How sad a passage...
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How sad a passage! It looks like there is no hope for God's people. Can we ever relate to that? Growing up in our country makes it hard to share the feelings of the writer who is lamenting or crying. Some of our ancestors may have felt like that before coming to this country. I felt some of it among the Seminoles and other Native Americans, whose land was taken from them and some of whom became like slaves. In the 1880s the Seminoles were taken into exile in Florida, then Alabama, and then Oklahoma before being given a small part of the land that had been theirs for centuries. Some were still weeping about it, but others had accepted it and moved on in their lives -- partly through the help of their faith in Jesus -- who also was not just a "white man" -- an American!
In Nepal most people had not been taken from their land, but when they turned to Christ their former friends betrayed them and became their enemies. They even dreamed of fleeing their native land and coming to America. Some have succeeded and are here among us, though some plan to return to Nepal.
Judea was so crushed that her enemies didn't even need to worry about rebellion on their part. They had lost all heart and given up.
There were some I knew in prison who felt that they had been taken from their homes and from all that they knew and had lost hope. Even their friends seemed to have deserted them. I have to confess that one of my children was in jail for a short time because of his drinking after his wife of many years had died. I was the only one who kept in touch.
When we find ourselves or members of our church who are going through rough times, sometimes all we can do is cry with them. Many churches put them on a prayer list so all the members can pray for them and hug them.
The history of that period is devastating for the Judeans, but now all we can do is read about their sorrow and try to imagine what it must have been like. The hope of the nations had not yet come. He has come for us, so we should never have to suffer the grief of those in captivity, even if we are beaten and killed. We know where we are going when it ends! That is why we are still faithful Christians.
In Nepal most people had not been taken from their land, but when they turned to Christ their former friends betrayed them and became their enemies. They even dreamed of fleeing their native land and coming to America. Some have succeeded and are here among us, though some plan to return to Nepal.
Judea was so crushed that her enemies didn't even need to worry about rebellion on their part. They had lost all heart and given up.
There were some I knew in prison who felt that they had been taken from their homes and from all that they knew and had lost hope. Even their friends seemed to have deserted them. I have to confess that one of my children was in jail for a short time because of his drinking after his wife of many years had died. I was the only one who kept in touch.
When we find ourselves or members of our church who are going through rough times, sometimes all we can do is cry with them. Many churches put them on a prayer list so all the members can pray for them and hug them.
The history of that period is devastating for the Judeans, but now all we can do is read about their sorrow and try to imagine what it must have been like. The hope of the nations had not yet come. He has come for us, so we should never have to suffer the grief of those in captivity, even if we are beaten and killed. We know where we are going when it ends! That is why we are still faithful Christians.
