Part 3 - Stone the Prophets - Lamentations Hearing a voice of redemption to grow our faith, hope, and love in grief and pain Study by: Anita Venning Sermons can be viewed on the Hope Valley Church YouTube Channel GATHERING / WORSHIP / PRAYER Take a few minutes to catch up with each other and build community. If you have new people present give time to getting to know each other. Listen to the hymn, Great is Thy Faithfulness (Michael W. Smith) or the chorus, The steadfast love of the Lord (Dave Hunt) both of which have their words taken from Lamentations 3. FOCUS Weaved through the writings of the old prophets are both tragic warnings of judgement and yet frequent announcements of hope; with a repeated call to return to God. Jesus summarised the role of the prophets as well as the response of Israel in Matthew 23:37 saying, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones God’s messengers! How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn’t let me.” These are complex, deep, multilayered and heartfelt writings. They were speaking a message from God in a specific time of history whilst also proclaiming a prophecy of future hope and redemption; which was ultimately pointing to Jesus. SETTING THE SCENE Jeremiah had called people to return to God, they had ignored his plea. He foretold of Jerusalem’s destruction due to their ongoing sin against God. Jerusalem was destroyed, including God’s temple, by the Babylonians after a 30 month siege involving intense suffering and famine. The people were taken as captives to Babylon in 586 BC. They lost their homeland as they were exiled. Lamentations was written in Babylon after Jeremiah had witnessed utter grief and affliction. The immediate future remained uncertain yet Jeremiah offers God’s character as a beacon of light, with future hope and redemption. OPENING GOD’s WORD Warm Up Question: What is a lament? How can expressing with our words the pain we have encountered help us to process it and grow our faith? Read: Lamentations 3 Have someone read verses 1-20 (Jeremiah’s lament) Read verses 21-42. Use different versions particularly for 22-23 Verses 43-66 optional, further lament. Skim through verses 1-20 and pull out phrases of lament (e.g. verse 2 he has driven me away). What attributes of God does Jeremiah call to mind in verses 21-33? The suffering continued, there was no conclusion. How did calling to mind God’s character help grow his faith, hope, and love as he waited for redemption. How can this help us too? What aspects of this passage do you find challenging? Expressing pain, using our words doesn’t indicate unbelief. Lamentations is recorded as a gift to us, as an example to help us express as we wait and trust God. How do you think lamenting can help, rather than holding it all inside and holding it together? Jeremiah continues in verses 40-41 to call people to return to the Lord, to examine their ways and lift their hearts to God. Suggest ways to do this and how it can be both challenging and encouraging. LIVING OUT GOD’s WORD This week as you read the Bible, look out for God’s attributes each day. See if you can call to mind those attributes throughout the day. PRAYER Mention people who are struggling with grief and pain or world situations which cause you grief and pain. Declare out loud verses 22-23 over them. Spend some time praying for the people and situations you have mentioned and other needs in the group. Contacts If you would like more information or further help please contact: scott.button@hopevalleychurch.com.au