Lamentations - Part 3
Lamentations 2:1-22
The LORD passed before him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation.” Exodus 34:6-7
Three ways we lament sin:
Lamenting personal sin
Lamenting corporate sin
Lamenting worldly sin
But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed. Romans 2:5
Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him. John 3:36
But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. Isaiah 53:5
LIFE GROUP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Describe an example that you have seen of unjust wrath and an example of just wrath. What makes one just and one unjust in your mind?
READ LAMENTATIONS 2:1-10
Is it easy or difficult for you to imagine God as having wrath? Why?
As we saw last week, the terrors that the poet is writing about are because “Jerusalem sinned grievously” (1:8). Can you think of any examples from the rest of the Old Testament of Israel sinning against God? What specifically did they do?
List some examples of the brokenness around you or in you that have become too common and unnoticed. How does this passage raise your understanding of the seriousness of sin?
READ LAMENTATIONS 2:11-22
The poet calls the people to “pour out your heart like water before the Lord.” What might honest lament over personal sin actually look like in everyday Christian life?
The sermon spoke about learning to lament not only for personal sin but also for corporate and worldly sin. Why is it often easier to complain or argue about these things than to lament together before God? How could our Life Group grow in this practice?
If you were to share the Gospel with someone who’s not a Christian using this chapter, what would that look like? What would you say?