Like an enemy
Day 390, Friday, Sept. 5
Lamentations Chapter 2
For good or ill, it is notable that the people consider that they are being punished by God and not abandoned by God.
In modern thought a person who is suffering is more likely to conclude that there is no God. In ancient thought, even suffering was taken as evidence of God’s existence and power.
Even the destruction of the temple and the end of its worship is attributed to God in verses 5 and 6:
“The Lord is like an enemy; he has swallowed up Israel. He has swallowed up all her palaces and destroyed her strongholds. He has multiplied mourning and lamentation for daughter Judah.
“He has laid waste his dwelling like a garden; he has destroyed his place of meeting. The Lord has made Zion forget her appointed festivals and her Sabbaths; in his fierce anger he has spurned both king and priest.”

-Rev. Mark Fleming

Friday meditation

Job 31:13-23
“If I have denied justice to any of my servants, whether male or female, when they had a grievance against me, what will I do when God confronts me? What will I answer when called to account? Did not he who made me in the womb make them? Did not the same one form us both within our mothers?
“If I have denied the desires of the poor or let the eyes of the widow grow weary, if I have kept my bread to myself, not sharing it with the fatherless—but from my youth I reared them as a father would, and from my birth I guided the widow—if I have seen anyone perishing for lack of clothing, or the needy without garments, and their hearts did not bless me for warming them with the fleece from my sheep, if I have raised my hand against the fatherless, knowing that I had influence in court, then let my arm fall from the shoulder, let it be broken off at the joint. For I dreaded destruction from God, and for fear of his splendor I could not do such things.

Prayer focus
Lord, whatever happens, remind us you are God.