Lamentations 3:40-54 – Repentance - a step in the right direction.

Every action has a consequence. Right action will result in positive experiences. Needless to say, the wrong action will trigger negative experiences. Sometimes the consequence is a self-inflicted one. It is the result of sin that the person himself has committed, and he himself has to bear the brunt of the consequence personally. At other times, the consequence that the whole community suffers could be triggered by someone else or some people within the community which one is a part of. Whether personal or corporate consequence, there is always a cause and effect. That’s why Proverbs 26:2 says, “Like a sparrow in its flitting, like a swallow in its flying, so a curse without cause does not alight.” However, regardless of how the afflictions had been triggered, one can rightly appraise the situation and trace the cause. Then take steps to move in the right direction.

In Jeremiah’s case, the sin that led to the corporate and communal suffering was a national one. In his case, Judah suffered because her leaders had chosen not to listen to God. Jeremiah was then at the forefront, calling on the national leaders to submit to God’s will but they chose to listen to the false prophets. Hence the whole nation was led astray in rebellion against God. While the punishment was a corporate punishment, the effect was felt individually. As a result, the whole nation came under judgement, and every citizen was affected, including Jeremiah. We can say that his affliction was not self-inflicted. Though suffering terribly, as God’s spokesman, he was helping the nation to make sense of their suffering and goading them toward the correct direction.  

Here we see Jeremiah admonishing the people to conduct a careful self-examination and called on them to engage in a national confession of sin. Like it or not, sin always make people insensitive to God and cause a break in their relationship with Him. It would sever one’s communication line with God and stop His mercies from flowing. This would then result in divine wrath, bringing panic, humiliation and ultimate ruin. A step in the right direction would be in repentance, which is a radical change of heart and mind concerning sin. When sin and suffering are rightly appraised and seen in the right light, it always produces confession rather than complaint. In verses 40-47, we see two guiding principles. Firstly, there must be the frank appraisal and an honest acknowledgement of how they have contributed to the sin. Secondly, there must also be the acknowledgement and acceptance of the consequence of the sin. Jeremiah felt the people’s pains as he identified himself with them. He also felt the pain of the devastation of Jerusalem. This plus the people’s attacks which he received for telling the truth. In verses 53-54, we see an allusion to Jeremiah 38:6-13. It was the time when his life was endangered. He was thrown into a broken cistern for calling on the people to submit to the will of God.    

Belonging to the family of God, we cannot just isolate ourselves from the rest of the whole body. Like Jeremiah, we must identify with the community of God’s people. When we are aware of unrighteousness or sin in the community, we must identify with them, pray and encourage them to repent and turn to the Lord.