Old Testament reading: Lamentations 1-2
Lamentations might well be considered as five poems written for Jerusalem’s funeral. In the style of Psalm 119 (Day 230), chapters 1-4 are written in acrostic style, that is, each verse begins with the consecutive letters of the Hebrew alphabet, 22 in all. Chapter 3 contains this form three times, thus accounting for its 66 verses as opposed to the 22 in the others. The fifth chapter is not an acrostic, but maintains the form, also having 22 verses. Chapters 1, 2 and 4 begin with the Hebrew “Ah how!”, noting the measure of the author’s intense grief. In the first two verses, Jeremiah describes the city as once filled with people but now empty as a widow’s house. Judah’s lovers (her idols) are nowhere to be found to comfort her as she wails with bitter tears. Like the Prodigal of Luke 15, her friends have deserted her and have now become her enemies. In 1:12 the prophet is amazed at the callousness of passersby. Despite unspeakable pain and sorrow, no one takes note of Judah’s plight. In 1:17 Jerusalem is praying (spreads out her hands) but no one is listening. Jeremiah’s weeping is so great that his eyes are blinded by his tears, his heart is broken, and he feels as though his guts have been ripped out (2:11).
New Testament reading: John 6-7
Jesus’ teaching astonished the multitudes, “for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes” (Matt 7:29). In today’s reading, we find Jesus’ enemies suffering the same reaction. Sent by the Pharisees to apprehend the Lord (John 7:32), they returned empty handed (44). Upon examination, they gave the following excuse, “No man ever spoke like this Man!” Indeed! Jesus was the Master Teacher! His ability to cut to the heart of every issue, to exegete, to illustrate, to comfort, to confound, to rebuke, to agitate to action, to silence His critics, and to compel one to discipleship is unparalleled. So great was His homiletic prowess that even His enemies took notice and were persuaded. We should take note of what the Lord said earlier in chapter 6 where He said, “The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life” (John 6:63). No wonder Jeremiah proclaimed, “Your words were found, and I ate them, and Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart” (Jer 15:16).
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