.  An appeal to those characteristics of God appears in a couple of verses later, but this is where those of us who seek to understand God more and more completely find hope.  Lament doesn’t sugarcoat the present, but God’s faithfulness means that there is hope for the future.  And, this isn’t “I hope that this happens”; instead, it is a rock-solid confidence that God will deliver on His promises.
• Along with these things, though, is the fact that God is powerful and He is in charge (as described in the verse above).  God is in control, and He is sovereign, so He has the right to dispense both justice and mercy as He sees fit.  (In fact, through Jesus’ voluntary sacrifice, God offers both justice – where sin must have consequences – and justification – where we can be pronounced righteous – at the same time.  See Romans 3:21-30.)

On the other hand, there’s no value in calling out to a false god who doesn’t have the power to help us.  In the time of Elijah (see 1 Kings 18:16-40), prophets of Baal found that out the hard way, and paid for their incorrect beliefs and false teaching with their lives.

In today’s world, those who look to false gods are also disappointed, whether these false gods are things like themselves, other people, big corporations, governments, money, power, or anything else that isn’t the actual God of the universe.

However, unlike Elijah’s punishment for the prophets of Baal, our mission (i.e., the commission for those who follow Jesus Christ) isn’t to destroy people who are following the wrong leader, but rather to counteract false teachings and – if possible – be part of God’s plan to restore people to the truth.

So, in verse 19, the author of this lament (or “lamentation”) acknowledges that God is in authority, addressing God by name (“Yahweh”, or the great “I AM”, we might say).  If your god doesn’t reign supreme over the universe, while offering both justice and love, mercy, and grace, I encourage you to get to know the God described in this chapter of Lamentations.  He has been faithful to me, and I know that He will be forever.

From Sunday School lesson prepared for May 14, 2023

References:

• The Lookout, May 14, 2023, © 2023 Christian Standard Media.
• Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
• The College Press NIV Commentary – Jeremiah-Lamentations, by Timothy M. Willis.  © 2002 College Press Publishing Co.