Lamentations 1:17-22: a reflection

17Zion spreads out her hands. There is no one to comfort her. The LORD has commanded concerning Jacob, that those who are around him should be his adversaries. Jerusalem is among them as an unclean thing. 18“The LORD is righteous, for I have rebelled against his commandment. Please hear all you peoples, and see my sorrow. My virgins and my young men have gone into captivity. 19“I called for my lovers, but they deceived me. My priests and my elders gave up the spirit in the city, while they sought food for themselves to refresh their souls. 20“Look, LORD; for I am in distress. My heart is troubled. My heart turns over within me, for I have grievously rebelled. Abroad, the sword bereaves. At home, it is like death. 21“They have heard that I sigh. There is no one to comfort me. All my enemies have heard of my trouble. They are glad that you have done it. You will bring the day that you have proclaimed, and they will be like me. 22“Let all their wickedness come before you. Do to them as you have done to me for all my transgressions. For my sighs are many, and my heart is faint.

In the depths of Jerusalem's suffering, when the city is desolate and there is no one to comfort her, she says something remarkable amid the anguish: The LORD is righteous, for I have rebelled against his commandment. Even in the midst of suffering the consequences of her sin, Jerusalem does not accuse God of injustice; she acknowledges that God is righteous, and that the fault is her own, for she has rebelled. In her distress, she owns her sin honestly and confesses that God has done right.

Notice what Jerusalem acknowledges even in her suffering: that God is righteous and the fault is her own. She does not, in her pain, turn on God and accuse him of injustice; she confesses that the LORD is righteous, and that she has brought this on herself by rebelling against him. Even while suffering the consequences of her sin, she owns it honestly, taking the blame rather than casting it on God. Her confession, the LORD is righteous, for I have rebelled, is an honest acknowledgment of her own fault, made even in the midst of the suffering that fault had brought.

That honest acknowledgment is worth taking to heart, for in our own sufferings, especially those our sin has brought, we can be tempted to blame God rather than own our fault. When we suffer the consequences of our own sin, we can turn on God, accusing him of injustice, rather than acknowledging that the fault is ours; but Jerusalem, even in her anguish, confessed that God is righteous and she had rebelled. When you suffer, especially the consequences of your own sin, do not accuse God of injustice; acknowledge, as Jerusalem did, that God is righteous and the fault is your own. Own your sin honestly, even in the midst of its consequences, confessing that God has done right, rather than turning on him in blame; for the honest acknowledgment, the LORD is righteous, for I have rebelled, made even in suffering, is the way of truth and the beginning of return, as Jerusalem owned her fault even in her desolation.

Lord, in the depths of Jerusalem's suffering, when the city is desolate and there is no one to comfort her, she says something remarkable amid the anguish: the LORD is righteous, for I have rebelled against his commandment. Even in the midst of suffering the consequences of her sin, Jerusalem does not accuse you of injustice; she acknowledges that you are righteous, and that the fault is her own. In her distress, she owns her sin honestly and confesses that you have done right. Show me what Jerusalem acknowledges even in her suffering: that you are righteous and the fault is her own. She does not, in her pain, turn on you and accuse you of injustice; she confesses that you are righteous, and that she has brought this on herself. Even while suffering the consequences of her sin, she owns it honestly, taking the blame rather than casting it on you. Take that honest acknowledgment to my heart, for in my own sufferings, especially those my sin has brought, I can be tempted to blame you rather than own my fault. When I suffer the consequences of my own sin, I can turn on you, accusing you of injustice, rather than acknowledging that the fault is mine; but Jerusalem, even in her anguish, confessed that you are righteous. When I suffer, especially the consequences of my own sin, keep me from accusing you of injustice; help me acknowledge, as Jerusalem did, that you are righteous and the fault is my own. Help me own my sin honestly, Lord, even in the midst of its consequences, rather than turning on you in blame.