This word, "Lamentations" has been on my mind for a few weeks. And when learning The Word of God one must know what He means when He uses specific words. Most of us already know that God does not mince His words.
So what does Lamentations mean? And what is it?
The book of Lamentations in The Bible is a book of sorrows. It is how someone feels after a tragedy.
The dictionary says: The passionate expression of grief or sorrow, weeping.
Similar words: Weeping, wailing, crying, sobbing.
Though my thoughts were on the meaning of The Book of Lamentations, one word always stuck out to me. Trust. Do you trust God?
In Lamentations, Babylonians destroyed Jerusalem. God allowed it to be destroyed because of Judah's continued idolatry. God even allowed Solomon's Temple to be burned to the ground even though it stood for about 400 years.
Lamentations 2:17
The Lord has done what He planned, He has fulfilled His word, which He decreed long ago. He has overthrown you without pity, He has let the enemy gloat over you, He has exalted the horn of your foes
Idolatry by definition means the worship of idols. An extreme adoration, love or reverence for something or someone.
The reason why idolatry is an issue is because God's covenant with Israel was based on exclusive worship of Him alone. Deuteronomy 5:7
Throughout the Bible, there is a pattern of idol worship, intermarriage with other cultures, consequences, restoration, and forgiveness. And somehow the Israelites kept repeating the same mistakes, repeating the same patterns of history.
God even showed The Israelites who He was by using the Philistines god as an example. In 1 Samuel 5:1-5 God knocked down the god/Idol, Dagon. Twice. Elijah and the 450 prophets was another example that God used to show His true power vs the impotence of false gods/Idols.
1 Kings 18:19-40
But for some reason, The Israelites never listened to God or the prophets until it was too late. Even when they knew the things God would not tolerate.
Isaiah 42:8
Exodus 20:3-5
There are several ways in which a person of today can practice idol worshiping without even realizing it. Such as bowing in front of a statue, pride, self-centeredness, greed, gluttony, and a love of possessions. These things lead to rebellion against God and He views it as being hated. By the way, the more a person releases their attachments to physical things, the more their supernatural gifts will increase. Let go of pride and witness an increase in spiritual gifts.
Attachments to children, celebrities, a president, a spouse, or pastor is also seen as idolatry. Some ancient texts calls it adultery as an example.
Book of Hosea
Two out of the ten commandments states not to covet your neighbors "things", and not to practice idolatry.
Exodus 20
Idolatry of self has three core lusts (sex) found within it. Lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.
1 John 2:16
As I listened to The Book of Ezekiel on audio, he asked God one question twice, because the prophet was lamenting for the Israelites due to the lamentations written on the scroll.
Ezekiel 2:10
Ezekiel 3:14
"Ah, Lord God! Will you destroy all the remnant of Israel in pouring your fury on Jerusalem?"
NKJV
Ezekiel 9:8
Throughout Ezekiel 5,6, and 7 the consequences of continuous rebellion, adultery and idolatry were bloody crimes, violence, deaths, plagues/diseases, no ability to buy or sell anything, food shortages (famine), natural disasters (God calls them unique disasters because they broke the records of natural diasters)
And those whom God allowed to escape were scattered all over the world. The Israelites who owned houses were driven out of them by their enemies, leaving their goods and wealth behind. And someone else took over the house, goods, and wealth. God also caused rumors to go around about what happened to the Israelites in Jerusalem during the era of Ezekiel The Prophet.
God did not even allow the elders, or the priests to speak. The people whom heard the rumors were horrorified. (Ezekiel 7:27)
So, it wasn't that the Israelites did something bad once. It was continuous disrespect. And the pattern always remained the same. Consequences, restoration, and forgiveness. The consequences were always severe, and Israel listened once it was too late.
If you already know you are called to one of the twelve tribes of Israel, try not to do what the ancient ancestors of olde did. Break the repetitive cycle by simply making a different choice.
A mass return to the land of Israel:
Isaiah 43:6
The Antichrist 7 Year peace covenant:
Isaiah 28:18
Daniel 9:27
The temple in Jerusalem will be rebuilt:
Daniel 9:27
The Antichrist will break his 7 year covenant with the land of Israel; worldwide persecution of Israel:
Daniel 9:27
Daniel 12:1
Daniel 11
Zechariah 11:16
Matthew 24:15
Revelation 12:13
Israel will be invaded:
Ezekiel 38-39
Israel will recognize Jesus as the Messiah:
Zechariah 12:10
And will be restored, regathered, and regenerated:
Jeremiah 33:8
Ezekiel 11:17
Romans 11:26
Paraphrase: "I know those who say that they are Jews but they are not. They are of the synagogue of satan and I will make them know that I have loved you"
Revelation 2:9
Revelation 3:9
"You will hear of wars and rumors of wars. Be not alarmed as this must happen. The end is still to come"
Matthew 24:4-6