She defiled herself with immorality and gave no thought to her future. Now she lies in the gutter with no one to lift her out. “LORD, see my misery,” she cries. “The enemy has triumphed.” The enemy has plundered her completely, taking every precious thing she owns. She has seen foreigners violate her sacred Temple, the place the LORD had forbidden them to enter. Her people groan as they search for bread. They have sold their treasures for food to stay alive. “O LORD, look,” she mourns, “and see how I am despised. “Does it mean nothing to you, all you who pass by? Look around and see if there is any suffering like mine, which the LORD brought on me when he erupted in fierce anger. “He has sent fire from heaven that burns in my bones. He has placed a trap in my path and turned me back. He has left me devastated, racked with sickness all day long. “He wove my sins into ropes to hitch me to a yoke of captivity. The Lord sapped my strength and turned me over to my enemies; I am helpless in their hands. “The Lord has treated my mighty men with contempt. At his command a great army has come to crush my young warriors. The Lord has trampled his beloved city like grapes are trampled in a winepress. “For all these things I weep; tears flow down my cheeks. No one is here to comfort me; any who might encourage me are far away. My children have no future, for the enemy has conquered us.”
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Compare All Versions: Lamentations 1:9-16
5 Days
Most likely written by the prophet Jeremiah, Lamentations is a collection of poems mourning the siege of Jerusalem and the coming exile of Judah. Despite the wickedness of God’s people that led to their captivity, the writer reminds his readers the loyal love and mercy of the Lord are truly new every morning (Lamentations 3:22-23). Even in deep darkness, God is our portion, our hope, and our salvation.
6 Days
Lamentations in the Old Testament chronicles the prophet Jeremiah’s mourning as his hometown, Jerusalem, lies in ruins due to his people’s sin. The “daughter of Zion” once prized by God is destroyed. In this six-day devotional, Chantelle Hobbs—a graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary—pairs Jeremiah’s emotional prose with lyrical laments expressed in the Spirituals of her forerunners in the faith. Included are original recordings of the songs.
7 Days
The Lent Project is an initiative of Biola University's Center for Christianity, Culture and the Arts. Each daily devotion includes a portion of Scripture, a devotional, a prayer, a work of visual art or a video, a piece of music, and a poem plus brief commentaries on the artworks and artists. The Seven Last Words of Christ refers to the seven short phrases uttered by Jesus on the cross, as gathered from the four Christian gospels. This devotional project connects word, image, voice and song into daily meditations on these words.
30 Days
30-Day Introduction to the Major and Minor Prophets
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