“He sent fire from above that went down into my bones. He stretched out a net for my feet and turned me back. He made me so sad and lonely that I am weak all day. “He has noticed my sins; they are tied together by his hands; they hang around my neck. He has turned my strength into weakness. The Lord has handed me over to those who are stronger than I. “The Lord has rejected all my mighty men inside my walls. He brought an army against me to destroy my young men. As if in a winepress, the Lord has crushed the capital city of Judah. “I cry about these things; my eyes overflow with tears. There is no one near to comfort me, no one who can give me strength again. My children are left sad and lonely, because the enemy has won.” Jerusalem reaches out her hands, but there is no one to comfort her. The LORD commanded the people of Jacob to be surrounded by their enemies. Jerusalem is now unclean like those around her. Jerusalem says, “The LORD is right, but I refused to obey him. Listen, all you people, and look at my pain. My young women and men have gone into captivity. “I called out to my friends, but they turned against me. My priests and my elders have died in the city while looking for food to stay alive. “Look at me, LORD. I am upset and greatly troubled. My heart is troubled, because I have been so stubborn. Out in the streets, the sword kills; inside the houses, death destroys. “People have heard my groaning, and there is no one to comfort me. All my enemies have heard of my trouble, and they are happy you have done this to me. Now bring that day you have announced so that my enemies will be like me. “Look at all their evil. Do to them what you have done to me because of all my sins. I groan over and over again, and I am afraid.”
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Compare All Versions: Lamentations 1:13-22
5 Days
Preparing for total joint replacement surgery? Struggling with the pain and confusion of a broken body? Check out what the book of Habakkuk has to say about faith and restoration. Sometimes the old and broken is carved out to create space for something new and whole.
Most likely written by the prophet Jeremiah, Lamentations is a collection of poems mourning the siege of Jerusalem and the coming exile of Judah. Despite the wickedness of God’s people that led to their captivity, the writer reminds his readers the loyal love and mercy of the Lord are truly new every morning (Lamentations 3:22-23). Even in deep darkness, God is our portion, our hope, and our salvation.
7 Days
In this series, you’ll explore what it means to develop a faithful approach to hardship and suffering by reflecting on various Biblical principles and stories. From acknowledging the sovereignty of God in our struggles to learning how to express yourself honestly before Him, each part walks you through different facets of enduring trials. You’ll also learn about the role of silence in God’s presence, how to grieve well, and how to tell your own story in the context of His purpose. This series offers encouragement, Biblical wisdom, and practical applications for walking through hardship with faith.
The Lent Project is an initiative of Biola University's Center for Christianity, Culture and the Arts. Each daily devotion includes a portion of Scripture, a devotional, a prayer, a work of visual art or a video, a piece of music, and a poem plus brief commentaries on the artworks and artists. The Seven Last Words of Christ refers to the seven short phrases uttered by Jesus on the cross, as gathered from the four Christian gospels. This devotional project connects word, image, voice and song into daily meditations on these words.
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