Lamentations - Part 2
Lamentations 1:1-22
It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting, for this is the end of all mankind, and the living will lay it to heart. Sorrow is better than laughter, for by sadness of face the heart is made glad. The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth. Ecclesiastes 7:2-4
THREE LESSONS
Sin is the real problem
Suffering is real
Remember the long arc of God’s story
LIFE GROUP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
When was the last time a hard or sorrowful experience unexpectedly taught you something important about life or about God?
READ LAMENTATIONS 1
The laments of Lamentations arise because of two realities that Jerusalem has experienced, both of which are common to us all: sin and its miserable consequences. How does Lamentations 1 describe sin? Its miserable consequences? What examples of these stand out to you as particularly grievous or devastating?
Notice the repeated refrain, “There was no one to comfort her.” How does having no one to comfort you make suffering worse?
Why do you think we tend to avoid thinking about sorrow or suffering? How might ignoring (or minimizing) suffering actually keep us from growing spiritually?
In Jerusalem’s lament, she had no one to comfort her. As the New Testament people of God, we do have a comforter in our misery over sin. How does knowing that Jesus has experienced suffering help you look to him for comfort?
How can understanding and embracing lament help you process/deal with your own suffering? How can it help you deal with the suffering of others?