God Reigns no Matter the Circumstances

You, LORD, reign forever; your throne endures from generation to generation. (Lamentations 5:19)

Thoughts: Lamentations was written at time in which the nation had been devastated by war and famine.  Yet Jeremiah writes that the Lord is still on the throne.  It takes incredible faith to believe God is in control when it seems the whole world is falling apart and God's name was being trashed.  Yet, God was indeed still working.  Miraculously the faith was preserved.  Though at times the church is reduced to just a remnant- almost snuffed out; God is still at work and will fan the ember into flame again.  In the West it is easy to say God is being sidestepped by powerful people, powerful evil forces, and powerful pride in the name of intelligence.  Yet, God is still very much at work.  People of faith believe that God will always preserve Himself a people. 

Prayer: Lord, give me faith to believe in you even if I do not see you- as I believe in the sun even when it does not shine, and in love even when I do not feel love.   

The Throne of God from Generation to Generation

19You, Lord, reign forever;

your throne endures from generation to generation. (Lamentations 5:19)

Thoughts: Jeremiah had seen the walls of Jerusalem scaled and burned.  He saw his country's soldiers die then he saw the young men killed, and the old and babies killed.  Yet, he was able to confirm this by faith- God still reigns.  God is still on the throne.  His throne is not just a temporary one, or even one that lasts a generation (40 years- like David).  Rather, God's throne goes from one generation to the next and then to the next- to every generation.  We would do well to remember that we should give God our allegiance in good and bad times- as Jeremiah did, and as he confessed here.  The Lord who gives us life and stands at the end of our lives- also reigns in the midst of life.  God was achieving His purpose in chastising His people for their pride, idolatry, sexual immorality, and breaking the Sabbath.   Even in the hard times God was still on the throne.  When Jesus was crucified, it seemed unjust and that righteousness had lost and died.  Yet God was on the throne even then too.

Prayer: Help me to trust in your reign, and give myself to you.  In good times and bad, you are my God.