D 18, Lamentations and Obadiah: The devastated land of the Lord

Coming to the book of Lamentations just after reading Jeremiah helps us understand the setting of these dirges. The author is not specified, but is generally accepted to be Jeremiah. Evidently, the date is just after the captives have been taken away, approximately 583 BC, but while he was still in the land and the Israelites hadn't forced him down to Egypt.

There seems no anger in the laments, but sorrow and resignation. There is a recognition of God's hand in the destruction, and a remembrance of why the devastation occurred - with a hope coming through the tragedy. The key seems to be in chapter 3. The first two lamentations consider the desolation of Judah and the sin of the people, and God's rightful anger against them which has caused the people to suffer, and chapter three starts to turn it around into a message of hope in the midst of all this, recognising the the care of the Lord for His people.

Lam 3:22-24  It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.  (23)  They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.  (24)  The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.

The last two laments then look to the continued suffering in the future. Because of the greatness of Israel's sin, it is no quick turning around, but a prolonged period of judgement. As seen by the words of the prophet though, the appropriate response is to continue calling on the Lord and following him, not giving up and rejecting Him again because He does not bring an immediate end to the sufferring. In the midst of suffering, He endures unchanging.

Obadiah is a very short read. We have seen some of the themes of judgement against Edom in other prophets - from our understanding of history at that time we know that Edom never really accepted either Israel or God, but rejected Him as did Esau their ancestor. A nation so close in many ways to Israel, with similar heritage, in a similar locality, and yet they took such a different path, and when Israel suffered they rejoiced and went to divvy up Jerusalem after the Babylonians left it relatively alone. Interesting to hear a bit about the geography in that video linked - it does really enhance the understanding of why the language in the chapter is chosen - they were trusting and prideful of their location in the world, but God tears away their security and their location, and will in a coming day give it to Israel (partial fulfilment now, as half of Edom was made up of the Negev desert in Israel today). The final promise is telling though - the kingdom will not be Israel's, but the LORD's. A great thing to remember!