Our scripture today is Lamentations 4:16 (NIV).
The Lord himself has scattered them; he no longer watches over them. The priests are shown no honor, the elders no favor.
There was special condemnation for the priests and elders who did not speak out against the apostasy and idol worship that was widespread. There is a reason the First Commandment is “You shall have no other gods before Me.” When God is not honored, He allows us to experience what living in the world can be like. It is sad to see our repeated failures – banished from Eden, the Flood, Sodom and Gomorra, and now the destruction of Jerusalem. However, God still has not given up on us and He still has a plan for His children.
Gracious God, thank You for mercy instead of what justice would demand of us. Bless us to be new creatures through the gift of our Savior, and send us in Your name everywhere. Amen.
