Lamentations 3:66

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.

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.

Jeremiah was an unlikely prophet—young and inexperienced. Yet God chose him to deliver an unpopular message to a rebellious people, warning them of coming devastation and calling them to repent. Despite fierce opposition, Jeremiah lived with integrity and faith. He proclaimed God’s message with compassion and tears, communicating God’s faithful love and sovereign justice and the promise of a future when God would once again restore his people.

“Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen”, it says in Hebrews 11:1. The Christian faith is largely about things you can’t see with your natural eyes. However, you need not believe blindly. When God opens your spiritual eyes, there is a lot to see! This reading plan covers several Bible verses about blindness, restored sight, (not) seeing, and believing.