He puts His mouth in the dust, if so there may be hope!

@marks thank you for sharing. Printed it out and wanted to share a few thoughts, not saying you have to agree but only sharing why the passage was indeed a blessing and refreshing to me this morning. a much needed reminder!

Lamentations 3
1 I Am the man that hath seen affliction by the rod of his wrath. (Revelation 2:27) (even as I also received of my Father)(Hebrews 5:8)
2 He hath led me, and brought me into darkness, but not into light.
3 Surely against me is he turned; he turneth his hand against me all the day.
4 My flesh and my skin hath he made old; he hath broken my bones. (psalms 3:7)
5 He hath builded against me, and compassed me with gall and travail.
6 He hath set me in dark places, as they that be dead of old.
7 He hath hedged me about, that I cannot get out(Galatians 3:23): he hath made my chain heavy.
8 Also when I cry and shout, he shutteth out my prayer. (Husband and wife, heirs together of Grace that your prayers are not hindered; the New creation, new creature availeth much)
9 He hath inclosed my ways with hewn stone, he hath made my paths crooked. (Ecclesiastes 7:13)
10 He was unto me as a bear lying in wait, and as a lion in secret places.
11 He hath turned aside my ways, and pulled me in pieces: he hath made me desolate. (Isaiah 10:23) (Isaiah 28:22)
12 He hath bent his bow, and set me as a mark for the arrow.
13 He hath caused the arrows of his quiver to enter into my reins.
14 I was a derision to all my people; and their song all the day.
15 He hath filled me with bitterness, he hath made me drunken with wormwood. (be not drunk as those of the night; be he sober of the day)
16 He hath also broken my teeth with gravel stones, he hath covered me with ashes.
17 And thou hast removed my soul far off from peace: I forgat prosperity.
18 And I said, My strength and my hope is perished from the Lord
(2 Corinthians 4:16)
19 Remembering mine affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall.
20 My soul hath them still in remembrance, and is humbled in me.
21 This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. (In the Lord)
22 It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. (1 Corinthians 13:4-13) (now abides Faith, Hope, Charity but the greatest His compassions which fails not nor is done away with)
23 They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
24 The Lord is my portion, (matthew 6:2) saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. (Hebrews 10:35)
25 The Lord is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. (Seek first His reign, His Righteousness)
26 It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord.
27 It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth.
28 He sitteth alone and keepeth silence, because he hath borne it upon him.
29 He putteth his mouth in the dust; if so be there may be hope.
30 He giveth his cheek to him that smiteth him: he is filled full with reproach.
31 For the Lord will not cast off for ever:
32 But though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies.
33 For he doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men.
34 To crush under his feet all the prisoners of the earth.
35 To turn aside the right of a man before the face of the most High,
36 To subvert a man in his cause, the Lord approveth not. (Romans 12:2)
37 Who is he that saith, and it cometh to pass, when the Lord commandeth it not?
38 Out of the mouth of the most High proceedeth not evil and good?
39 Wherefore doth a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins?
40 Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the Lord.

“Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the Lord.” (Luke 22:32) but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, When once you have turned again (to turn, to return) strengthen (establish) your brothers.

Hebrews 13:9 Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.

Hello

It has been suggested that Jeremiah wrote the Book of Laminations because of his understanding that their would be another Exile of the Israelites for a period of around 2,000 years because of their unrepentant hearts, and their continual idolatrous behaviour. Lamentations was not written about the Babylonian exile of 70 years by Jeremiah but the present rejection of Israel since the time of Christ when they would not repent of their continual sins.

Daniel also saw this same 2,000 years or so period when the land of Canaan would become devastated and desolated.

Both Jeremiah and Daniel saw that after this period of around 2,000 years that Israel would be redeemed, not to return to the land of Canaan, but to walk the length and breath of God's Earth as a Kingdom of Priests, a Holy Nation, and His Possession scattered among the Nation.

The Book Of Lamentations was a book of Grief for Israel during this present 2,000 or so year period of time, up and until they repent of their Idolatrous practices in our near future, at the beginning of the Millennium Age when the end of the Gentiles Trampling God's Sanctuary and His earthly Hosts has reached it prescribed period of time.

In Lamentations 5:19-22 we read these words, which I would paraphrase in this manner: -


This also fits with what Moses wrote in the Book of Leviticus and Deuteronomy where Moses said what would occur with Israel if Israel did not keep God's statutes.

The Book of Lamentations takes on a very different message when we consider that it is for Israel in its present circumstances.

Shalom