YAG 9th Retreat: Session 6
Text: Jeremiah, Lamentations
2 May 2009
YAG 9th RETREAT
SESSION # 6
Saturday, 2 May 2009
Time: 9.00am
Theme: “I Have Hope”
A. MATURE REFLECTIONS
1. Devastation of the land noted Lamentations 4:1
a) Suffering of the children Lamentations 4:4
b) Suffering of the privileged class Lamentations 4:5
2. Degeneration of the sons of Zion
a) From gold to clay Lamentations 4:2
b) Cruelty Lamentations 4:3
3. Punishment from the Lord
a) Compared to Sodom and Gomorrah Lamentations 4:6
b) Nazarites go unrecognized in the streets Lamentations 4:7-8
c) Ravages of war Lamentations 4:9-10
i) Hunger Lamentations 4:9
ii) Cannibalism Lamentations 4:10
d) Acceptance of the consequences of sin
i) Sins of the prophets Lamentations 4:13a
ii) Sins of the priests Lamentations 4:13b
iii) Wandered blind Lamentations 4:14
iv) Rejection by people Lamentations 4:14-15
v) Failure of political allies Lamentations 4:17-21
B. REALISTIC HOPE
1. Punishment concluded
The punishment of your iniquity is accomplished, O daughter of Zion
Lamentations 4:22a
a) Punishment had to be meted out
b) Punishment had to be accepted
c) Punishment completed and ended
(Subject of Chastening: Proverbs 3:11-12; Hebrews 12:5-11)
2. Captivity over
He will no longer send you into captivity
Lamentations 4:22b
a) Captivity was never meant to last forever
b) Lessons during captivity to be learned well (Cf. Ezra, Nehemiah, Daniel)
i) Faith
ii) Faithfulness
iii) Love for God’s word
iv) Prayer
v) A close relationship with God that is treasured
vi) Ministry for God
C. PLEADING WITH DEEPER UNDERSTANDING AND RENEWED HOPE
1. Pleading with God to “remember” Lamentations 5:1
a) Pleading for mercy
b) Pleading as God’s restored people
2. Pleading “inheritance” Lamentations 5:2
a) Land overrun by foreigners
b) Pleading for the return of the land
3. Pleading the suffering of the people of God
a) Children Lamentations 5:3a
b) Mothers Lamentations 5:3b
c) Intense hardship Lamentations 5:4-14
i) Difficulty in making a living Lamentations 5:4-6, 9
ii) A burdened generation Lamentations 5:7
iii) Oppression Lamentations 5:8
iv) Famine Lamentations 5:10
v) Oppression of womenfolk Lamentations 5:11
vi) Princes and elders not respected Lamentations 5:12
vii) Boys and young men bullied Lamentations 5:13
viii) Normal decent life disrupted Lamentations 5:14
ix) Joy ceased; mourning prevails Lamentations 5:15
x) Consequences of sin accepted Lamentations 5:16
4. Pleading for Restoration Lamentations 5:19-22
a) Pleading before the throne of grace
You, O LORD, remain forever; Your throne from generation to generation
Lamentations 5:19 (Hebrews 4:16)
b) Pleading to be restored
Turn us back to You, O LORD, and we will be restored
Lamentations 5:21
D. PROMISE OF FULL RESTORATION Jeremiah 30-31
1. Captivity to end Jeremiah 30:3a
2. Return to Israel promised Jeremiah 30:3b
3. Fear to be banished Jeremiah 30:10
4. Promise of the Presence of God Jeremiah 30:11
5. Promise of Mercy Jeremiah 30:18
6. God’s people will be established Jeremiah 30:20, 22
7. God’s everlasting love will be outpoured Jeremiah 31:3
8. Redemption will be given Jeremiah 31:11
9. Joy will return Jeremiah 31:12-13
10. Abundance will be experienced again Jeremiah 31:14, 23
11. A New Covenant will be given Jeremiah 31:31-34
E. CULTIVATING HOPE
1. Establish starting point Jeremiah 1
a) Calling
b) Initial faith
c) Continuing faith
2. Evaluate faith and strength Jeremiah 12
a) Discernment and Understanding of life
b) Depth of response to adverse circumstances
c) Demanding challenges
