I have recently completed my Old Testament survey course. I must admit feeling frail, feeble, sinful, and forlorn after taking in the sweeping epic journey of Israel from his infancy in the promises to Abram to full stature in the kingdom of Solomon and ultimately brought exceedingly low in the fall of Jerusalem in 586 BC. In following their course in the Biblical narrative, the Lord was good to let my own life come to the fore of mind in the devastating idolatries, iniquities and depravity of the Israelites through those times.
On the heels of that, we received a Christmas card with the following verses of Lamentations inside:
The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases;
his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
“The LORD is my portion,” says my soul,
“therefore I will hope in him.”
(Lamentations 3:22-24 ESV)
This lamentation!! The tear-stained, gut-wrenching witness to the horrors of that terrible fall of the holy city, recounted by Jeremiah, the weeping prophet, and suitable for a Christmas card!! What God is this, that in the midst of agonizing, horrific tragedy brought on by sin and culminating in death for men, women, children until the blood filled the streets – the famine within the walls, the sword without – the presence of God gone from the temple, the weeping, the mourning, and in the midst of it all a Christmas card.
I am utterly speechless, I am humbled to the point of tears, I am distraught of myself and full of hope in the Lord. Hallelujah for the advent of our King!!
Yessssss.. we got an honorable mention (well, at least our Christmas card did).