Scripture Snippets - Lamentations 1

Scripture Snippets - Lamentations 1

In this first Scripture Snippet I will be contemplating the first Chapter of Lamentations.  To read the Chapter click here.  Below is a synopsis according to LDS.org.

Jeremiah laments the miserable condition of Jerusalem - Jerusalem herself complains of her deep sorrow.

My thoughts and feelings:

• Jeremiah describes utter loneliness.  What once was great (Jerusalem) is no more.  Jeremiah has no one to count on, no one to trust.  He is a lone voice crying out in the midst of sin.
• Jeremiah shows such sympathy for the people of Jerusalem even though he tried to warn them and they disregarded his warnings and treated him harshly. 
• Such sadness and devastation are described in the passages; "How doth the city sit solitary, that was full of people!" Verse 1a. 
• Such utter pain and sorrow; "mine eye, mine eye runneth down with water..." Verse 16.

What we can learn from this passage:

• Recognize the sorrow and tribulation of others and be grateful for what you have.
• Heavenly Father did not cause all of these bad things to happen, he allowed Jerusalem to suffer the consequences of her own sins.  Heavenly Father does not cause bad things to happen in our lives but he does allow us to suffer the consequences of our choices.  Just as a good parent will allow a child to suffer the consequences of their mistakes so that they learn from the small mistakes and don't make the big ones.
• I am grateful that Heavenly Father is a loving and caring Father who allowed us to have agency and does not protect us from the consequences of our mistakes.