10/4/25

Lamentations 1:20 NASB95 “See, O LORD, for I am in distress; My spirit is greatly troubled; My heart is overturned within me, For I have been very rebellious. In the street the sword slays; In the house it is like death.

I think most will agree that peace in this world is a rarity. There are many countries at war or in a state of war-like conditions. Most that are not at war are prepared for one and have a heightened sense of danger.

Then you go down to the individual level and you find many who are hungry, financially insecure, or physically in distress. Many are struggling with their job, their family, or their friends.

With all of this going on, it would make sense to be in a state of anxiousness. Jeremiah writes our text speaking for the city of Jerusalem and the nation of Judah, "See, O LORD, for I am in distress; My spirit is greatly troubled; My heart is overturned within me."

This is the way many people feel today. They are physically in distress and spiritually troubled as their heart is broken or upside down. He goes on a little further speaking of some of the afflictions they feel by saying, "In the street the sword slays; In the house it is like death." They can not find peace anywhere.

However, in between these two Statements, he tells us why he can't find a moment of relaxation, peace, or joy. He says, "For I have been very rebellious."

When we turn against God and are rebellious against Him, then we find that in the world we have no peace.

The reason so many are mistaken, is that they seem to think that if they repent or strive not to rebel, then there will be no distress, no great trouble, no broken heart, no slaying by the sword, and no death in the house. However, God teaches the opposite. He teaches us that we are in the world because He needs us here, where tribulation is occurring. However, while we are here we must not be part of the world which rebels against God. John 17:15-16 NASB95 “I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one. “They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

We must realize that while we are here, trials and tribulations will come no matter how we live. However, (and this is extremely important) we can still have peace in the middle of them if we follow and live in Christ!

John 16:33 NASB95 “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”

We don't have to live like Jerusalem and Judah, being in distress, where my spirit is greatly troubled, and my heart is overturned within me.

Although the sword slays in the street, and in the house, it is like death, if we follow and are not rebellious against God, we can have peace. We can take courage because Christ has, and in Christ we have, overcome this world.

It is called Lamentations because they lament.

It is called the Gospel because it is good news.

The only difference between the two is Jesus.

Don't lament, follow the Good news of Christ, and have peace in a world of tribulation.

Love Bro. Scott