Lamentations, Baruch, and Daniel: The Bible in Lent: Day 27
I knew that it would be difficult to read through the Bible in Lent and post reflections each day. But I really underestimated the role technical difficulties would play! After a few days of computer hiccups, I’m back and sharing reflections on a few books below!
Here are some quick reflections from the Day 27 readings:
Lamentations – Hope in Trials
Lamentations is full of deep, previous lament. The descriptions of the siege of Jerusalem are so horrific, it is difficult to even read. But in the middle of the book, there is a passage that, in my own trials, I have regularly found as a source of hope.
Remember my affliction and my bitterness, the wormwood and the gall! My soul continually thinks of it and is bowed down within me. But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is thy faithfulness. “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.” – Lamentations 3:19-24 RSVCE
There is great hope in the renewed mercies of God each and every day. And this hope doesn’t just apply to “first world problems,” but is presented to us in the midst of true and deep horror. If the mercy of God is deep enough to renew and bring strength, it is surely more than sufficient for anything I will endure.
Baruch – A Call to Confession
Baruch is a great reminder of the importance of confession. The book opens with a call to make respond:
Then they wept, and fasted, and prayed before the Lord; and they collected money, each giving what he could – Baruch 1:5-6 RSVCE
Baruch is a collection of the response to sin – both the acknowledgment of sin and the call to God’s mercy.
Daniel – The Importance of Purity
Over and over again in the Book of Daniel, Daniel is called to set himself apart from the people and remain undefiled. He denies the indulgent, but unclean, food offered to him, continues to pray when it is illegal, and stands apart from the rest. Daniel was able to stand apart from the rest because he remained pure instead of seeking to blend in with the culture around him. He sought the welfare of the king holding him in captivity and of those around him but he never compromised and his allegiance as first to God.
All three of these books are well worth deep study in their own right! I can’t wait to spend more time digging into them after The Bible in Lent!