Cry out for Restoration

 Lamentations 5: 1-22

Saturday, 26 September 2026

“ Restore us to yourself, LORD, that we may return;

renew our days as of old…” -Lamentations 5:21

Lamentations is a song of both anguish and hope in God. Traditionally attributed to Jeremiah, it’s written by one who witnessed the fall of Jerusalem after the Babylonian King, Nebuchadnezzar destroyed the city, broke its walls and demolished the temple.

The king of Judah and many of his people were already in exile in Babylon. The new king installed by Nebuchadnezzar had rebelled and the wrath of the king fell upon the people who were still in the land. Destroyed and left destitute, famine soon overtook the land. The people who lived among the ruins of the once beautiful city of Jerusalem could not go out to look for bread for fear of violent men who attacked them. There was nothing left to eat and the misery of the people just increased day by day. People who went out of the city died by sword and people who were within died of hunger. The situation was so dreadful that mothers ate their own children! 

The original promise: These were the same people whom the Lord had promised to give the land of Cannan, gave them the law, and told them that all the families of the world would be blessed through them.

The problem: There is one pattern that we see repeatedly in the lives of the Jews— like most of us, their hearts tend to wander off from their devotion to the Lord. As soon as they are blessed, and they enjoy peace and prosperity, they slowly drift away from true devotion to the Lord.

God's patience: The Lord, being slow to anger and abounding in love, did not reject them immediately but he raised up prophets who brought the word of the Lord to the Jews. Over a span of approximately 800 years, God sent many prophets to correct, warn and guide the Jews.

The failure: The ones the Lord loved, and performed so many mighty miracles for, had rejected him. They became wicked, proud, adopted pagan practices that were displeasing to the Lord.

The terrible wrath and justice of God: After giving them ample opportunity to repent and turn with true hearts, the hand of the Lord was raised against his own chosen people. He sent the king of Babylon to destroy Judah. They were left as a lawless land, with no one to govern, no one to keep law and order and no means to live. They faced famine and death.

Our God is loving, patient, kind and forgiving. But It is important for us to understand the seriousness of sin. God hates sin, pride and every form of wickedness. We should also recognize that God will punish sin. His justice requires all sinners to be punished. 

But God is one who is steadfast in love even when he punishes his people. "Because of his great love, we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning" Lam 3: 22-23. 

The author of Lamentations is overcome with grief at the plight of his country and of the people. He admits that it is their own sin that has brought about this great calamity on the nation. Then comes his plea, "restore us to yourself, LORD, that we may return".

We live in a world where the effect of sin and rebellion against God is visible. Yet God has made a provision for us to be restored to Him through Christ who took the punishment for sin by His death. In accepting His pardon for sin and trusting Him to save us, we are restored to God. Only when we repent and return to God through Christ, can he bless us and restore our bodies, minds and our spiritual and physical well-being. As it says in Isaiah 30:15 “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength.”

Prayer: O LORD, change us within, so that our hearts are ready to receive you and you might revive us again. Amen.