i) Footmen Jeremiah 12:5
ii) Horses Jeremiah 12:5
3. Enduring Hope
a) False understanding of Hope
i) Mere euphoric feelings
ii) Unrealistic optimism
iii) Foolish wishing
b) Long Term (Life-long) approach/outlook of life
i) Short-term mindset to be abandoned
ii) Long-haul approach to be adopted
iii) Concrete plans
iv) Strength of spirit
c) Mindset
i) Of faith in the Lord
ii) Of trust in the Lord’s will
iii) Of hope for the future
iv) Of personal commitment to do our part faithfully
4. Example of a Reasoned Hope with reference to life on earth
(Pauline)
a) Access to God by grace through Christ Romans 5:1-2
b) Rejoicing in hope of the glory of God Romans 5:2b
c) Glorying in tribulation Romans 5:3a
d) Believing that tribulation produces perseverance Romans 5:3b
e) Believing that perseverance produces character Romans 5:4a
f) Believing that character produces hope Romans 5:4b
g) Believing that hope does not disappoint Romans 5:5a
h) Believing in
F. NEW TESTMENT FOCUS OF HOPE-
(IN THE SPIRITUAL AND ETERNAL DIMENSIONS)
1. Subjected in hope Romans 8:20
2. Hope in the glory of God Romans 5:2
3. Hope in things unseen Romans 8:24
4. If there is only hope in life on earth 1 Corinthians 15:19
5. Hope laid up in heaven Colossians 1:5
6. Christ in us- the Hope of glory Colossians 1:27
7. Hope of eternal life Titus 1:2; 3:7
8. Hope as an anchor Hebrews 6:19
9. A living Hope 1 Peter 1:3
10. Ability to articulate our hope 1 Peter 3:15
ADDENDA
TEXTS THAT TOUCH ON PROBLEMS THAT THREATEN TO ROB HOPE
1. A significant number of such texts may be found (Psalms)
a) Psalm 6
b) Psalm 22
c) Psalm 31
d) Psalm 32
e) Psalm 35
f) Psalm 38
g) Psalm 41
h) Psalm 42
i) Psalm 55
j) Psalm 56
2. Importance of these texts:-
a) They teach us much about the presence of evil in the world
b) They teach us about problems:-
i) How they can affect us adversely
ii) How they will affect us deeply
c) They teach us about the nature of sin
i) The perversity of sin
ii) The power of sin
d) They teach us about ourselves
i) How weak we are
ii) How prone we are to feeling despondent
iii) How we can end up with feelings of hopelessness
e) They teach us about how we can bring God into our life
i) Through knowledge of God’s word
ii) Through the exercise of faith/trust
iii) Through prayer
iv) Through meditation
v) Through hope
TEXTS THAT TOUCH ON GOD’S STRONG DEALINGS WITH SINFUL MAN
1. Serious Charges of God against Israel/Judah
a) Rebellion Isaiah 1:2d, 23
b) Laden with iniquity Isaiah 1:4b
c) Corrupt Isaiah 1:4d
d) Forsaken the Lord Isaiah 1:4e, 28
e) Arrogance Isaiah 2: 11-17; 3:16
f) Provoking of God Isaiah 3:8
g) Oppression Isaiah 5:7
2. Struggles in Comprehension and Acceptance of God’s Punitive Will
a) Desolation of the country Isaiah 1:7
b) Rejection of religious worship Isaiah 1:10-15
c) Destruction of transgressors/sinners Isaiah 1:28
d) Removal of leaders Isaiah 3:1-3>/
e) Entering into judgment with Israel Isaiah 3:13-15
f) Anger
3. Solemn texts that describe the above struggles
a) Isaiah
b) Jeremiah
c) Lamentations
d) Habakkuk
e) Hosea
f) Malachi
4. Significant truths that should have made a difference!
a) God’s Promises
i) Many promises of blessings
ii) All promises are contingent upon faithfulness to God
b) God’s Presence
i) Manifestation
ii) Hidden
c) God’s Provision
i) Abundance
ii) All aspects (Spiritual and Material)
d) God’s Power
i) Evidenced
ii) Awesome
e) God’s Punitive Judgments
i) Corrective purposes
ii) Condemnation only where there is no returning to the Lord
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS THAT WERE RAISED