Lamentations 5:1-22
Friday, 30 April 2021
“Restore us to You, O LORD, that we may be restored; renew our days as of old.” -Lamentations 5:21
Lamentations is a poem expressing deep agony over the destruction of Jerusalem. The authorship of this book is attributed to Jeremiah, who is often called ‘the weeping prophet.’ A graphic picture of the destruction, the suffering of the people and their lament is given in the book. We too can relate it to these times of the widespread destruction caused by the pandemic in the world we live in and the distress of our times, as we pour our hearts to God. At the end, the Prophet is pinning his hope on GOD Almighty to restore them—to renew their days as of old.
The Bible in many places instructs God’s people to return to Him, to be restored and to be renewed! In Zechariah 1:3 God says “Return to Me, that I may return to you.” God is willing to restore, if we return to Him. When we move ay from God, we go through a period of dryness, a desolate state, a kind of barrenness. In Acts 3:19 it says–“Therefore, repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord…”
Restoration involves repentance and returning
As we get on with the daily chores of life, we often forget the fact that sometimes we slowly, but surely move away from God. In order to please our “religious self” we may continue to do certain spiritual functions, vainly thinking that we are still pleasing God!! Craving evil things pulls us away from God and 1Cor.10:5 warns us that God was not pleased with those people who were craving for things that were not intended for their lives by God!
Through the prophet Haggai, God wanted to remind His people that He did not forsake them and He was still interested in building up them and their City – as a fulfillment of the promise given to their forefathers. However, in order to accomplish that promise God needs a people who would be faithful to Him. As a further command, God was asking them to return from their evil ways and evil deeds. And God promises them that if they return to Him, He will also return to them.
Can we pray for the nations of the world to turn to God and be saved? That they would repent of their evil ways and acknowledge the God of all the earth!
Roman 8:31 says “…If God is for us, who is against us?” There are many who have received promises from God and yet haven’t seen its accomplishment. There are yet many who know that God has called them into His service and that He wants them to be His mouth, hands and feet. Yet they are struggling in their mundane lives wondering what their God-given purpose is! In Zech.1:17, the Lord says that He has a plan to prosper “His” cities. This was a promise of God to His people. The many promises of God that are yet unfulfilled in the lives of many is because God is not with them!! Here then is the call to return to God!
People of God who once enjoyed the fellowship of God, when they go away from God, He calls them back into a meaningful, prosperous and fruitful relationship! In John 15:3 Jesus warns us that if we do not abide in Him like a branch of vine in its trunk, then we become fruitless! As the Lord speaks to you, make a decision to return! He is calling us also to return to Him, so that we will become fruitful! Can we ask Him to restore us?
Let us come to Him so that He can revive His promises over our lives!!
To pray: “Revive me, O Lord, for Your name’s sake! For Your righteousness’ sake bring my soul out of trouble.” (Psalm 143:11)
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