B.
Now, the ashes of the city were testimony to the fact that God had spoken and was true to His Word.
1.
History was thus a vindication of God and his righteousness. It was also a declaration of the wrath of God, never a popular concept.
a.
The consistency between Lamentations and Deuteronomy are not accidental.
b.
Though the prophets were different writers, the messages were given by the One and Same God.
c.
The parallel between Lamentations and Deuteronomy verifies that God does not give one version of a message to one man and then changes that version to another version to give to another. God has no problem with telling everyone the same thing. He is not like the human that thinks everything has to be addressed differently.
2.
Most people choose to emphasize the softer side of God, and properly so, but that understanding must never obscure the fact that God is not to be trifled with.
a.
The consistency between Lamentations and Deuteronomy are not accidental.
b.
Though the prophets were different writers, the messages were given by the One and Same God and message Giver.
c.
This parallel verifies that God does not give a message to one man and then changes the contents or truths of that message before giving the altered version to someone else.
d.
God does not play the confusion game. His truth and His messages are always consistent.
C.
When we ignore the needs of those around us, trampling on justice, God will step in to right those wrongs. It is a grim reminder that it does not pay to rebel against God.
III.
Lamentations has another side.
A.
Although the nation of Judah is cast down, it is not without hope.
B.
The people may yet trust God and find pardon.