the Lord is in the right

The Lord is in the right,
for I have rebelled against his word;
but hear, all you peoples,
and see my suffering;
my young women and my young men
have gone into captivity. (Lamentations 1:18)

It’s not difficult for us to agree with the first line of this verse, but the remainder of the verse is not something we readily acknowledge. When bad things happen to us we often respond with a whole range of emotions from anger to despair. At the root of all these responses is usually the thought, “Why is this happening to me? I don’t deserve this!”

The book of Lamentations is Jeremiah’s response to the destruction of Jerusalem and the captivity of the people. Throughout chapter one he repeatedly acknowledges that God is responsible for these events.

V5 – the Lord has afflicted her
V12 – sorrow…which the Lord inflicted
V13 – From on high he sent fire
V14 – the Lord gave me into the hand of those whom I cannot withstand
V15 – The Lord rejected all my mighty men
V17 – the Lord has commanded against Jacob that his neighbors should be his foes

Then, in verse 18 he says that God was right to do all these things. How unlike our typical response to suffering or trial! We usually feel such treatment is unjust, not right.

Even when bad things happen that don’t directly affect us, we still wonder how God could let such a thing happen. How could he let bad things happen to good people? The truth we don’t want to acknowledge is that there are no good people!

When some Jews were killed by a corrupt government, and others had died when a tower fell on them, some people came to Jesus asking why? How could God let this happen? Were they really bad sinners? Did they deserve this somehow? Jesus said we’re asking all the wrong questions.

“No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” (Luke 13.5)

Jesus’ point is that something tragic could happen to any of us, and it would not be unjust on God’s part to allow it, because we all deserve death.

Jeremiah’s response in Lamentations is exactly correct. In the midst of great suffering and tragedy, he acknowledges that God is the primary mover in the situation, and that the suffering is just because the nation had lived in disobedience to God and his ways.

The Lord is in the right!

Further, he says that other people should look on and learn from the situation. Let this be a lesson to you, “…unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” (Luke 13.5)